Press Guide: 2026 UAW Constitutional Convention, June 15-18

The 39th UAW Constitutional Convention will take place starting Monday, June 15th, through Thursday, June 18th, at Huntington Place in Downtown Detroit, Michigan. Doors open at 8:00 am except on Monday, when they open at 11:00 am. The convention will be called to order at 9:00 am except on Monday, when gavel is at 12:00 pm.

UAW Member Action is a network of members channeling our union’s recent momentum into training the next generation of members to lead and organize. We are in touch with delegates to the convention, as well as other elected leaders and rank-and-file members who will be attending. Reach out to us if you have questions or would like to speak with a representative from our organization: press@memberaction.org.

How can I get a pass to attend the convention?

For press access, contact the UAW Press Center.

Are you a UAW member hoping to attend the convention? Sign up for convention updates and check that you’re interested in attending as a guest.

Which issues will delegates be discussing?

These proposals include several key constitutional amendments and resolutions that will be discussed. From our conversations with UAW members and delegates in our network, we believe these are popular priorities throughout the membership. This is not an exhaustive list of proposals that may be raised.

1. Protect Direct Elections for the International Executive Board. In the court-supervised referendum that took place in 2021, UAW members voted overwhelmingly in favor of “one member one vote” elections. Under the previous system, delegates elected International Executive Board members who were eventually convicted for corruption, and members suffered concessions in our contracts for decades. Since winning direct elections, UAW members have achieved our biggest gains in decades – from the Stand Up Strike against the Big Three automakers to major victories at Daimler Truck, Rolls-Royce, Allison Transmission, Electric Boat, and beyond. We've also restarted large-scale organizing in auto, winning a breakthrough victory at Volkswagen in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
   
   Direct elections are enshrined in the UAW Constitution and required under the federal consent decree in effect through January 2027. However, delegates alone could amend the constitution at a future convention to revoke this right that members fought hard to win. Over 20 locals have passed an amendment that would instead require a membership-wide referendum — like the one in 2021 — to change from the “one member one vote” system. Read more here.
   

2. Extend Retiree Membership to Members without Pensions. Currently, our Constitution does not define retiree, so we rely on the legal definition — people who collect a pension or are Social Security eligible. This leaves members of our union out who retire early and don’t receive a pension. This group has grown since the concessions in the auto industry during the Great Recession. This amendment, passed by dozens of locals, would define a retiree based on years of service with a UAW-represented employer (at least 10) and age (at least 55) be added to the Constitution. This would allow members without pensions to choose to stay involved in our union after retirement. Read more here.
   

3. Fuel Strong Strikes with $625 Pay. The 2022 Convention increased weekly strike pay to $400, raised later in the year to $500. Since then, UAW contract gains with the Big 3 have raised top production pay by more than 25%. Other major contracts have achieved similar gains. This amendment would increase strike pay by 25% to help members stay afloat if we need to go on strike without pay. Read more here.
   

4. Fight for Retirement Security Union-Wide in 2028. When reformers were sworn into office in 2023, our union only had 6 months to prepare for the Stand Up Strike. We are proud of what we managed to accomplish in that short window. However, with the current national Big Three contracts expiring May 1 2028, shortly after our contracts with Daimler Truck, we now have more time to prepare. Our power in contract negotiations is a reflection of how unified we are behind our demands and how organized we are to take action. This proposal lays out a plan to research our demands, educate our members, and organize in our locals. This proposal was submitted as a resolution, as it does not require any amendment to the Constitution.

What is the agenda for the convention?

Delegates will receive the “Committee Reports” that comprise the convention agenda at registration on Sunday and Monday. Because convention business is conducted via Roberts Rules of Order, the order of business is subject to change by the delegates. The UAW Constitution lays out the following agenda:

1. Call to Order.

2. Report on Credentials.

3. Reading of Convention Rules.

4. Appointing Committees.

5. Communications and Bills.

6. Resolutions, etc.

7. Reports of Committees. [This is the section during which Constitutional amendments are presented by the Constitution Committee that consolidates proposals submitted by local unions. Delegates can, however, motion to raise a specific amendment during other portions of the agenda when there is no motion on the floor.]

8. Report of Officers and International Executive Board.

9. Nomination of Officers and Nomination and Election of International Trustees.

10. Unfinished Business.

11. New Business.

12. Adjournment.