Protect Our Vote: What You Can Do in the 2 Weeks Until Convention

In just two weeks, delegates to the UAW Constitutional Convention will have the opportunity to protect every member's right to vote for our International Executive Board.

Here’s what you can do to support the amendment.

In 2021, UAW members voted overwhelmingly for “one member, one vote” elections, over the old system where delegates chose our top leadership. This spring, over 20 UAW locals have passed a resolution proposing an amendment to our Constitution that would prevent direct elections from being overturned by a future convention. 

Delegates will be the ones to cast votes in two weeks, but every member can help build support for the Protect Our Vote amendment between now and the Convention.

1. Talk to Your Delegates

Reach out to the delegates representing your local at the convention. Ask them where they stand on Protect Our Vote, and encourage them to support the amendment. Here are some points you can raise:

• The membership has already taken clear stand on this issue. In the court-supervised referendum that took place in 2021, direct elections were overwhelmingly popular.

• Under the delegate system, we suffered corruption and concessions. The recent era of delegate elections was marked by declining standards for UAW members and feeling completely ignored by our leaders. At the same time, federal investigations uncovered widespread corruption among top union officials, leading to convictions and prison sentences. Despite these failures, the delegate system continued to produce leaders from the Administration Caucus and members had few avenues to challenge the status quo.

• Since winning direct elections, UAW members have achieved our biggest gains in decades – from the Stand Up Strike to major victories at Daimler Truck, Rolls-Royce, Allison Transmission, Electric Boat, and more. We've also restarted large-scale organizing in auto, winning a breakthrough victory at Volkswagen in Chattanooga.

Delegates may be unsure or have questions. A conversation with members from their own local can make the difference in their public support for Protecting Our Vote.

2. Sign and Share the Pledge to Protect Our Vote

If you haven't signed yet the pledge supporting the amendment, add your name today. Then share the pledge with coworkers, friends, and other UAW members. Every signature helps show delegates that members want to keep our right to vote.

3. Help Build Momentum Before Convention

The strongest message our delegates can receive is that members across the union are paying attention to how they vote at the Convention.

Join UAW Member Action for our National Meeting in Detroit on the eve of the convention to learn more about our strategy to keep our union on a fighting path. You can also help spread information about Protecting Our Vote on social media and in your local, and encourage other members to get involved. 

The right to vote for our International Executive Board was won by members. Now it's up to us to defend it. Reach out to get help from an organizer to take these steps in your local.