What Is V-CAP?

The UAW’s V-CAP checkoff is a voluntary program that allows each member to make a modest contribution each month to help the union support candidates who care about American workers and their jobs. The V-CAP checkoff program has been, and continues to be, a very successful part of raising voluntary dollars for the union’s political purposes. We have more than doubled the V-CAP contribution income from our members during the 15 years since 1994.

By law, union dues can’t be used to support any federal candidate and, in an ever-increasing number of states, any candidate for public office. Our only means of monetary support for many laborendorsed candidates is voluntary political contributions, which are put into the International Union’s political action fund, UAW V-CAP.

The UAW has negotiated with many employers the right to a bargaining unit checkoff. All that is necessary is for the UAW member to sign a checkoff card, which instructs the employer to deduct an amount selected by the member. A $1 per month contribution amounts to less than a nickel a day, a $3 per month donation is only a dime a day and so on. It doesn’t sound like much but when you count our members it can add up to a much-needed campaign fund.

This same law that governs how union dues can be spent also allows management to contribute to PACs. As of July 2006 the following number of PACs was registered with the Federal Election Commission: 1,621 corporations, 935 trade/health/membership associations, 1,233 non-connected, 40 cooperative and 105 corporations without stock.

Many of these 3,934 PACs consist of anti-labor, right-wing organizations that are out to weaken and destroy the UAW and all other unions. UAW V-CAP is one of only 283 labor PACs to help protect workers from these more than 14-to-1 odds.

“Protecting our collective- bargaining gains through political action” is the goal of UAW V-CAP and supporting V-CAP must be a priority among all UAW leadership.

The following pages contain some answers to questions such as “Why does labor endorse candidates?” and “Why should you support labor-endorsed candidates?” They also include talking points.

The support of the UAW’s political program is the result of educating members on labor issues.