Convention Reconvenes

at 9:00am EST

Day 3 7/27/22 Details

• Today during the convention, we had some amazing presentations to our retiring International Executive Board members (IEB) coupled with lots of drawn-out voting and discussion and opinions from delegates. Here is a small recap.
• UAW President Ray Curry introduced UAW local 2377 President and Chaplain Renford Whynes who led the delegates in an invocation.
• The Credentials Committee gave their final report. There were 873 delegates, and 204 alternates present 6 retired workers councils all eligible to participate and had credentials to produce voice and vote.
• Before anything could start after that a delegate asked for a point of order and requested that the delegates vote to pull from the resolutions committee to the floor, asking to reduce the Strike Pay wait time from Day 8 to be paid on Day One of the strike to all eligible members. Some debate and then a voice vote, it passed.
• Next point of order was Article 38 section 10 sub section B dealing with use of Absentee Ballots. The motion failed after some spirited discussion.
• The next point of order was a delegate asking what the cost of the Government Appointed Monitor cost the UAW overall. The discussion centered around the total cost. Ask your locals delegates as they were given the details by the Secretary Treasurer and the Audit team.
• Regional Director James Harris introduced Michigan Governor Gretchen Witmer. Her speech center around the importance of helping working families in Michigan and the work they have done since the Build Back Better money has landed in the state. She also warned that we must organize and mobilize voters this fall to keep the agenda of helping working families rolling a large part of that is Build Back Better and that takes more democratic Senators to get it passed.
• Next Terry Dittes introduces Laborers Local 223 Boston Massachusetts Member Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. He reminded the delegates the UAW is the biggest and most active Union in the country. He told us President Biden has our back. He outlined the success we are having with the Build Back Better & American Rescue plan, but we need more for Labor to succeed we need Build Back Better and that means maintain the House and Win back the Senate. Inflation is a global issue caused by supply chain disruptions and price gouging around the globe. This week is Made In America week, In the UAW that is every week Walsh stated. Safety on the job and the right to organize is a right of every American. Soon to be added to the DOL website is a guide tool for Organizing and an outline for your rights. A time of Solidarity for all unions is now.
• The Resolutions Committee delivered an important update to the Constitution. During the discussion on Women’s Issues resolution a delegate (“of childbearing age”) pointed out it is a good resolution, but it fails to mention that “Abortion is Healthcare, why was it not included?” So, we have the statement of that member, which was met with a lot of support, but not language to back the popular opinion up. Maybe next convention.
• Next debated item from the floor was the interest accrued from the strike fund and where it is used since it goes to the general fund? Ask your locals delegates for the written details they have a copy they were handed during the convention in their packets.
• Tributes to retiring IEB and VP’s came next
• Ron MacInroy Region 4 Director – “Thank You for Everything” he stated.
• Mitchell Smith Region 4 Director – “Leave it better than you found it” he said.
• Jeff Binz Region 9 Director – “I truly appreciate the years I have spent with all of you” he finished with.
• Terry Dittes UAW VP – “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this great union” he stated.
• Cindy Estrada UAW VP – “I am honored by the work of this great union the staff and regions all it’s members, it has been an honor to serve you” she stated.
• In 2021 UAW VP Gerald Kariem retired, he was honored and told the delegates “Thank you, I was honored to serve.”
• In 2021 President Rory Gamble retired he was also honored. “The UAW took a poor black kid from SE Detroit hanging frame rails in a plant to become the president of this great union, I love the UAW, this beautiful UAW, I love you!”
• Former Presidents Ron Gettlefinger and Rory Gamble are now titled with UAW President Emeritus status. Both were honored and the delegates overwhelmingly voted to support this change in title for both Labor Leaders.
• In a point of information, privileged speech a member with over 50 years in the UAW stated, “I love the UAW tell all your members back home we will survive we are not corrupt we have erased that and are moving on, we are the best we have been the best and will be again, our spirit lives on in all our younger members, support your IEB and watch the changes take place.”
• The Rules Committee Chaired by C.B. Cleveland Brown UAW Local 31 was completed and read into the record.
• Nominations for President for the upcoming election this fall happened.
  (Pardon the spelling on the names some may be wrong!)
  Candidates include; Ray Curry, Brian Keller, Jim Coakley, Shawn Fian, Mark Gibson, Will Lehman, all candidates listed here accepted the nomination.
• The last name nominated for UAW President was John Gahnan – who was not present and has 24 hours to accept or decline the nomination.
• For International Union Vice President the following people were nominated and accepted the nominations today. Brian Czape, Tim Bessler, Rich LeTourneau, Tony Candella, Brian Price, Sharon Bell, Micheal Turner, Chuck Browning, Rich Boyer, Mike Booth.
• In a trustee vote today that will be completed on day 4 Thursday the delegates elected Amilio Ramirez. The second Trustee seat to fill will be voted on 7/28/22.
• A point of order to pull a resolution to the floor for a vote was heard. Resolution 59 from page 101 of the revolution booklet that contains all delivered resolutions. The body of delegates supported bringing it up for discussion and vote. It passed; The Strike Pay will now be $500.00 per week per eligible member on day one of a strike. The day one pay action was voted on and taken at the beginning of the day.
• The Gavel dropped at 5:25pm and the delegates will reconvene at 9:00am on 7/28/22.