The UAW mourns the passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson, a leader who never wavered in his commitment to working people and the labor movement, and whose bond with the United Auto Workers spanned decades of shared struggle for justice.
In 2023, we had the honor of welcoming Reverend Jackson to UAW Local 551 in Chicago to rally with hundreds of autoworkers during the Stand Up Strike. His leadership and solidarity in that moment reflected a lifetime of commitment to the cause of the working class, and the cause of humanity.
Throughout his life, Reverend Jackson knew exactly which side he was on: that of the working class. He spoke out against the hollowing out of manufacturing in the United States and the damage done to communities when jobs were shipped overseas, calling for fair trade deals that put workers first. He carried that conviction across the globe, traveling to South Africa to investigate the firing of 700 Black workers from a Ford Motor Co. plant in 1979 and helping to lead the international movement to end apartheid. In 2010, he joined UAW President Bob King on a multi-city tour calling for jobs, justice, and peace, a message he embraced across decades of work. He stood with workers in the streets from Detroit to cities nationwide, demanding industrial policies that create jobs, enforce workers’ and civil rights, and put people before profit.
Rev. Jackson’s life’s work grew from roots deep in the intertwined traditions of civil rights, labor organizing, anti-apartheid activism, and the global peace movement — all grounded in the same belief: that dignity, fairness, and opportunity belong to all of humanity.
May we honor him not only in memory, but in action.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/dk_bleJesseJacksonMarchonWashington198821-scaled.png17052560Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2026-02-17 17:25:402026-02-17 17:30:57UAW Statement on the Passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson
With two days to go before a February 18 strike deadline, UAW President Shawn Fain and Region 2B Director David Green joined UAW Local 2192 members at Lorain County Jobs and Family Services in making preparations to walk off the job on Wednesday morning if County Commissioners continue to refuse to agree to a fair contract.
“The workforce crisis at Lorain County Jobs and Family Services is a public service crisis,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “Today, the UAW is standing up for strong public services that Lorain County residents depend on. An agency that can’t keep staff because they can’t afford to eat lunch or have their children on their healthcare plan – that’s an agency in crisis.”
Around 150 UAW Local 2192 members at Jobs and Family Services in Lorain County provide critical frontline public services – including child welfare support and public benefits administration – to some of the county’s most vulnerable residents. Despite the essential nature of this work, the workforce is facing severe economic and staffing instability. JFS management and the Lorain County Commissioners have refused to offer a fair contract after months of negotiations.
In the last five years, turnover has reached crisis levels at JFS. That’s while County Commissions have increased healthcare costs for workers by 50%, as average wages remain less than at Jobs and Family Services in other Counties across Ohio.
“UAW Local 2192 has been ready and remains ready to negotiate and settle this contract immediately,” said UAW Region 2B Director Dave Green. “But right now, the County is giving workers – and the public – zero options. Resolving this crisis matters to every family in Lorain County because when workers can’t afford to stay on staff to do the critical work at Jobs and Family Servies, public services simply can’t function.”
The current conditions have created a crisis for the JFS workforce with many facing harsh financial hardships. And while the workers struggle to make ends meet, the County adds dozens of administrative positions that earn six-figure salaries.
“We are prepared to reach a fair agreement that stabilizes our workforce at Lorain County Jobs and Family Services and protects critical public services,” said UAW Local 2192 Chairperson Gina Jones. “But right now, we have JFS workers putting their children on Medicaid, skipping meals, or relying on food banks because they can’t afford the County’s health plan – the same people who administer public assistance programs to others in need. That’s why UAW Local 2192 members are unified and ready to strike on February 18 unless the County changes its position.”
UAW Local 2192 members at JFS remain ready to negotiate in good faith to reach a fair agreement for the people of Lorain County. In the meantime – as no proposal on the table or any willingness from the County to reach a deal that addresses turnover, retention, and service collapse – workers will maintain a deadline of February 18 when they will launch strike lines outside the JFS building at 42485 North Ridge Road beginning 6:30 a.m. sharp.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/f83833f3-b3c3-47f4-94f6-cf594e85eba5-e1771272937611.jpg10582048Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2026-02-16 17:18:412026-03-25 11:17:45UAW President Shawn Fain Joins Lorain County Jobs and Family Services Workers Preparing for February 18 Strike Deadline
The UAW Family Scholarship covers the cost for UAW members and their families to attend a one-week conference at Black Lake. But this isn’t just any conference, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a program that was designed and centered around our members and their families.
Through educational and recreational activities, the Family Scholarship Program allows adults and children to learn and think about how our union empowers us to change our workplaces and communities for ourselves and future generations.
These lessons are learned through daily adult and children’s programs and family activities. Check out these photos of the Family Scholarship Program from the past few years!
All active or laid-off UAW members in good standing can apply for the Family Scholarship Program if they have never previously attended. This Program is only available one time per member. Past participants are not eligible to reapply.
Your spouse/domestic partner (must reside at the same address) and children/grandchildren 4-18 years old may attend with you. You may be required to provide a birth certificate or proof of legal guardianship for each attending child.
Children under four years old cannot attend. Other relatives, non-relatives, and retirees are not eligible to participate.
WHERE IS THE PROGRAM HELD?
Since 1970, thousands of UAW members and their families have participated in the Walter and May Reuther UAW Family Education Center Scholarship Program — changing their lives and those of their loved ones forever!
Located in scenic Onaway, Michigan, on Black Lake, the UAW Family Education Center was envisioned by legendary UAW President Walter Reuther to be a place where UAW members and their families could come together to learn and have fun.
WHAT DOES IT COST?
Once approved for the UAW Family Scholarship, the UAW pays all lodging, food, and program costs for the one-week session! Some travel expenses are also reimbursed!
WHEN IS THE FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM?
July 12-17, 2026
HOW DO I REGISTER?
The application deadline is Friday, June 6, 2026. Apply for a scholarship and learn more about the Family Scholarship Program by following the link below!
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/black-lake-lantern-850x567-2.jpeg567850Joe Simpsonhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJoe Simpson2026-02-13 12:44:382026-03-09 12:22:292026 UAW Family Scholarship Program
On the 89th anniversary of the UAW’s historic sit-down strike victory at General Motors in Flint, MI, the union concluded its 2026 National CAP Conference by charting the path forward for this generation’s labor movement.
The fourth and final day of the biennial conference included a White Shirt Day event to honor the sit-downers, the union’s first-ever Michigan Senate Forum, and inspirational speeches from U.S. Senators Rev. Raphael Warnock and Bernie Sanders.
The nearly 1,000 UAW members in attendance on Wednesday, clad in white shirts, began the day by watching a video commemorating the sit-down strike. At Local 651 in Flint, Region 1D held an event to honor the GM sit-downers and to remember the sacrifices made by the workers and the community.
“What those workers did in 1936–1937 took tremendous courage,” Region 1D posted on Facebook, recapping the event. “They risked everything—their jobs, their freedom, and their safety—to stand together inside those plants. They weren’t just fighting for themselves; they were fighting for generations they would never meet. Today, nearly nine decades later, we are the beneficiaries of that sacrifice.”
Both Senator Rev. Warnock and Senator Sanders addressed the massive political division seen all across the country in the current moment but also shared a message of hope and of a better possible future based in working-class solidarity.
“We all feel that there is something broken in the covenant with the American people,” Warnock passionately told attendees. “It’s as if the whole country has a low-grade fever. And we all feel it regardless of our politics. We may not agree on how to fix it, but we all feel it. And the question is how we can find our way to wholeness again… I submit to you, that you ought to keep on organizing, and keep on fighting, and keep on standing up. Do not give in to those who say, ‘put your trust in me.’ Put our trust in each other, and together, we win!”
Sanders asked UAW members to imagine living in an America that lived up to its promise and ideals. “Brothers and sisters, in this momentous, unprecedented moment in American history, let us stand together!” Sanders told the crowd. “Let us show the world what a great country like ours can be and let us fight for the country that you and I know we can become!”
Region 1A Director Mark DePaoli and Region 1 Director LaShawn English, speaking before the Michigan Senate Forum, shared a positive vision for the UAW and the country moving forward, but one that must be fought for.
“These are difficult times, there’s no doubt about that,” Region 1A Director Mark DePaoli told delegates. “And I understand the fear and uncertainty that so many Americans feel in this moment. But I also see this as a great opportunity. An opportunity for us to lead the way forward for the working class. It’s on us to make it happen. So, let’s get to work.”
“In the union, we learn that unless we have each other’s backs, the boss will pick us apart,” Region 1 Director LaShawn English said. “Unless we fight for fair pay and benefits, we will be stuck with poverty wages. Unless we fight to be treated like human beings, we will be treated like we’re no different than a machine there to make the corporation money. So, we fight.”
UAW members, joined by the International Executive Board and Senator Sanders, ended proceedings by singing the iconic labor tune, “Solidarity Forever.”
For more information on this year’s event, visit UAW.org/CAP2026.
*Thank you to all UAW members who contributed photos during the conference. Individual credits in the photo caption.
A UAW member asked Michigan Senate candidates a question during the union’s first-ever Michigan Senate Forum on the final day of the 2026 National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
UAW Region 1A Director Mark DePaoli speaks before the union’s first-ever Michigan Senate Forum on the final day of the 2026 National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
A UAW member asks candidates a question during the union’s first-ever Michigan Senate Forum on the final day of the 2026 National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
Michigan Senator Mallory McMorrow speaks during the union’s first-ever Michigan Senate Forum on the final day of the 2026 UAW National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
UAW Region 1 Director LaShawn English speaks before the union’s first-ever Michigan Senate Forum on the final day of the 2026 National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
A UAW member asked Michigan Senate candidates a question during the union’s first-ever Michigan Senate Forum on the final day of the 2026 National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
A UAW member asked Michigan Senate candidates a question during the union’s first-ever Michigan Senate Forum on the final day of the 2026 National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, and Michigan Senator Mallory McMorrow during the union’s first-ever Michigan Senate Forum on the final day of the 2026 UAW National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
UAW Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla speaks during the final day of the 2026 National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
Dr. Adbul El-Sayed during the union’s first-ever Michigan Senate Forum on the final day of the 2026 UAW National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
A UAW member asked Michigan Senate candidates a question during the union’s first-ever Michigan Senate Forum on the final day of the 2026 National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
The UAW members and elected leaders conclude the 2026 National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders addresses attendees at the 2026 UAW National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026. Photo courtesy of Brian Hedger.
UAW Local 933 and Region 2B member Neal Jameson introduces Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock on the final day of the 2026 National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock addresses attendees during day 4 of the 2026 UAW National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026. Photo courtesy of Brian Hedger.
A UAW member asked Michigan Senate candidates a question during the union’s first-ever Michigan Senate Forum on the final day of the 2026 National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, and Michigan Senator Mallory McMorrow during the union’s first-ever Michigan Senate Forum on the final day of the 2026 UAW National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, and Michigan Senator Mallory McMorrow during the union’s first-ever Michigan Senate Forum on the final day of the 2026 UAW National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
UAW President Shawn Fain introduces U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders on the final day of the 2026 National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
The UAW, joined by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, concludes its 2026 National CAP Conference by singing the iconic labor song, “Solidarity Forever.” Photo courtesy of Local 2250 member Shana Shaw.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders addresses attendees at the 2026 UAW National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026. Photo courtesy of Brian Hedger.
A UAW member asked Michigan Senate candidates a question during the union’s first-ever Michigan Senate Forum on the final day of the 2026 National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock addresses attendees during day 4 of the 2026 UAW National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026. Photo courtesy of Brian Hedger.
Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens during the union’s first-ever Michigan Senate Forum on the final day of the 2026 UAW National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
A UAW member asked Michigan Senate candidates a question during the union’s first-ever Michigan Senate Forum on the final day of the 2026 National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock addresses attendees during day 4 of the 2026 UAW National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026. Photo courtesy of Brian Hedger.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders addresses attendees at the 2026 UAW National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026. Photo courtesy of Brian Hedger.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders addresses attendees at the 2026 UAW National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026. Photo courtesy of Brian Hedger.
U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock addresses attendees during day 4 of the 2026 UAW National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026. Photo courtesy of Brian Hedger.
A UAW member asked Michigan Senate candidates a question during the union’s first-ever Michigan Senate Forum on the final day of the 2026 National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/f9bf01d6-cffa-4c04-b2ac-6474f89b8081-scaled.jpg14262560Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2026-02-12 10:10:012026-03-25 11:17:08UAW Concludes 2026 National CAP Conference with Message of Hope and Working Class Solidarity
On Wednesday, workers at BlueOval SK delivered a petition with over 1,000 signatures to the company’s corporate offices in Elizabethtown, demanding that Ford Motor Company recognize the union – and meet with the workers to negotiate over the future of the site.
In August, workers voted in favor of unionizing the joint venture in Kentucky. The company spent months fighting to undermine the results of the NLRB election until December – just before Christmas – when they informed over 1,600 workers that their jobs would be terminated on February 14. Meanwhile, the NLRB ruled against the company’s challenges to the vote, determining that the union at BlueOval SK be certified and recognized by the company.
“It’s time for Ford to do the right thing by BlueOval SK workers, recognize the union, and sit down to negotiate the future of Glendale,” said the UAW’s Ford Department Vice President Laura Dickerson. “As a legacy UAW company for over eighty years, this is a disappointing choice from Ford. Our union is going to stand up and fight for the more than 1,600 livelihoods this company is upending without any second thought.”
“We voted for a union at BlueOval SK because we wanted to have a voice,” saidBrittany Diprisco, a Quality Operator in Cell Assembly at the plant. “That fight hasn’t changed. This is still about coming together with our coworkers to have a say in our future.”
“Despite this company fighting hard to undermine the results of the workers’ union election, when it was all said and done, the Board ruled in our favor,” said UAW Region 8 Director Tim Smith. “These workers are UAW members – end of story. It’s time for Ford to meet with us to negotiate the future of this plant in Glendale. Who are we? U-A-W!”
With over $250 million in state subsidies alone, workers and community supporters are calling on Ford to live up to the promise of good, stable jobs made when Kentucky agreed to give them taxpayer money to build the Glendale facility.
Photos and videos from today’s petition delivery are available for use by the media here.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UAW-Wheel-generic-feature.jpg5761024Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2026-02-11 15:28:112026-03-25 11:19:59After Enduring Months of Union-Busting Tactics to Undermine NLRB Vote, BlueOval SK Workers Deliver Petition Demanding Ford Recognize UAW and Negotiate Future of Glendale
UAW members took the union’s working-class agenda to Capitol Hill on Tuesday, lobbying political leaders to support legislation advancing the union’s four core issues.
Delegates from each of the UAW’s nine regions met with their respective elected representatives to share their personal stories and to push for pro-worker policies, including affordable healthcare, protecting and expanding worker rights to freely organize, shorter work weeks and improved paid leave, and real retirement security for every American.
On Tuesday evening, UAW Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock welcomed attendees to the Congressional & Movement Allies Reception, reminding UAW members that it’s on all of us to fight for a better tomorrow.
“If there’s one thing that’s been made absolutely clear over the last forty years, it’s that billionaires and corporations will never use their influence and power over our government to make life better for everyday Americans,” Mock told attendees. “Only WE can do that. It is our time to lead and to stand up to the oppressive forces we are seeing today… to give people inspiration, hope, and the belief that, if we stand together and fight, we can ensure our country works for working people.”
The final day of the 2026 National CAP Conference will convene at 9 am tomorrow and will feature U.S. Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock (GA), a Michigan Senate Forum at 10 am, followed by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (VT). All three events will be livestreamed on UAW YouTube, X, and Facebook.
For more information on this year’s event, visit UAW.org/CAP2026.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/f600ed3d-d42c-4e88-a081-6b55b16d5789-1-scaled-e1770750513562.jpg17702450Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2026-02-10 20:53:012026-03-25 11:22:37UAW Members Take Working Class Agenda to Capitol Hill on Day 3 of 2026 National CAP Conference
The UAW kicked off an event-filled Day 2 of its 2026 National CAP Conference, calling out corporate greed and focusing on the four core issues that will guide the union into 2028.
UAW President Shawn Fain gave an impassioned keynote address to the nearly 1,000 UAW members in attendance. “12 billionaires own as much wealth as the bottom half of society,” Fain said. “Our democracy is dying at the hands of an authoritarian billionaire class. The question we are here to answer is, how do we rise to the occasion? This is our defining moment. We need to send a clear message as a working class: A Billionaire dictatorship is not an option for the American people. Divide-and-conquer politics has no place in the working class!”
UAW Vice Presidents Mike Booth, Rich Boyer, and Laura Dickerson stressed the importance of winning real retirement security, not just in collective bargaining agreements for UAW members, but for the entire working class.
“If we want to win back real retirement security in this country, we have to win big at the Big Three in 2028. But then we have to keep going,” Booth told attendees. “Our union has always connected the bargaining table to the ballot box. What we win for our members, we want for every working-class person. We have to take our fight from the union hall to the halls of Congress.”
“These companies make billions of dollars off of our members’ work. And after we give decades to these companies, we’re asking for something simple: the right to a dignified retirement,” Boyer said. “But not just for us. We believe that every American should have access to quality, affordable healthcare.”
“We have retirees living in poverty. We have retirees working minimum wage jobs to survive. We have working people early in their career wondering how they ever retire,” Dickerson said. “In 2026, in the United States of America, at Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, is that something we can accept? I say hell no.”
Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla spoke on the need to fight for more time off the job for UAW members: “It’s about more than just a paycheck. It’s about more than just our rights on the job. It’s about a much bigger question: What kind of life does the working class deserve? In the richest country in the history of the world, what kind of life can working class people expect to have?”
Guest speakers for Monday’s session included Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-6), SEIU-USWW President David Huerta, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14).
“For too long, healthcare has been used as a weapon against workers,” Dingell stated. “The time is now to ensure every American has quality health care. We’ve made a lot of progress, but we’re not going to stop until every single American is guaranteed health care. This is a human right.”
“Our country needs a labor movement that is ready to lean in,” Huerta implored, calling for worker solidarity in the labor fights ahead. “We should be preparing now for May Day 2028 to shut the whole thing down. Right now, our union is working to align our contracts with yours. When you go on strike, we’ll go with you!”
“We do not pledge of allegiance to Wall Street. We don’t pledge of allegiance to greed,” Ocasio-Cortez told an energetic crowd. “We pledge allegiance to no one president. We pledge allegiance to a nation. Our nation. The United States of America. To the betterment of all people.”
UAW Local 2250 member, Don Looney, who is running to represent Missouri House District 63, fired up the crowd, calling on UAW members to stand up and be the change needed in legislative halls across the country and to “kick ass for the working class!” You can find out more about Brother Looney’s campaign here.
In the afternoon, delegates attended various workshops to sharpen their knowledge on political topics based on the union’s four core issues.
Day Three of the 2026 National CAP Conference will convene at 9 am tomorrow.
For more information on this year’s event, visit UAW.org/CAP2026.
Additional Day Two speaker remarks:
Region 2B Director Dave Greenon the fight to save the Conn-Selmer plant in Eastlake, OH: “The epitome of hypocrisy and greed: the owner of Conn-Selmer, billionaire John Paulson, has been on TV talking about bringing jobs back to America. But when it saves him a penny, it’s fine to kill those jobs and ship them overseas. The system is broken. We need to fix this broken system.”
Region 4 Director Brandon Campbell on how UAW members win: “These companies don’t move an inch because of who you’ve got in negotiations, or how tough you talk, or how hard you pound the table. These companies respond to power. As a union, the real power we’ve got is our membership. If the membership is ready to strike, ready to protest, ready to vote, ready to move in unity, then, we’ve got real power.”
Region 6 DirectorMike Miller on the need for the labor movement to take on the Trump administration: “We’ve got to remember that whether it’s funding cuts in California and Washington State, or plant closures in the Midwest – the story is the same. These are threats to our job security, to our basic ability to earn a decent wage and to live a decent life. And the task in front of us is the same too. Our only option, as a union and as a broader labor movement, is to organize and fight back on a massive scale.”
Photos courtesy of Brian Hedger and UAW Comms Staff
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/9a886171-2395-4e61-8e3d-b90db226d4f1.jpg13662048Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2026-02-09 21:12:552026-02-11 09:02:36UAW’s Four Core Issues Take Center Stage on Day 2 of 2026 National CAP Conference
The UAW kicked off its biannual Community Action Program (CAP) Conference in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, bringing together nearly 1,000 union members from across the country to strategize and build power for the working class. This year’s conference agenda focuses on the UAW’s political vision and four core priorities: wages, health care, retirement, and time off.
UAW Region 8 Director Tim Smith opened proceedings by welcoming delegates to the region and introducing the International Executive Board. In his typical fashion, Director Smith fired up the crowd with his passion and energy: “Workers everywhere are waking up and realizing they need a union, but not just any union. They want the UAW, the mighty UAW!”
Newly elected Region 9 Director Jimmy Lakeman recalled iconic UAW President Walter Reuther’s belief that “there’s a direct relationship between the ballot box and the bread box, and what the union fights for and wins at the bargaining table can be taken away in the legislative halls.”
“Elections matter,” Lakeman told delegates. “And the people we elect and what they fight for matter.”
Guest speakers for the day included Independent candidate for U.S. Senate in Nebraska, Dan Osborn, and AFGE President Everett Kelley.
Osborn, recently endorsed by the UAW, emphasized the need for the working class to reject division and instead to unite around its shared interests to take on the billionaire class and a broken economic system: “We need to stop looking left and right and start looking up,” Osborn said.
AFGE President Everett Kelley delivered an impassioned speech, calling out the Trump administration’s attacks on worker rights and urging UAW members to get involved in the political process: “We’re gonna mobilize and organize, not as spectators, not as commentators, but as participators! We’re gonna make it clear that attacks on labor come at a political cost!”
The conclusion of Day One proceedings was followed by dinner and a Super Bowl LX watch party where members cheered on (or rooted against) the Seahawks and Patriots.
Day Two of the 2026 National CAP Conference will convene at 9 am tomorrow.
For more information on this year’s event, visit UAW.org/CAP2026.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ff708522-8188-404d-b682-a2be7b56648f-1-scaled.jpg12512560Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2026-02-08 21:22:272026-03-25 11:21:31UAW Convenes for Day 1 of 2026 National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C
The UAW has voted to endorse Dan Osborn, an Independent candidate for U.S. Senate from Nebraska.
“Dan Osborn is one of us. A union member who came up through the ranks to fight for economic and social justice for the working class,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “We don’t need another lawyer or corporate hack who only cares about the richest Americans in the U.S. Senate, we need independent blue-collar fighters like Dan. Wealth inequality is out of control in our country. The rich continue to take all the profits while the affordability crisis leaves working class people scraping to get by paycheck to paycheck. If we’re going to change this system, we need to elect working-class people to the halls of Congress who understand this. We’re proud to stand with Dan Osborn and ready to elect him to take on corporate greed and our rigged political system.”
“UAW Region 4 is on the front lines of the class war on blue collar America, and Dan Osborn is right there with us,” said UAW Region 4 Director Brandon Campbell, whose region covers the state of Nebraska. “Dan is an independent, who is loyal only to the working class. From his leadership in the Kellogg strike to taking on Tyson as they try to devastate the Midwest with another massive plant closure to pad Wall Street’s bottom line, Dan has proven he’s got the guts and the experience to take corporate America head on, and working Nebraskans are ready to elect him to the U.S. Senate.”
“The United Auto Workers helped build this country and ushered in our nation’s greatest eras of prosperity for working people,” said Dan Osborn. “With their leadership and working class representation in the Senate, we can return to that prosperity and level the playing field for workers once again. I am honored and humbled by their endorsement, and I will always be a fighter for them and all working people in the U.S. Senate.”
The UAW will convene for its biannual Community Action Program Conference in Washington DC, February 8-11, where Osborn will address hundreds of UAW members. For more information, visit UAW.org/cap2026.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/469059177_122219683034020336_4191078645151155835_n-e1770397085431.jpg10501670Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2026-02-06 11:54:402026-03-25 11:18:28UAW Endorses Independent Dan Osborn in Nebraska U.S. Senate Race
The UAW will hold its biannual Community Action Program (CAP) Conference in Washington, D.C., from February 8–11, bringing together nearly 1,000 union members from across the country to strategize and build power for the working class.
The conference agenda will focus on the UAW’s political vision and four core priorities: wages, health care, retirement, and time off. Participants will also address the growing threats to the American Dream posed by corporate greed and divide-and-conquer politics.
On Monday, February 9, UAW President Shawn Fain will deliver a keynote address outlining the union’s political vision for taking on the billionaire class.
On Wednesday, Feb. 11, the union will hold its first candidate forum of 2026, featuring leading candidates who are running for Michigan’s U.S. Senate. The forum will be livestreamed on UAW social channels.
WHO: The UAW’s National Community Action Program (CAP)
WHAT: “Building Working Class Power: Our Time to Lead” – the Union’s Biannual CAP Conference
WHERE: Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009
WHEN: February 8-11; MI Senate Forum during February 11’s morning plenary
The Michigan U.S. Senate candidate forum will take place during the final morning plenary starting at 9:45 am on Wednesday, Feb. 11. The candidate forum will also be Livestreamed on UAW digital channels, including YouTube and Facebook. For more information on the UAW’s CAP Conference, including the agenda, visit UAW.org/CAP2026.
Members of the press are invited to attend the Monday and Wednesday sessions. RSVP is required.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UAW-Wheel-generic-feature.jpg5761024Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2026-02-05 15:26:572026-02-06 23:12:49UAW Biannual Political Conference to Bring Hundreds of UAW Members to Capitol Hill, Feature Michigan Senate Candidate Forum
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