Setting the Record Straight
There is much at stake in this election, and UAW members deserve to make decisions based on the truth. As the saying goes, you are entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts. So here is where we shed light on the lies, rumors-of-the-day, half-truths, and urban legends that seem to crop up daily.
Have the Curry Solidarity Team candidates been investigated?
Have the Curry Solidarity Team candidates been investigated?
The Curry Solidarity Team has undergone rigorous review by the Department of Justice and the court-appointed independent Monitor. The Monitor is vetting all candidates under his rule 3.1 and will not permit them to run without passing the vetting process. Without question, this slate represents candidates who have been highly scrutinized. And rightly so. Members deserve to know if their candidates have engaged in improprieties.
Does the Curry Solidarity Team accept financial contributions from outside groups or people who are not UAW active or retired members?
Does the Curry Solidarity Team accept financial contributions from outside groups or people who are not UAW active or retired members?
NO. The Curry Solidarity Team has taken the pledge to only accept financial contributions from UAW active and retired members. We believe that this election is about UAW active and retired members and outsiders should not play a role in influencing the outcome. Rules exist to prohibit employers from contributing to the campaigns. However, the Monitor’s rules permit other outsiders to donate to candidates or slates. We think UAW members deserve more so we have taken the pledge to not take money from outside groups or non-UAW donors.
What have the Curry Solidarity Team candidates done to make our union more transparent and ethical?
What have the Curry Solidarity Team candidates done to make our union more transparent and ethical?
President Ray Curry and Secretary-Treasurer Frank Stuglin have led the charge on ethics reform in the past year. Building upon President Emeritus Gamble's work, they have spearheaded reforms that are working. UAW’s independent Ethics Officer recently reported: “I am impressed with the seriousness with which UAW leadership has faced the need to address ethical breaches and the culture that allowed them to occur.”
Some of these reforms include:
● Creating the role of the Independent Ethics Officer, to review and investigate allegations of misconduct involving International Union officials and employees
● The Ethics Hotline, where members and others can confidentially provide information regarding suspected misconduct
● The Ethics Ombudsman, to investigate allegations, after which they are referred to the Ethics Officer for action, as necessary
● The Members Advisory Council on Ethics, made up by rank-and-file members who meet regularly with the Ethics Officer and Public Review Board (PRB)
● Hiring a Compliance Director, responsible for coordinating and overseeing all compliance activities within the International Union, UAW
● Creating a comprehensive Code of Conduct, encompassing all the rules and policies governing ethical and workplace behavior and requiring annual certifications of compliance with that Code of Conduct
● Mandated systematic annual training on ethics and workplace behavior issues for International employees
● Conflict of Interest Policy for all Elected and Appointed Local Union Officials, which gives UAW members confidence in the acts taken by local leadership and that such acts are not motivated by self-interest
● The Policy on Proper Use of Union Funds in Union Elections, which ensures the highest ethical standards and level of integrity in union elections
● Creation of the UAW Policy Framework, where all UAW policies follow a defined process for creation and modification, documenting and approving deviations or exceptions to policies, and handling non-compliance
● Refreshed Travel and Expense Reimbursement Policy that sets strict limits and rules around expenses, increasing transparency and accountability
● The Fixed Asset Policy, that defines the governance approach for the fixed assets of the UAW and informs decisions on the acquisition, recording, disposition and safeguarding of fixed assets to properly account for them for financial statement purposes
● The Financial Close and Reporting Policy, which enables our union to account for general ledger activity timely while improving the review and monitoring of the information recorded within our financial statements. It strengthens our internal controls around financial reporting by increasing accountability and ownership over the financial close process.
● The Department Purchasing Card Policy, which provides limits and accountability in the use of funds for day-to-day purchases for the union
● Vendor Selection process that requires three competitive bids for purchases by the International. Employees with an actual or perceived impairment of objectivity regarding a vendor must report and recuse themselves from their role or responsibilities regarding any transaction with that vendor.
● Vendor Due Diligence procedures that are required before procuring goods or services from a vendor to ensure the UAW is doing business with vendors who are free from conflicts of interest with the organization and do not pose a risk to the UAW. It requires an annual re-certification from all vendors to ensure no conflicts of interest exist and creates a list of vendors who are barred from doing business with the UAW.
● Various IT Policies, including the Information Technology Systems Change Management Policy, designed to minimize risk to the integrity, and availability of UAW data.
● And much more!
Why was money wasted on conference bags with the name of a candidate running for office?
Why was money wasted on conference bags with the name of a candidate running for office?
If you have ever attended a UAW conference, then you probably got a bag, pen, or notepad with the name of the event director. This year, a complaint was raised because a regularly scheduled conference had the name of the Secretary-Treasurer embroidered on the bag that conference participants used to carry their materials. When the issue was raised, the UAW promptly had the bags re-embroidered without the name, and the bags were used. These are new rules for a new setting, and the bottom line is that the UAW complied with the Monitor’s recommendation. So, no. Money was not wasted on conference bags – delegates used them with the name removed after the complaint was raised.
I heard the IEB voted themselves big raises at the recent Constitutional Convention. True?
I heard the IEB voted themselves big raises at the recent Constitutional Convention. True?
No. Two things happened at the convention – and they are things that happen at every convention. First, UAW staff have a union, and they negotiate a contract. Their raises are pegged to what the GM workers negotiate in their contract. Because salaries are written in the Constitution, delegates change the salary figures every four years to reflect what happened in bargaining between the conventions. The second change is that delegates changed IEB salaries from a formula to actual salaries, making IEB pay transparent. And all of these changes to the Constitution were voted on by the delegates, not the IEB. You can learn more about UAW salaries by reading Article 11 of the UAW Constitution.
Do IEB members collect huge fees for sitting on the board of directors of companies and other groups?
Do IEB members collect huge fees for sitting on the board of directors of companies and other groups?
UAW has strict policies regarding staff and IEB members sitting on boards of directors. It often serves the interests of members to have UAW representation on these boards. In fact, some transnational companies based in other countries have laws that require union representatives to sit on their governing board. The UAW policy is that no elected IEB member, Administrative Staff, or International Representative can receive more than $1,500 for work outside their job for the UAW. Any amount above that must be returned, given to UAW, or donated. And you can’t defer compensation. Violation of this policy is grounds for discharge.
President Curry sits on the supervisory boards of Daimler Truck AG and Daimler Truck Holding AG joining other trade union representatives. As he has done when he served on the board previously, he (along with all the works council and union representing board members) donate all of their fees/salaries to the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung Foundation.
I’ve heard that IEB members collect double or triple pensions. Is this true?
I’ve heard that IEB members collect double or triple pensions. Is this true?
No. IEB members – like most staff—worked in UAW-represented worksites. Each worksite has negotiated rules about how pensions accrue while the individual is on staff. In no case, however, do staff – including IEB members – get double or triple pension credits while on staff.
I am always hearing on Facebook that current leaders don’t care about the membership. What have they really done lately?
I am always hearing on Facebook that current leaders don’t care about the membership. What have they really done lately?
As President, Ray Curry has implemented numerous reforms centered on transparency and the membership. Several departments, including Public Relations, have undergone long overdue resets to become more member focused. Under his leadership, departments are cross-collaborating to improve membership representation and communication. Secretary-Treasurer Stuglin has also been focused on reform of fiscal practices and training of local union financial officers on how to implement these important programs. And it is working. Already, UAW auditors have uncovered financial misconduct at a local, which has led to the prosecution of a local union officer.
When it comes to bargaining, the IEB are in front of many issues, such as the transition to electric vehicles and how it must not happen at the expense of current members making internal combustion components. These are important proactive steps to protect UAW membership’s interests at the bargaining table.
Advocacy for membership does not just happen at the bargaining table – it happens in DC, city council meetings, before economic development groups, with allies in the social and environmental fields, with other unions, etc. Our leaders fight hard for the betterment of members’ lives every single day.
Is it true that UAW has a conflict of interest because it owns stock in General Motors?
Is it true that UAW has a conflict of interest because it owns stock in General Motors?
No. The UAW has never owned stocks in General Motors. In 2007, UAW bargained with GM, Ford, and Chrysler to establish the UAW Medical Benefits Trust. The Trust lost 40% of the funding bargained for and approved by a Federal Court during the auto industry downturn in 2008/2009. The courts made the Trust accept companies' stocks, bonds, and warrants. The Trust has sold or converted to cash all GM stocks and no longer owns any.
Why are we still paying 2.5 hours in dues?
Why are we still paying 2.5 hours in dues?
Members contribute monthly dues to support the work of our union. From bargaining contracts to enforcing them through the grievance procedure, union dues provide the resources used by locals every day. The UAW dues structure is set by delegates to UAW Constitutional Conventions. Delegates initially increased dues in June 2014 to the 2.5-hour calculation because the UAW Strike and Defense Fund, a war chest for taking on companies, was underfunded. A well-funded strike fund is a strong deterrent to employers who doubt the resolve of UAW members. When employers know that we have the resources to support long struggles, it is a compelling incentive for them to bargain for fair and equitable contracts without forcing a strike or lockout. When the Fund reaches $850 million, member dues will revert to 2 hours unless the Strike and Defense Fund drops to $650 million, at which time the higher dues structure will be in effect until the Fund once again reaches $850 million.
Why are retirees not allowed to run for IEB positions?
Why are retirees not allowed to run for IEB positions?
This is based on a long-standing UAW Administrative Letter that retirees cannot hold bargaining positions. Article 19, Section 3 of our UAW Constitution also states that all agreements must be approved by the IEB. Delegates to the recent 38th Constitutional Convention upheld this policy when they voted overwhelmingly to not allow retirees to run for IEB positions. As many delegates (including retirees) stated, that retirees cannot run for IEB positions does not detract from their vital role in our union. They built what we stand on today. Their needs will continue to be a focus, despite laws that weaken a union’s right to bargain for retirees.
Why isn’t the strike pay $500 a week?
Why isn’t the strike pay $500 a week?
The International Executive Board raised strike pay to $400 on June 7, making our union have the highest strike pay available in the country.
A majority of the delegates to the 38th Constitutional Convention voted to increase the strike pay even more to $500 per week. They then further debated, and the majority voted to reconsider the initial increase and return it at $400 per week.
The amount of the strike pay affects the size of the UAW Strike and Defense Fund. For example, the 2019 GM strike would have cost an additional $29 million with a $500 weekly strike pay. These considerations and a provision voted on earlier in the week by the delegates that made strike pay available on the first day of the strike were balanced against the other interest of continuing to build the strike fund so the dues could revert to two hours a month.
Why are people saying the Monitor's third report was an attack on the UAW?
Why are people saying the Monitor's third report was an attack on the UAW?
We don't know why some people choose to not give the full context to the Monitor's report. The Monitor's third report was filed on July 19, 2022, and it provided an update from the previous status report filed in March. The report documents contentious moments to be sure. But the Monitor concludes that "...the Union once again appears to be on the right track." (page 6). And "...it appears that the Union now has a stronger foundation in place for lasting cooperation and transparency" (page 6). Omitting the hard work of the UAW International in improving transparency (pages 4, 19 and 22) adopting the Monitor's recommendations (page 5), improving communications with the Monitor's team (pages 4, 19), as well as Monitor's multiple statements commending the our union for its new General Counsel presents a distorted perspective of the report that can only be designed to mislead members. This is unfortunate as members deserve better.