Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD) issues the following statement regarding the sentencing of Dennis Williams, former President of the UAW International Union, to prison for corruption:
Chicago, Illinois – Today former UAW president Dennis Williams was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for his role in the corruption scandal which has devastated the reputation of our union. His complicity in the scandal is a betrayal of every member of this great union. Williams lied to us when, at the 2018 Constitutional Convention, he told us that no dues money was involved. Williams lied to us when he said “The fact that Mr. (General) Holiefield and others allowed themselves to be corrupted by Mr. (Alphons) Iacobelli was and is a terrible betrayal of our union’s trust. But there is simply no truth to the claim that this misconduct compromised the negotiation of our collective bargaining agreement or had any impact on union funds.” Williams’ physical embrace of FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne was emblematic of the sweetheart relationship he took part in.
Let’s be clear. Williams was assisted in these lies and criminal conduct by his associates on the UAW International Executive Board. When his theft of union funds for his own selfish purposes was revealed in court documents, it was loyal members of this great union who demanded Williams be held accountable under the provisions of our UAW constitution. Even with all the evidence laid out before them, the International Executive Board refused to take any action against Williams despite the demands of UAW members.
Williams pled guilty on September 30, 2020, to conspiracy to embezzle union funds between 2013 and 2018 by accepting housing for himself in Palm Springs, California, golf clothing, other golf merchandise, meals, liquor and cigars outside of the dates of UAW conferences.
“Williams’ betrayal was assisted by the officers of this union who continue to hold power. It is imperative that UAW members have full transparency from their leaders as well as the right to vote directly for their International officers,” says Scott Houldieson, Chairperson of UAWD. “One Member One Vote is critical to preventing more corruption as we try to recover from the damage done to our union. Until real checks and balances are put in place, there cannot be accountability. It is the membership that suffers from all of this corruption.”
UAWD is fighting for direct elections of top UAW officers through a One Member, One Vote method of electing International union officials. Currently, the top officers of the union are elected through a convention delegate system controlled entirely by the Administration Caucus. The Administration Caucus has been in total control of the UAW for the last 70 years. All of the Administration Caucus candidates for the leadership of the UAW have been elected, almost always running unopposed. On the rare occasions when there were opposition candidates, strong-arm tactics were employed by the Administration Caucus against any delegate who might vote independently.
One reason the membership of the union has to accept corrupt leaders is due to the one-party state within the UAW. This one-party system of electing International Officers has cultivated a culture of corruption at the highest levels of the union.
Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD) is a political caucus in the UAW calling for structural changes in the UAW International Union, including the election of International officers by direct vote of the union membership.
If you would like more information about this topic, please call Scott Houldieson at phone: 219.801.2002 – cell, or email: [email protected].
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