
Sisters and Brothers,
As we approach the three-month mark since launching the UAW Ethics Hotline, I want to take this opportunity to reiterate that our Ethics Hotline is a valuable, confidential resource for anyone within the UAW who wishes to report a concern related to financial malfeasance or ethical misconduct by UAW International officials or employees, including suspected violations of the UAW Constitution or the Ethical Practices Code.
The UAW Ethics Hotline is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days-a-year via the following toll-free phone number: (866) 830-0006 or through the web at https://www.lighthouse-services.com/uaw.
We remind UAW members and employees that the Hotline is not intended to address issues solely related to (1) handling of a Union member’s grievance, or (2) Local Union elections, both of which are covered under Article 33 of the UAW Constitution. Further, the Hotline is intended for allegations of misconduct by International Officials; it is not intended to address issues related to Local Union Officials’ or Local members’ misconduct, financial or otherwise. There are existing channels for addressing such matters, including under the UAW Constitution and with the President’s Office or Secretary-Treasurer’s Office.
The reports that come in through the UAW Ethics Hotline are screened and investigated by Exiger LLC, a highly experienced, third-party compliance and ethics investigative firm that serves as the Union’s Ethics Ombudsman. Wilma Liebman, the UAW’s external Ethics Officer, assesses the reports and investigations of unethical conduct referred to her by the Ethics Ombudsman, may initiate additional investigation whenever she deems it appropriate, determines any necessary next steps once the investigation is complete, including holding hearings at her discretion, and ultimately issues a Report and Recommendation whenever she finds an ethical violation has occurred. Ms. Liebman previously served as the Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board, having been appointed by both Democratic and Republican Presidents.
I want you to know that we launched the Ethics Hotline as planned, during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown, undeterred by any challenges this presented, because we understand the importance of the Hotline. We are committed to spreading the word about the UAW Ethics Hotline, highlighting its availability, and we encourage our sisters and brothers to voice any concerns they may have about ethical or financial misconduct by UAW International officials. Now that much of our membership has returned to the workplace, in the coming months we will continue to ensure that the Hotline is well-publicized, and widely advertised in our workplaces and union halls throughout the country.
To learn more about the UAW Ethics Hotline, please visit www.uaw.org and click on the Ethics link, which provides an overview of the hotline and FAQs.
In Solidarity,
Rory L. Gamble
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