Members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) are ushering in a new era as they elected Shawn Fain, a member of the “UAW Members United” reform group and local leader for a Stellantis parts plant in Indiana, to become the union's new head.
The election saw a 33% increase in ballots cast over the previous year and resulted in a narrow win for Fain over the incumbent Ray Curry, who was appointed in 2021.
The induction of Fain and his leadership team marks the UAW's largest upheaval in leadership in decades. Fain's campaign focused on a "No corruption. No concessions. No tiers." platform and called for the removal of the tiered pay system implemented by automakers during recent negotiations.
Fain's victory comes as the UAW prepares for new discussions with Detroit automakers later this year, and he says he plans to take a “more aggressive approach” with employers.