National Collective Bargaining Departments
The UAW National Collective Bargaining Departments coordinate bargaining, administer national agreements, and help local unions respond to member needs. In addition, the National Collective Bargaining Departments each hold regular conferences where delegates from various workplaces discuss their common issues and problems. Each National Collective Bargaining Department is directed by an International officer as assigned by the International UAW President.
The National Collective Bargaining Departments are:
General Motors
The UAW GM Department represents more than 48,500 UAW-represented production, skilled trades, and salaried workers at GM facilities throughout the U.S.
Ford
The UAW Ford Department represents the more than 41,000 production, skilled trades, engineers and salaried workers at Ford Motor Company, and 1,900 members at Severstal North America (formerly Rouge Steel).
STELLANTIS
The UAW Stellantis Department represents nearly 26,000 UAW-represented production, skilled trades, engineers and salaried workers under national agreements at Stellantis’ U.S. facilities.
Aerospace
The UAW Aerospace Department coordinates bargaining for UAW-represented workers in both the commercial and defense sectors of the aerospace industry. The department works closely with UAW CAP and the UAW’s Government Relations and Legislative staffs in lobbying on issues affecting workers in the aerospace industry. It also works with the Machinists (IAM) and other unions representing aerospace workers through the Aerospace Council of the International Metalworkers Federation to advance the common interests of workers in this increasingly global industry.
Agricultural Implement
The UAW Agricultural Implement Department coordinates bargaining for UAW members at Deere & Co., Caterpillar and CNH Global. The Ag Imp Council, composed of elected representatives from each Ag Imp local union, meets three times a year to discuss issues of common concern, coordinate bargaining strategies and share information.
Competitive Shop/Independents, Parts and Suppliers
The UAW Competitive Shop/IPS Department represents UAW members at a wide range of manufacturers in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. The department negotiates national agreements with several parts and supplier companies, and is involved in all phases of administering these national agreements. The department also supports UAW members working at companies that do not have national agreements, provides wage and benefit comparisons, and assists with local negotiations when requested by the regional director. The department holds an annual conference that brings together delegates to discuss the problems and issues confronting workers in this diverse sector of our union.
Heavy Trucks
The UAW’s Heavy Trucks Department coordinates bargaining at five of the United States’ leading heavy truck manufacturers — Freightliner, Mack, Navistar International, Peterbilt and Volvo.
Transnational and Joint Ventures
The UAW Transnational and Joint Ventures Department coordinates bargaining, organizing and other relationships with non-Big Three automakers. Established in 1989, the department currently represents 1,100 UAW members at Mitsubishi Motor Manufacturing of America, Inc. (MMMA).
Technical, Office and Professional
The department services and coordinates bargaining for UAW members working for the State of Michigan, as well as county and municipal employees, engineers, health care workers, insurance industry workers, Detroit casino employees and many other technical and office professions. To make sure the concerns of the UAW’s Technical, Office, and Professional members are well represented at the International level, the department created an Advisory Council of representatives from each UAW region and each of four Councils — Academic, Health Care, Private Employment, and Public Employment.
Skilled Trades
This UAW department addresses the special issues and concerns of members in Skilled Trades classifications. It’s involved in bargaining agreements and providing special assistance and advice to UAW local unions, regions and other national departments.
The department has the sole authority for issuing journeyman cards to certify skilled trades workers and routinely performs in-plant inspections to determine which craft cards are appropriate for the site. It also deals with such issues as technology and registered Apprenticeship Programs through the U.S. Department of Labor and State Apprenticeship Councils. It provides staff support to the 24-member council (ISTAC), which advises the International Executive Board on skilled trades policy matters, including the recommendation of new card classifications.
The department’s highly acclaimed Pre-Apprenticeship Program helps UAW members develop the skills needed to compete successfully for apprenticeships. More than 17,000 UAW members have graduated from the pre-apprenticeship program – half of them minorities and women. The department is also involved in School-to-Work, Career Fairs, and mentoring programs, which provides high school juniors and seniors both classroom and hands-on education to prepare them for apprenticeship programs.
Through its Child Development Specialist Apprenticeship Program the department maintains a database for all program graduates and monitors issuances of Child Development Specialist Certification Cards. The Skilled Trades Department also sponsors, calls and conducts special Skilled Trades Conferences around appropriate themes such as health and safety, technology and collective bargaining.
The department also maintains relationships with many organizations related to the skilled trades and apprenticeship programs, such as:
Eastern Seaboard Apprenticeship Conference (Click on ESCA link on page)