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Statement on Wayne County Judge’s Hollow Contempt Claims against Striking Public Defenders by UAW President Shawn Fain

You don’t get to turn the courthouse into a hammer against UAW members at Neighborhood Defender Service because they went on strike for fair treatment in the workplace.

If Judge Darnella Williams-Claybourne is proceeding with criminal charges against two public defenders, members of UAW Local 2325, over missed court dates while on strike, the people of Wayne County have every right to ask: What is going on here? A labor dispute is not a license to punish workers for standing together. It is further outrageous considering that striking workers were locked out of their office building, their case files, their emails, and their calendars.

This is a heavy-handed move that sends a nasty message to every employee who dares to organize, especially those who work in the public interest. It’s unacceptable intimidation.

Going on strike does not mean a public defender suddenly stops caring about clients. It does not mean they turned their backs on the defenseless. And it certainly does not mean they surrendered their rights as workers. Public defenders went on strike last month precisely because they knew they couldn’t continue to do their critical jobs for their clients and our community without creating a more sustainable workplace.

Our members fought for fair wages, healthcare, and better workplace standards. We are proud of the collective bargaining agreement that was reached, and they have been hard at work representing the people of Wayne County since then.

Judge Darnella Williams-Claybourne is the sole judge in Wayne County seeking to punish UAW workers, out of the over forty judges in the county who presided over hearings for which NDS attorneys did not appear during the strike. The UAW demands that the proceedings for criminal contempt be dropped immediately. Workers should not have to choose between their livelihood and their basic right to stand together.

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UAW Puts Muscle Behind Push to Unseat Vulnerable Lorain County Commissioner Jeff Riddell in Upcoming General Election

Today, outside the Lorain County Commissioner’s Offices, UAW Local 2192 members at Job and Family Services announced the launch of a major political operation that the Union will lead to oust vulnerable Commissioner Jeff Riddell in his re-election bid this November.

After defeating his primary opponent by just 18 votes in May, Commissioner Riddell enters the general election as a vulnerable incumbent. That creates an opportunity for the UAW’s large-scale political operation to take on one of Lorain County’s most vocal opponents of JFS workers and their strike.

“We have held the line, and we are not going to watch our county’s public services deteriorate while our elected officials refuse to do their jobs,” said UAW Local 2192 Bargaining Chairperson Gina Jones. “If the Commissioners elected to run the county will not solve this crisis, then the people of Lorain County will demand change at the ballot box.”

The UAW is planning to run the largest voter canvassing program in Lorain County alongside area labor partners, where UAW members will be talking to Republicans, Independents, and Democrats in Lorain County several times a week.

The operation will involve knocking on tens of thousands of doors and making phone calls to UAW families and neighbors – including both other UAW members, and members of union households. Between now and November’s Election Day, the Union is planning several statewide “days of action,” where hundreds of UAW members from across Ohio will come to Lorain County to knock on doors for the Commissioners’ race.

“It’s safe to say that we have a plan to knock on every single union door in Lorain County to tell them that Commissioner Jeff Riddell needs to go,” said Jones. 

While the UAW plans to talk with voters about its endorsed candidates for governor, U.S. Senate, and Congress, it will also dedicate significant resources to the Lorain County commissioner race, including literature, canvassers, digital communications, and more.

“We’ve done our part offering an olive branch time and time again, as the Commissioners outright refused to even meet,” said UAW Region 2B Director David Green. “Meanwhile, the service crisis that JFS workers have been warning about is becoming more visible to everyone because the Commissioners are too stubborn to resolve the retention and staffing crisis in their own workforce.”

The UAW’s endorsed candidate against Commissioner Jeff Riddell is Carolyn White, an experienced public servant who has already shown a willingness with listening to working-class people in the County, unlike current Commissioners like Riddell and David Moore. While White is a Democrat challenging the Republican Riddell, Lorain County is the only County in Ohio that voted for both Sherrod Brown and Donald Trump in 2024.

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UAW President Shawn Fain on U.S. Trade Escalation with Canada

The UAW rejects any escalation on Canada, a country with strong unions and labor standards. If we’re going to increase tariffs anywhere, it should be on countries where automakers continue to offshore jobs because they can pay workers $3 an hour, force them to work in unsafe conditions, and crack down on independent unions.

Here at the UAW, we are fighting to end the free trade disaster. Free trade pits workers against each other across borders and is fueled by corporate greed. That’s why we will always support strategic tariffs, including the 232 tariffs on auto and heavy truck. Tariffs work, but only if they are deployed intentionally to protect workers and grow our manufacturing communities.

It’s time to permanently end offshoring and the race to the bottom. We need well-designed tariffs, and a comprehensive rewrite of the USMCA and other bad trade deals.

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UAW Deere Members Reject Contract Extension Offer

Members of the United Auto Workers at John Deere voted today to reject the company’s proposal to extend the current collective bargaining agreement through 2029.

“While John Deere continues to outsource jobs, 1,600 workers are still laid off. Our members rejected Deere’s offer to extend their contract because they know their worth and what they deserve,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “The company failed to make an offer that addressed the issues weighing on the minds of our members, especially job security. We’ll see Deere at the table in 2027.”

The company’s financial record makes clear why workers believe they deserve an equal voice in decisions about the contract.

Deere made nearly $5 billion in profit in 2025 and expects to make another $4.5 billion to $5 billion this year. Last year, the company spent $1.1 billion buying back its own stock and paid shareholders $1.7 billion in dividends, with another $7.9 billion set aside for future stock buybacks. Meanwhile, CEO John May received $27.9 million in total compensation in 2025.

“Our members see billions going to shareholders through dividends and stock buybacks, said UAW Vice President Laura Dickerson, Agricultural Implement Department Director, “while the workers whose skill and labor make those profits possible are asked to accept less. Our members know their value and said NO to their offer.”

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Tick, Tock: UAW Puts Lorain County Commissioners on Notice in Statement on Six Months Milestone for Job and Family Services Strike

Six months ago today, UAW Local 2192 members at Lorain County Job and Family Services walked out on strike. Lorain County Job and Family Services is now the site of the longest public sector strike in the history of Ohio. But UAW Local 2192 members knew what they were taking on by choosing to go on strike. They also knew that they did not have any other choice if they wanted to solve the retention crisis and maintain quality services for Lorain County residents. Now, they are putting the Commissioners on notice of a significant escalation if the Union’s calls for talks continue to be ignored.

Background
After months of negotiations — and working under an expired contract — County Commissioners showed no interest in bargaining in good faith. UAW Local 2192 members were done living a life in which they had to skip meals and enroll their own children in programs they helped administer for other families in need. Their collective frustrations built a powerful foundation to take on a staffing crisis, a retention crisis, and a leadership crisis affecting more than their jobs in Lorain County.

Since then, the Commissioners have chosen to disregard the state’s fact-finding process and fight their own workforce instead of solving the problem, and their inaction has forced residents to pay the price as critical service failures mount. Nevertheless, the Union has repeatedly called for good-faith negotiations and compromise between the parties for the good of Lorain County.

What’s at Stake
Six months later, JFS workers remain steadfast in their resolve, but the community’s frustration with the County Commissioners has only intensified—particularly since the strike started on February 18—whether over the JFS strike or the broader chaos at the County.

Many County residents are in limbo trying to fill needed prescriptions. Nursing home residents are not getting reimbursements processed. The county health system is under strain, and elder abuse investigations are falling behind.

What’s Next
What the County Commissioners seemed to have failed to consider themselves is the resilience of this UAW Local in Ohio. But it is right there in the name: U-A-W.

UAW Local 2192’s fight has the full backing of the International UAW, from its organizing and bargaining strategies department to its political arm, all the way to the President’s office.

JFS workers hear their clients’ pleas for a settlement, even if the Commissioners pretend not to.

On Tuesday, August 25, Local 2192 members will hold a rally at the Lorain County Administration Building in Elyria to announce their next steps in their campaign for a better life.

WHO:  UAW Local 2192 members at Lorain County Job and Family Services
WHAT:  Rally to announce next steps in JFS strike
WHERE: Lorain County Administration Building, 226 Middle Ave, Elyria, OH 44035
WHEN:  Tuesday, August 25 at 1:30 p.m.

Tick, tock: the clock is now ticking on Lorain County Commissioners. One way or another, the working people of Lorain County will have their voices heard. The Union and the community want a fair settlement. It is up to the County Commissioners to resolve this crisis before the next steps.

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2026 International Officer Election Issue of Solidarity Magazine is Now Online!

The new 2026 International Officer Election Issue of Solidarity Magazine is now available. 

You can download it here, and share it with fellow UAW members.

In this issue:

  • Election Overview

  • Slates

  • President Candidates

  • Secretary-Treasurer Candidates

  • Vice President Candidates

  • Region 1 Candidates

  • Region 1D Candidates

  • Region 2B Candidates

  • Region 4 Candidates

  • Region 9 Candidates

  • Union Security Agreements

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Working People Over PACs: UAW Ground Game Helps Power Primary Victories Statewide

After months of organizing on shop floors and in communities across Michigan, UAW members helped deliver a rebuke to billionaire-funded politics on Tuesday, powering victories for working-class champions across the state.

Leading the ticket, UAW-endorsed Abdul El-Sayed defeated an obscene flood of outside spending to win the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate through a grassroots campaign fueled in large part by UAW members. UAW-endorsed Jocelyn Benson won the Democratic nomination for governor, while Donavan McKinney won Michigan’s 13th Congressional District after earning the union’s support.

From Detroit to Grand Rapids, Flint to Three Rivers, nearly 800 UAW members knocked doors, made phone calls, and organized conversations with coworkers, friends, neighbors, and family members to build the kind of political operation corporate money can’t buy. With more than 350,000 active and retired members in Michigan, the union also mounted a formidable early vote program, helping turn out nearly 113,000 UAW voters before Election Day—almost one in every ten early votes cast statewide.

 

By the Numbers

Nearly 800 UAW members knocked on 15,000 doors, made more than 145,000 phone calls, and organized worker-to-worker conversations that helped turn out 112,887 UAW voters during Michigan’s early voting period. Member volunteers launched canvasses and phone banks in Detroit, Taylor, Warren, Flint, Saginaw, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, and Three Rivers, demonstrating the strength of a statewide, member-led political operation.

“UAW members are done with business as usual in Michigan. The billionaire class thought they could buy another election. They underestimated the power of workers talking to workers. Shop floor conversations beat Wall Street’s checkbook. We backed Abdul because he answers to workers—not billionaires or corporate PACs. Tonight showed what happens when working people get organized and fight together. We are ready for two working-class champions at the top of the ticket in Michigan with Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate and Jocelyn Benson for Governor. Michigan voters chose candidates who know the economy should work for working people—not just the wealthy and well-connected,” said UAW President Shawn Fain.

“Corporate America poured millions into this race because they knew Abdul wouldn’t work for them. Our members know what’s at stake. Every contract fight, corporations force us to bargain over access to health care instead of winning bigger raises, stronger retirements, and more time with our families. That’s exactly why we’re fighting for Medicare for All. Abdul shares that vision, and we’re going to send him to the U.S. Senate to help make it a reality,” said UAW Region 1 Director LaShawn English.

“The days of taking labor’s support for granted are over. Abdul earned our members’ trust the old-fashioned way—by showing up on picket lines and standing with workers when it mattered. That’s worth more than any billionaire’s campaign check, and that’s why working people delivered this victory,” said UAW Region 1A Director Mark DePaoli.

“When our American Axle members went on strike for a future they could build a family on, Abdul stood with them. Workers don’t forget who shows up when the fight is real. That’s something no super PAC can buy and no billionaire can erase. The members in Three Rivers are ready to finish the job and send Abdul to Washington in November,” said UAW Region 1D Director Steve Dawes.

 

Background

The UAW’s endorsement followed one of the union’s most transparent and member-driven political programs. Members heard directly from candidates at the union’s February CAP Conference, participated in additional Michigan CAP Council forums, and evaluated candidates through member surveys before endorsing Abdul El-Sayed in June.

El-Sayed earned the endorsement by consistently standing with working people against corporate greed and for Medicare for All. Throughout the primary, UAW members built a statewide field operation rooted in solidarity instead of billionaire money.

Tuesday’s results are part of a growing national movement led by UAW members to elect leaders who answer to working people instead of corporate donors. Alongside Michigan’s victories, UAW members have helped current and former UAW members Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier in New York, Troy Jackson in Maine, and Randy Villegas in California secure the Democratic nomination and will fight to send these candidates to Washington in November. Across key battleground states, union members are building durable political power from the shop floor up—proving that when workers organize independently, they can take on corporate money and win.

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Joint Statement from President Shawn Fain and Vice President Rich Boyer: Fatality of UAW Stellantis Member at Center Line National Parts Depot

This morning, at Stellantis’ Mopar Division, Center Line National Parts facility in Center Line, MI, our UAW family lost longtime member James Brasher. Brasher was a thirty-plus-year UAW member and laborer working on a renovation project at the PDC when the incident occurred.

A member of our union went to work today expecting to complete his shift and return home to his loved ones, but sadly, that will not happen.

The UAW will investigate and demand details from the company of exactly how this tragedy occurred to ensure this kind of accident never happens again.

Our entire UAW family mourns with James Brasher’s family and will support them every possible way we can. Our focus is to make certain that every UAW member, and every American worker, knows they are safe on the job.

On behalf of the UAW, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of James Brasher, his loved ones, and the members of UAW Local 1248.

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Statement on John Deere Contract Extension Offer by UAW Vice President Laura Dickerson, Director of the Agricultural Implement Department

John Deere cannot ask workers to surrender the benefit of a signed agreement while treating the request as anything less than bargaining.

John Deere is asking to change a collective bargaining agreement that both sides already negotiated and signed. When a company comes back to rewrite the deal, it is asking for something. That is bargaining. Deere does not get to ask the union for a favor while acting like the rules of bargaining suddenly do not apply.

We see the same industry conditions Deere sees. We also see Deere’s corporate ledger. We see shareholders enjoying the “continuity” of collecting the rewards of our members’ hard work. The people who build the products have earned just as much of a voice in deciding what comes next as the people collecting the dividends.

If Deere wants to change the deal—including the contract’s expiration date—then Deere needs to respect the bargaining process. That process is where working people stand on equal footing with one of the biggest corporations in the world, and we will not surrender it because the company wants an answer on its timeline.

If an extension is even going to be considered, the membership decides what it would take to change the contract date—and whether Deere’s proposal is good enough.

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UAW Statement on Markup of the Connected Vehicle Security Act

Our national and economic security depends on a strong U.S. auto industry. For generations, the American Dream has been built on good union auto jobs that enabled working families to buy a home, raise children, retire with dignity, and create a better future for the working class.

If we are serious about rebuilding American manufacturing and restoring that promise, we cannot continue offshoring our factories, outsourcing our jobs, or fueling a global race to the bottom in pursuit of short-term corporate profits.

Today’s action by the Senate Commerce Committee marks an important step toward protecting American manufacturing and preserving the American Dream. The UAW applauds every member of the committee who voted to advance a strong version of the bill, and we thank the bill’s sponsors, Senators Bernie Moreno and Elissa Slotkin, for their leadership.

The committee recognized that America needs an auto industry that invests in American workers—not one that rewards dependence on China, whose industrial strategy has leveraged Western brands to expand its market influence while advancing a business model built on low wages and weak labor standards. As the legislation continues to advance, we reiterate our opposition to carve-outs for all multinational corporations. No company should get special treatment. If they want to benefit from policies that strengthen American manufacturing, they should meet the same standards as everyone else.

This legislation will help ensure that the next generation of auto investment creates good union jobs, strengthens communities, reinforces America’s manufacturing base, and keeps the future of auto production here in the United States.

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