Robert Besser
08 Dec 2022, 13:58 GMT+10
DETROIT, Michigan: In an election triggered by a federal bribery and embezzlement scandal involving former United Auto Workers (UAW) union officials, reformist candidates won several seats and could win a majority.
In unofficial results posted this week on a federal court-appointed monitor's website, reform challengers took six of 14 seats on the union's International Executive Board.
Depending upon the outcome of three runoff elections, they could win as many as eight, including the presidency, and gain a majority.
The reform candidates campaigned on taking a more confrontational stance in bargaining with Detroit's three automakers, General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, likely raising costs that would be passed on to consumers.
As workers seek a larger share of billions of dollars in profits, costs likely would have increased even without the election.
In the race for president, incumbent Ray Curry defeated challenger Shawn Fain by 614 votes, with 38.2 percent of the vote. compared to Fain's 37.6 percent. But neither gained a majority, so a runoff election will be held in January.
Mike Booth and Rich Boyer took two of three vice president slots, while Margaret Mock ousted current Secretary-Treasurer Frank Stuglin.
Reform-minded candidates also took three regional director slots, with another due for a runoff.
Winners will be sworn in on 12th December.
In an interview, Fain said the election puts the companies on notice "to get ready. We are coming for you. It is just a fact that over the years our leadership has become way too close to management," he said, as quoted by Reuters.
In a statement, Curry's slate said that it was fighting for all active and retired members, stating, "Our member expectations are high, and our team has the experience and proven track record to both build coalitions for the fight and deliver results."
The election came after union members, in December, decided to directly vote on leaders for the first time, instead of having them picked by delegates to a convention.
Get a daily dose of Cape Town Express news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Cape Town Express.
More InformationThe U.S. has supplied Israel with scores of BLU-109 bunker-buster bombs since October 7, the Wall Street Journal has reported, ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: This week, the Biden administration announced a proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that would require U.S. ...
TOKYO, Japan: Japan's space agency recently fell victim to a cyberattack, but reassuringly, the compromised information did not pertain to ...
MOUNT PLEASANT, Michigan: This week, a judge sentenced a Michigan man who kept his dead wife's body in a freezer ...
ATLANTA, Georgia: After two consecutive years of declines mainly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, babies born in the U.S. in ...
The number of soldiers in the Israeli army killed in the current Israel-Hamas war has topped 400. Three hundred and ...
Israel intensified its deadly bombardment of the Gaza Strip Saturday as renewed fighting with Hamas entered a second day following ...
Johannesburg - Nelson Mandela was a global icon who inspired the world, spending 27 years in prison for his fight ...
Johannesburg - Nelson Mandela was a global icon who inspired the world, spending 27 years in prison for his fight ...
New Delhi [India], December 5 (ANI): Evergreen New Zealand batter Suzie Bates has admitted she would love to prolong her ...
Brazil may boost supplies of industrial goods to the sanctions-hit country, Ambassador Rodrigo Baena Soares saysWestern sanctions on Russia intended ...
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], December 4 (ANI): India captain Suryakumar Yadav lauded rookie leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi for his great recovery in ...