DETROIT -- UAW Secretary-Treasurer Gary Casteel will not seek re-election and plans to retire when his current term ends in June.
His unexpected retirement comes amid a federal probe into the union and jointly operated training centers with the Detroit 3 automakers.
Casteel, 60, has not been formally named or charged with any crimes as part of the probe that initially centered on a training center between the union and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. According to a source familiar with the investigation, Casteel has not been a primary target of the U.S. probe, which federal prosecutors say involved $4.5 million in training center funds being illegally diverted to union and officials with FCA.
"After much thought and discussion with my family, I have made a personal decision not to seek re-election as secretary-treasurer of the UAW," Casteel said in an emailed statement to Automotive News. "As I stated last fall, Detroit is a terrific place, but my wife and I love our hometown near Nashville."
According to two other sources familiar with the matter, Casteel announced plans to retire with union leaders on Friday.