About
Shawn Fain
Shawn Fain has served the UAW at every level for over 20 years, primarily for five terms as a Skilled Trades Committeeperson and Shop Chair at Local 1166 (Stellantis Kokomo Casting Plant), as well as 10 years as a UAW International Representative. Shawn has extensive experience with negotiations at the local and national level.
Shawn opposed the 3/2/120 schedule when it was initially launched in 2003 at Mack Engine Plant, as well as the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) agreements. He stood against ratifying the 2007 National agreement that implemented the two-tier system at Chrysler. Shawn also worked with other international staff and local leaders to stop the conductor initiative that threatened the livelihood of skilled trades workers that then-VP Norwood Jewell agreed to with Chrysler behind closed doors.
We cannot survive as an organization when we have the IEB leadership putting their own interests first while the membership continues to suffer. With the passing of the One Member One Vote referendum, for the first time in our union’s history, the membership has the power to determine who will lead us into our future, rather than the IEB getting together and picking our leaders for us. This is our shot for true reform of the UAW and putting the power and control of our union back in the hands of the membership by electing leaders who will be held accountable by the membership. Ultimately we can’t operate as separate entities with the IEB and their priorities on one end and the membership continuing to hemorrhage plants and job security on the other. We either elect new leadership and come together and move forward as one, or we continue following the same path to nowhere.
Battle-tested leader for the UAW IEB
This website was created with the intention of reforming our union where we are truly a unified movement. We cannot survive as an organization when we have the EB leadership putting their own interests first while the membership continues to suffer.
With the passage of the One Member One Vote referendum, we have a voice, rather than the EB getting together and picking our leaders for us.
Ultimately, we can't operate as separate entities with the EB and their priorities on one end and the membership continuing to hemorrhage plants and job security on the other.
We either elect new leadership and come together and move forward as one, or we continue following the same path to nowhere.
Restore the TRUST
Restore the PRIDE
Restore the UAW
VOTE UAW MEMBERS UNITED
Ballots for the UAW run-off elections for President, Vice President and Region 9 Director began being mailed out to UAW members on January 12th.
If you haven't received a ballot by January 19th and you believe you are eligible to vote, you may request one online at uawvote.com or by calling 855-433-8683.
February 17th is the final day to mail in your ballot to ensure it is received by the election vendor by the February 28th deadline.
The counting of ballots will begin on March 1, 2023 at 9 am ET.
Ray Curry opposed your right to directly elect International Executive Board officers
As members from all across our union begin mailing their run-off ballots back to the election vendor, it's important to remember that Ray Curry opposed your right to directly elect International Executive Board officers.
The Administration Caucus -- now led by Curry -- has maintained control over our union for decades largely because of the delegate election system.
As reporter Luke Ramseth wrote in a Toledo Blade article from October of 2021, the delegate election system was a process where "the union's leadership could easily pressure a relatively small number of delegates to support the favored slate of candidates.
"The pressure starts at caucus meetings at the convention, former attendees say, where delegates can rub elbows with the current union leadership and enjoy hors d'oeuvres and drinks. But to hang around with the top brass and make connections at these meetings, attendees must first agree to vote for the current leadership's positions and slate of candidates.
In some cases, UAW leadership would herd delegates from one region into a room to tell them how to vote on the candidates and issues, recalled Gregg Shotwell, a UAW retiree from Grand Rapids, Mich."
"In theory, it would seem like (the convention system) could work, and maybe a long time ago it did work," said UAW retiree Martha Grevatt. "But right now, it’s not serving the membership. It’s keeping leadership in power, from one person to the next.”
After decades of what has essentially been a one-party dictatorship, It should come as little surprise that under the first-ever direct elections of IEB officers, a number of candidates who opposed the Administration Caucus were voted in by our UAW membership.
One can easily imagine these election results are probably the reason why Ray Curry opposed the method from the very beginning.
CITATIONS:
Detroit News article, "UAW president backs delegate system in election referendum"
Toledo Blade article, "How one party within the UAW has ruled for 70 years"
Shawn Fain for UAW International President
Shawn Fain for UAW International President
Shawn Fain for UAW International President
PUT THE POWER & CONTROL BACK IN THE HANDS OF THE MEMBERSHIP
Restore the TRUST
Restore the PRIDE
Restore the UAW
Shawn Fain for UAW International President
Shawn Fain for UAW International President
Jame R Coakley
WE ARE ONE NOW.
UAWD ran a great campaign for the members of the United Team Slate. It is now time for all of us to set our differences aside and support UAWD candidate Shawn Fain for UAW president. He is in a run off against Ray Curry, and our only chance to defeat Curry and take control of the UAW for positive change.
For those of you who ran for president or vice president, I know it is hard — very hard — to accept your personal loss and switch your support to another candidate. I know your supporters congratulate you for stepping up and offering your leadership at this critical time in our transformation of the UAW. You can still show your leadership by giving your supporters direction by supporting Shawn Fain for UAW president. Leadership is not about ourselves; it is about our continuous stewardship for our constituency.
To all UAW members: Give Shawn Fain a chance. We cannot do justice to our newly elected leadership by putting them under the control of Ray Curry. They need their leader, Shawn Fain, for a chance at success. They can and will be a strong united force by electing their chosen leader, Shawn Fain. There is no time for bitterness over the election. It is time for all of us to come together as one and elect the one person who can give us the changes we so desperately need and want. I will support and vote for Shawn Fain for UAW president, and I ask all who have supported me over the years to do the same. Curry will continue to bring division in our ranks. Please vote for the only chance we have at removing that which divides us. Vote for Shawn Fain.
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