DIRECTOR TIM SMITH

Tim Smith was elected UAW Region 8 Director by the members in December of 2022. 

He was hired as a machine operator in November 1987 at Dana Perfect Circle in Franklin, Kentucky. The non-union plant was eventually organized and chartered as UAW Local 2370 in March 1997. Smith was a key member of the Volunteer Organizing Committee and that experience has shaped who he is as a labor leader.   

Smith also helped organize UAW Local 2407 (Rane Precision Diecasting, Russellville, Kentucky) and UAW Local 3047 (Metalsa Structural, Elizabethtown, Kentucky).    

In June 2007, He went on political leave from his plant to serve as a Zone Coordinator for the Kentucky State AFL-CIO governor’s race. From 1997 to 2008, UAW Local 2370 members elected him to serve in numerous positions including the Bylaws Committee, Alternate Steward, Committeeperson for two terms, and President. Smith has served on the Kentucky AFL-CIO Executive Board and was appointed to the South-Central Kentucky Workforce Developing Board that served ten counties in Kentucky. He has also been active in CAP and the Retired Workers’ Councils and is a member of the NAACP.  

He was appointed by then-Region 3’s Director Mo Davison in January of 2008 as an International Representative. His assignment included servicing automotive and automotive supplier locations (Dana, GM, Waste Management, IAC, Metalsa, Rane Precision Diecasting, and Rocore Thermal Systems) in Kentucky. As part of the UAW restructuring of Region 3, Smith was assigned as a Servicing Representative in March 2012 by then-Director Gary Casteel of Region 8. His assignment as a Servicing Representative in Region 8 included automotive and supplier locations (GM, GMCCA, Fisk University, Carlex Glass, TRW, Hennessey, Cummins, Transtar, Faurecia, and Siemens).  

Smith was responsible for collective bargaining, arbitration, political action, and other bargaining assignments. He also served as the veterans’ liaison for Region 8. He was appointed by then-Director Ray Curry, to Assistant Director in June 2018. He was elected in 2022 to be Region 8 Director.  

He has been active for many years in his community. He has served as the president of the Auburn Junior Pro Basketball; president of the Auburn Little League Baseball; assistant coach of the Logan County High School Softball; and booster president of the Greenwood Lady Gators Softball. 

Smith is a 1980 graduate of Russellville High School in Russellville, Kentucky and was a member of the first Russellville Football State Championship Team. He enjoys golfing, fishing, boating, and exercising. He is a member of Crittenden Drive Church of Christ.  

He has a long-term companion, Felicia Watts. He has two children: Zach Smith and Aeron Westbrook and seven grandchildren, Colton, Leni, Ava, Ford, Palmer, Ella, and Harper. Tim currently resides in Bowling Green, Kentucky.