Report on Days 1 and 2 of the Constitutional Convention

Delegates gathered in Detroit, Michigan Monday, June 15th, and Tuesday, June 16th, for the first two days of the 39th UAW Constitutional Convention. This report is intended to help delegates and members who cannot attend the convention review the major business of each day. It is not a play-by-play of the entire proceedings.

Day 1 — Monday, June 15th

The convention started around noon with opening speeches and discussion of the rules, which passed unamended. A new rule was introduced that bans audio or video recording of proceedings.

Delegates then voted on and passed amendments recommended by the Constitution Committee to create a Veterans Department at the International level and require a Health and Safety standing committee at all locals.

The Constitution also recommended an amendment that will continue independent supervision of direct elections beyond the federal Monitorship, which may end as soon as January of next year. This amendment establishes an advisory council of members appointed by regional directors and an Independent Election Supervisor and Independent Adjudications Officer. Both roles would be appointed by the International Executive Board and must meet basic requirements of impartiality. The Supervisor would be responsible for establishing rules and responding to election protests, while the Adjudications Officer would rule on appeals of decisions of the Supervisor. 

Delegates passed this amendment, setting our union on stronger footing to administer direct elections fairly and effectively. 

Day 2 —Tuesday, June 16th

UAW Local 42 members who won a first contract with Volkswagen in Chattanooga, Tennessee were honored with the Social Justice Award.

Delegates voted on an amendment recommended by the Constitution Committee that would increase salaries for International reps from $114,820.43 to $131,740.75. These raises were determined through bargaining with the UAW Staff Council. The amendment also increased International Officers’ salaries by a similar percentage for the next four years.

The Constitution Committee recommended a package that would: 

• Increase minimum weekly strike pay from $400 to $550

• Increase the maximum withdrawals from the strike fund to support organizing drives from $60 million to $100 million

• Increase the Strike & Defense Fund thresholds, allowing our strike fund to grow to $1.3 billion (previously $850 million) before dues revert to 2.0 hours from their current 2.5 hours; then decrease to $950 million (previously $650 million) 

The package passed after a hard-fought debate, which was ultimately won by delegates who argued these changes were necessary to prepare our union with the resources we need to strike against large employers like the Big 3 in 2028 and continue organizing more members into our union.

Throughout proceedings, several delegates attempted to pull amendments out of the book of proposed amendments so they could be discussed on the floor. Under a new procedure, pulled amendments will be added to the Constitution Committee’s first report the following day. These amendments were successfully added to tomorrow’s docket:

• #0734: Prevent future conventions from deciding to return to the delegate election system that bred corruption and concessions in our union. Currently, it does not require a vote of the membership for delegates to eliminate direct elections. The amendment would change that. Read more about this UAW Member Action priority.

• #0348: Require the International Union to grant rebates to locals that independently provide the vast majority of their own bargaining, servicing, and organizing

• #0280: Deem political retaliation “conduct unbecoming” of a UAW member, therefore enabling Article 31 trials of member for such behavior

• #0070: Prevent the UAW from endorsement or “complicity with” elected officials who don’t support abolishing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE). Additionally, if an ICE attack occurs nearby a UAW local, this amendment requires the local to hold a membership meeting that, by simple majority of those in attendance, may call for strike authorization vote over this issue — regardless of contract language such as a no strike clause.

• #0718: Add Local Union Communications (LUCA) to the list of mandatory local standing committees.