Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD) issues the following statement regarding our request to intervene in the federal case and implementation of the Consent Decree:
Chicago, Illinois – In an effort to bring a voice for the rank and file into the processes laid out in the January 29th Consent Decree between the UAW and the U.S. Government, UAWD has filed a Motion to Intervene in this case on February 22, 2021. We are hopeful that Federal District Court Judge David Lawson will grant our motion. We have been and will continue to be a voice for meaningful reforms that can put the UAW on the road recovery from corruption. We believe that, while criminal prosecutions are important, they will have only limited effect without reform to the system that allowed these corrupt practices to take root.
“During the entire process between the government and the UAW International Union in deciding what reforms would be imposed on the union, the UAW membership has never once been consulted.” says Justin Mayhugh, Co-Chair of Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD). “It is the membership of the union that has paid for the corruption of those who betrayed us, and it is the membership of the union that will have to work and live under the provisions agreed to in the Consent Decree. Why the membership hasn’t been allowed a voice in these discussions is troubling.”
The membership of the UAW wants and deserves a union free of corruption and a union that works in their best interests. Granting our motion to intervene will give the UAW membership a seat at this important table where decisions affecting its future are made. We feel that UAWD is best situated to fulfill this important role in behalf of UAW members.
“UAW members must have the ability to get rid of corrupt officials. That is why full transparency along with the right to vote on our International officers is so important.” says Scott Houldieson, Chairperson of UAWD. “Real checks and balances must be put in place, otherwise this corruption will reappear. In addition to the union funds that were stolen, the UAW has spent millions of dues dollars on legal fees incurred to defend the indefensible. Contracts that were negotiated by corrupted individuals are suspect to UAW members.”
UAWD is fighting for direct elections of top UAW officers through a One Member, One Vote method of electing International union officials. Sadly, the Consent Decree does not guarantee this. The Administration Caucus has already indicated it will oppose the adoption of direct election of the top officers of the UAW. The Consent Decree mandates a referendum election of the UAW membership be held to decide whether the convention delegates system will remain or whether the membership will elect the top officers of its union through a direct vote.
Currently, the top officers of the union are elected through a convention delegate system controlled 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 was opposition, strong-arm tactics were employed by the Administration Caucus to achieve victory.
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 recently-founded political caucus in the UAW calling for structural changes in the UAW International Union.
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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