About UAWD

Our Movement

Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD) is a grassroots movement of UAW members united in the common goal of creating a more democratic and accountable union. We believe the rank-and-file must be the highest authority in the UAW, whether at our Conventions, the bargaining table, or on the shop floors of our workplaces across the country.

UAWD advocated for—and won—a One Member One Vote (also known as direct elections) system of electing our International Executive Board. We believe in a transparent leadership who will work in the best interests of and are held directly accountable to the membership of the UAW.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is UAWD?

Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD) is a grassroots movement of hundreds of UAW members—all in good standing within our union—united in the common goal of building a more democratic, and accountable UAW.

What is the Administration Caucus?

Many UAW members don’t know that our union has been a one-party institution for decades. This single party—the Administration Caucus—has been in complete control of the UAW for 70 years.

Long-time UAW President and labor icon Walter Reuther originally founded the Administration Caucus in the 1940s, but the ideology of today’s iteration is much different than the one Walter envisioned years ago. (Read more about how the Administration Caucus first came to power.) In fact, by the 1980s, the ideology of the Administration Caucus had become so disturbing to Walter’s younger brother, Victor Reuther, that he came out of retirement to campaign against the Administration Caucus’ policies of partnership and cooperation with the corporations. Brother Victor knew that the UAW needed more democracy if it was to continue to progress and was a big proponent of direct elections of our IEB officers.

Unfortunately, over the last 70+ years of our union’s history, the UAW has operated as a one-party state, enabled by the previous Convention delegate system of election International Executive Board officers. The Administration Caucus has concentrated its power in the hands of a select few. Only pre-determined Administration Caucus officials are allowed to run our union at the highest levels. In the last 40 years alone, the Administration Caucus has engaged in various partnership schemes with the very same corporations that continually cut our jobs, attempt to gut our benefits, and have outsourced countless good-paying union jobs.

In short, the Administration Caucus bought into a culture of continual concessions, rubbing elbows and even exchanging hugs with CEOs. They have encouraged competitiveness, for which the membership has paid dearly. The interests and demands of rank-and-file UAW members have been ignored and even throttled.

Why was UAWD formed?

UAWD believes that rank-and-file UAW members must be the highest authority in our union—whether at our Conventions, at our Locals, at the bargaining table, or on the shop floors of our workplaces across the country.

UAWD was formed with the aim of removing the corporate culture that has poisoned our union while also rooting out corruption. We campaigned for and won One Member, One Vote, which the Administration Caucus opposed—just one of the reasons we believe the UAW deserves new leadership.

Is UAWD affiliated with other organizations?

No, UAWD has no affiliation with outside organizations. UAWD is a caucus of UAW members—all in good standing within our union—both active and retired, from across the country.

Is UAWD comprised only of auto workers?

Yes and no—all of our members are United Auto Workers, but not all of our members work in the auto industry!

Since UAWD was formed in 2019, we have organized in a number of different sectors within the UAW constituency. We now have UAWD members and organizers that are graduate workers, legal services workers, agricultural implementation employees, parts suppliers, autoworkers, retirees, and more.

Our goal is to create a diverse caucus that is truly representative of the many different professions and backgrounds our union membership come from.

Did UAWD support One Member, One Vote?

UAWD campaigned for direct elections of our International Executive Board Officers, known as One Member, One Vote.

In 2021, UAW members overwhelmingly voted to replace the old delegate system for selecting our top union leadership with One Member, One Vote. In a democratic union, it should not be possible that any one party would have control of the union for over 70 years, especially while negotiating concessionary contracts for decades. It was clear that the former delegate system for electing the IEB at Constitutional Conventions failed the membership.

Our victory means that in 2022, for the first time in UAW history, rank-and-file members will vote directly to decide who will lead our union. While UAWD supported One Member, One Vote, current UAW leadership campaigned against it—just one of the reasons we believe the UAW deserves new leadership.

What other changes does UAWD advocate for?

For UAWD’s priorities in 2022, read our UAWD delegate platform, drafted with input from hundreds of UAW members who answered our poll.

Member Education

UAWD believes that membership education should be a top priority of our union. A union cannot be successful when members feel the organization is some sort of abstract entity that only collects their monthly dues instead of viewing the union as a living, breathing rank-and-file movement where workers can see solidarity in action at their workplaces.

Our UAW membership must understand what made our union so successful in our formative years, and why we’ve been unable to defend ourselves for decades since. That’s why we believe that members should be educated on the history of the labor movement and the sacrifices that those who came before us made. Then, we believe, workers will see why it is so vital for us to pick up the mantle and to accept our responsibility as the next generation of UAW members fighting for a more equitable and just future.

We believe significant resources must be invested in membership education in order to make this happen.

Dues & Transparency

UAWD advocates for greater transparency from our union. UAW members should frequently be given an accounting of how our dues dollars are spent. This reform is no different than requiring our government to let citizens see how their tax dollars are being used. Every dues-paying member of our union should have the ability to easily access the financial figures of the UAW along with the decision making processes behind those expenses.

Dismantling Jointness

We believe a vital key to restoring our union to its proud tradition is to dismantle “jointness.” The last forty years have proven that partnering with corporations simply does not work for the rank-and-file.

“Jointness” has been one of the main drivers of the corruption in our union. Joint funds – where do they come from? How much is there? How are they spent? Union members don’t have access to this information. We must rid our union of its adopted corporate ideology and dismantle the structure that has grown to support it.

“Jointness” has severely damaged our union, by weakening shop floor activism and organizing. The team concept in the auto industry has often led to anti-union sentiment and apathy among the rank-and-file. Joint programs have led to a bloated and unaccountable bureaucracy.

UAWD advocates for rank-and-file empowerment in order to win better contracts for UAW members. UAW members have seen a steady decline in their standard of living over the last four decades. Hundreds of thousands of good-paying union jobs have been outsourced or cut by the various corporations that our union collectively bargains with. This is partly because of the strategy of cooperation implemented by the Administration Caucus. The team concept, continuous improvement, etc. are all anti-union programs.

We believe the only way workers can win is by taking on their employers and ending these failed partnership strategies.

Worker Organizing

UAWD advocates for an improved worker organizing program. Most workers aren’t interested in joining a union that wants to play nice with the boss. We believe the corporate policies of the Administration Caucus have played a significant role in the UAW’s inability to organize auto plants in the south, or to achieve any real substantial gains for the rank-and-file over the last thirty-plus years.

This is not to negate the role powerful politicians and corporations have played in keeping unions out of the south and from weakening labor’s ability to fight for better conditions. However, the Administration Caucus’ insistence on continuing these various failed “partnership” schemes with the corporations, along with the current corruption scandal at the IUAW have done incalculable damage to our union.

We must organize and empower workers — whether it’s on the shop floor, in the office, or the classroom. We plan to implement a program of listening to the concerns of the workforce and then devising strategies to address those concerns. The rank-and-file must lead the way for a better future — not white collar administrators with six figure salaries at Solidarity House.

Communities & Coalitions

UAWD advocates for community support and involvement.

UAWD advocates for building working class coalitions through participation in community activities that empower ourselves and our neighbors to fight for a better standard of living by protecting workers from corporate exploitation. Cooperation should be with our working class neighbors and communities — not with corporate executives.

Internal Reform

UAWD has used processes available to us in the UAW Constitution to hold our International Officers and Officials accountable for their misdeeds. We have also initiated an effort to call for a Special Convention to try and pass much needed reforms.

We believe it is the duty of every member to make sure our union is clean and functioning on behalf of all of us. The UAW is OUR UNION! We owe it to those who came before us and built the UAW with tremendous sacrifice. We owe it to the next generation of UAW members and we owe it to ourselves because we deserve a union free of corruption. We deserve a union that works to build a better standard of living for us all.

What do our UAWD contribution dollars do?

Primarily, your $25 a year membership fees go towards paying our two UAWD staff organizers, printing informational leaflets for distribution at union workplaces, as well as funding the UAWD website. You can join UAWD and get involved for $25 a year.

UAWD’s Structure

UAWD Membership

UAWD members participate in our regular membership meetings in accordance with our bylaws.

Steering Committee

Our Steering Committee is responsible for ensuring UAWD is accountable to our membership.

Other Committees

Any member can serve on our committees for Organizing, Electric Vehicle Organizing, Education, Diversity, and more.

Meet Our
Steering Committee

Scott Houldieson

Chairperson

UAW Local 551

Scott has been a member of UAW Local 551 in Chicago for 33 years. He started in the Trim Department at Ford Chicago Assembly Plant in 1989 and became an electrician apprentice in 1994. Scott has served Local 551 as Vice President, Financial Secretary, and an alternate committeeperson for Skilled Trades. He was editor of the Local Union newspaper, also serving on various committees at Local 551 including the Member to Member Committee, Union Solidarity Committee, Skilled Trades Committee, and Constitution and Bylaws Committee. Scott was elected delegate to the UAW Constitutional Conventions in 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. He prides himself on speaking truth to power.

Chris Budnick

Co-Chair

UAW Local 862

Chris has been a member of UAW Local 862 in Louisville at the Ford Kentucky Truck Plant for 6 years. He is currently a Quality Inspector in the stamping department. He became a member of the UAW in 2012 working at Ford Dearborn Truck Plant, Local 600. As a second tier worker, being indefinitely laid off was common. He worked for three years at Ford VanDyke Transmission Plant in Local 2280 and the Ford Sterling Axle Plant in Local 228. Chris ran for multiple positions through the years wanting to get more involved. As he finally settled in Kentucky, he was elected as an Unassigned Committeeperson in 2020. Chris advocates for leadership accountability, member power, and engagement. “Only we can make it right.”

Eric Truss

Financial Secretary

UAW Local 600

Eric Truss is a Production Tech line worker in Dearborn, Michigan, and a member of the UAW Local 600 General Council. Eric’s first UAW experience began as a temporary worker in 1989, which later became a full-time, permanent job in 1996. He is a second-generation UAW worker. Eric served four active years in the U.S. Army, six years in the Michigan National Guard, and three years in the Indiana Army Reserves as a training instructor. Eric’s union activist activities began in 2004 running for leadership offices, fighting for temporary workers’ contractual rights, and union democracy. His plan for the future is to help fight for the restoration of UAW concessions and against unfair union practices.

Vail Kohnert-Yount

Recording Secretary

UAW Local 2320

Vail Kohnert-Yount is a labor and employment lawyer for low-wage workers in Brownsville, Texas. As a member of UAW Local 2320, she has served as regional vice president, Region 9A convention delegate, and shop steward. She first joined the UAW when she organized with her fellow student workers to start Local 5118 at Harvard Law School in 2018 and later went on strike in 2019. She proudly follows in the footsteps of her family members who are auto workers in Local 598 in Flint, Michigan. She is excited to fight for union democracy from her home state of Texas for now (because walking picket lines in the snow is really cold).

Mike Cannon

Retiree Representative

UAW Local 282

Mike joined UAW Local 282 a month after he was hired at Moog Automotive, Incorporated, St. Louis, Missouri, in August 1970. He held the positions of Shop Steward, Committeemen, and Shop Chairman for the Moog unit from 1973 until 1984 when he was appointed as an International Representative in UAW Region 5. He served in this capacity until his retirement in 2008. Mike was also a Servicing Representative for the UAW during most of his years on the UAW staff, serving a nine-year stint in the UAW Research Department during the 1990s. He was an avid supporter of the New Directions Movement in the 80s and 90s, advocating for reform in the UAW. Mike has been a member of the UAW for 52 years and spent 35 of those years as a union representative.

Martha Grevatt

Retiree Representative

UAW Local 869

Martha Grevatt is UAW retiree and a long-time social justice advocate. Martha was hired at Chrylser’s Twinsburg, Ohio, stamping plant in 1987 as a journeyperson die maker and was an active member of UAW Local 122 until the plant closed under the bankruptcy of 2012. She served as trustee of Local 122 from 2004 to 2009. Martha transferred to Warren Stamping in 2010 and was a trustee of UAW Local 869 from 2016 to 2020. She is the former Vice President of Pride at Work Michigan.

Andrew Bergman

Trustee

HGSU-UAW Local 5118

Andrew is a member of UAW Local 5118, the Harvard Graduate Students Union (HGSU), where he served as a Trustee from 2020 to 2022 and helped lead the strike to win the Local’s first long-term contract in 2021. He is an HGSU organizer in his department and the Racial Justice Working Group. He works as a Ph.D. student researcher in the applied physics department, developing technological and collective governance approaches to help address the climate crisis through atmospheric carbon dioxide removal. He is excited to grow UAWD to build rank-and-file worker power against the bosses and rebuild the UAW as a union that is run by and for its members.

Nick Livick

Trustee

UAW Local 31

Nick Livick is a long-time union activist who first got his start in the labor movement during the Occupy Movement where he helped organize Occupy Madison. A few years later, he became a third-generation UAW member when he hired in at the General Motors Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City.

He was elected twice at UAW Local 31, as an alternate delegate to the UAW Constitutional and Bargaining Conventions, and as a Trustee on his local’s executive board in 2020. He volunteered for both of Bernie Sanders’ Presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020. He is also very active in his local community, proudly standing with Stand Up KC and KC Tenants. In 2021, Nick helped organize for the 1 Member, 1 Vote campaign and would later volunteer for Shawn Fain and the UAW Members United campaign in 2022.

In 2023, Nick was elected by the UAWD membership to serve as a Trustee on the Steering Committee. He hopes to see UAWD create lasting reform by encouraging the next generation of trouble makers to run for union positions at every level of the UAW.

Nolan Tabb

Member at Large

UAW Local 281

Nolan Tabb is a 12 year UAW rank-and-file member of Local 281 at John Deere in Davenport, Iowa. After standing on the picket line during “Striketober” of 2021, he began sharing his experience and vision of an engaged and empowered membership. Understanding the power members hold when standing united, Nolan strives to organize around critically important issues such as member-to-member communication and creating a culture of inclusion. As a first-time elected Convention Delegate, his goal is to provide accountability and transparency while working to bridge the gap in communication amongst members of our UAW’s diverse sectors and industries. He believed that we can build a better UAW where the sharing of information and ideas is trusted, authentic, encouraged, and valued.

Deneen Brewer

Member-at-Large

UAW Local 7

Deneen Brewer joined the UAW in 2003 started her career at Nobles Metals, which was under Local 155. That’s where she first became chair of the Civil and Human Rights Committee and a member of the Elections Committee. She then served as the first female shop chairperson at Faurceia International and is currently working at Stellantis, where she currently has been serving as a member of Local 007 since 2010. She’s an active member of the Civil and Human Rights Committee and Vice Chair of the Union Label Committee, Vice Chair of Region 1 Regional Advisory Council on Civil & Human Rights.

She joined the fight for 1M1V campaign and became a UAWD member in 2023. “I will always stand up and fight for the voiceless. In Solidarity!”

Amelia Spooner

Member-at-Large

UAW Local 2710

Amelia is a rank-and-file member of UAW Local 2710, the Student Workers of Columbia (SWC), and a founding member of Columbia Academic Workers for a Democratic Union (C-AWDU). She has organized four strikes with SWC, the last of which led to their first contract with Columbia after 10 weeks on the picket line. She works and organizes in the History Department, where she is finishing a PhD on labor law in the French empire after the second abolition of slavery. She is thrilled to fight alongside fellow UAW members to build a militant, worker-led union and labor movement.

Our Staff

Nathan Pensler

Staff Organizer

Nathan joined the UAW in 2014 as a member of GSOC-UAW 2110, which represents graduate employees at New York University. He served as a shop steward until 2016 and was co-chair of the union’s organizing committee. His time in the UAW inspired him to become active in the labor movement. He joined the staff of UAWD in August of 2021 and is excited to help build rank-and-file power after the One Member, One Vote victory.

Becca Roskill

Staff Organizer

Becca Roskill is a former member of UAW Local 2710 (Student Workers of Columbia). She served on the bargaining committee during the campaign to win the local’s first contract, which culminated in a 10-week strike in the winter of 2021-2022. She joined the staff of UAWD in April 2023 to organize for the Big Three contract fight and help build a caucus of shop-floor leaders across the UAW.

What We Stand For

Our Bylaws

UAWD members are active and retired UAW members—all in good standing—who are committed to our union’s founding tradition of democracy, accountability, and solidarity.

Our Platform

Beyond One Member, One Vote, learn more about the actions and ideas UAWD advocates for—for starters, no corruption, no concessions, and no tiers.

Our Resolutions

All UAWD members can attend our quarterly membership meetings and propose resolutions for our membership to consider.

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