We recently detailed how the sham election being held by the United Auto Workers bureaucracy proves that absolute corruption remains even in their attempts at democracy. Union members expressed frustration after rank-and-file candidate Will Lehman was shut out by alleged voter suppression mechanisms.

Yet as it turns out, current President Ray Curry looks set to lose his position, with runoff contender Shawn Fein taking the lead and a virtual handful of challenged ballots remaining before the race is officially called. Naturally, Curry filed a protest of the runoff, yet UAW federal watchdog Neil Barofsky duly denied Curry’s demand. Stay tuned.

Whatever happens, the UAW will soon head into sure-to-be prickly negotiations with the Detroit Big Three automakers. Some reform candidates nabbed union board seats, so leadership looks divided, but nonetheless, Ray Curry already went on record to note the union’s recent increase in weekly strike pay from $400 to $500 as providing notice “to employers that we have high expectations as we head into bargaining.”

A few more updates:

  • The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers attempted to make headway in the traditionally anti-union South by organizing a micro unit of 86 workers at Nissan’s Smyrna plant in Tennessee. Those workers ultimately voted 62-9 against unionizing with the IAM pointing the finger at delayed NLRB action prompting a “chilling effect” on their efforts.
  • Recent Caterpillar negotiations did lead to UAW member disgruntlement with claims of raises that didn’t match inflation, yet negotiations ultimately ended in a new six-year contract for 7,000 members with 71.5% approval and one operator telling Reuters, “It’s a decent contract and I just want it behind us at this point.”

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