UAW aims for unity after messy elections

Editor's note: This report has been updated to correct the location of Stellantis' Belvidere Assembly plant.

DETROIT — The UAW's International Executive Board — fractured into different ideological camps for the first time in more than 70 years — attempted to project unity at the union's quadrennial bargaining convention here as it heads into consequential contract talks with the Detroit 3 later this year.

But for all the talk of solidarity against a common foe, not so subtle signs remained of a messy election that concluded just hours before delegates convened.

Members who spoke of their affiliation with the Unite All Workers for Democracy reform caucus were booed, some resolutions from anti-establishment groups were voted down and the invocation of former President Ray Curry's name drew some of the loudest applause over the course of the three-day event.

Still, union leaders, even those from rival factions, tried to rally members for what UAW Vice President Chuck Browning called a "window of great opportunity" to win better wages and benefits from the automakers.

"The process we just went through was a tough, nasty process," said Browning, head of the Ford department and one of the few establishment candidates to win their election. "But the process is over. It's no secret which caucus I'm from. ... It's no secret where [UAW President] Shawn [Fain] comes from. ... But the reality is the UAW is way more important than Chuck Browning or Shawn Fain."

Browning said he was tired of reading about the divisions within the union.

"It's bullshit," he said to a standing ovation. "Let the world hear: We're united."

Fain, who pitched himself as the anti-establishment choice, narrowly defeated Curry in the union's first direct election of officers as other candidates on his Members United reform slate won a majority of seats on the 14-person board. After a prolonged vote count that included a protest from Curry alleging voter disenfranchisement, Fain was sworn in less than 24 hours before the convention opened.

"Elections are always tense," said Scott Houldieson, a member of UAW Local 551 and a key member of the Unite All Workers for Democracy caucus. "After it's said and done, we come together. We are united and we're going to work together to get the best contracts for our members that we can possibly get."

Not only did leaders project unity within the UAW, they also used the convention to pledge to work together with Canadian union Unifor.

Both unions will be negotiating contracts with the Detroit 3 concurrently for the first time since 1999.

Unifor President Lana Payne addressed UAW members on the first day of the event, focusing her speech on the commonalities between the two unions and what they could achieve together.

"This timing creates a unique opportunity for auto workers on both sides of the border," she said. "We have a moment here to develop our unions and our bargaining strategies in ways that are both big and bold."

Fain said he doesn't see challenges with the two unions trying to secure investments at the same time.

"I don't worry about competing over product with Unifor," Fain said. "I believe there's a lot of product to go around, especially with the expansion of EV and different things going on right now. We have to work together and be on the same page so we're not allowing ourselves to be whipsawed by the companies."

Fain said his top priorities this fall are job security and eliminating tiers that pay workers different rates depending on when they were hired.

"We're in the best of times for these companies and they're still idling and closing plants," Fain said. "That's a problem."

The decision by Stellantis to idle Belvidere Assembly in Illinois was a key topic for UAW Vice President Rich Boyer, who oversees the Stellantis department.

In a speech to members that included an emotional video featuring Belvidere workers, Boyer used the site's uncertain future as an example of how the UAW needed to be united and "start punching back" against corporations.

"We've got to quit pretending that there are two divisions in this union," Boyer said. "There's one union — our union. And until you guys decide to stand up and go back to your membership and make them understand that all we have is each other, we're in trouble."

UAW bargaining conventions are a mix of rousing speeches from leaders and in-the-weeds procedural moves that help set the union's priorities for upcoming contract talks.

This year's event included no shortage of rhetoric.

"We're here to come together to ready ourselves for the war against the one and only true enemy — multibillion-dollar corporations and employers who refuse to give our members their fair share," Fain said on the first day of the proceedings. "It's a new day in the UAW."

Fain used a similar tone throughout his campaign, saying when the election was called in his favor that "today we put the companies on notice: The fighting UAW is back."

Speaking to reporters, Fain said his tone is a reflection of members' wishes.

"Our membership is fed up," he said. "Our membership is engaged, our membership is ready and they need leadership that's going to get with them."

Bill Bagwell, a delegate at the convention and member of UAW Local 174, said he appreciates Fain's demeanor.

"We should have never stopped taking the aggressive tone," Bagwell said. "I truly believe Shawn will lead us in the right direction."