Workers at Webasto Detroit voted 276 – 133 in a National Labor Relations Board election to form a union with UAW. Webasto Detroit produces hard top roofs, primarily for the Ford Bronco.
Workers at Webasto Detroit have been organizing for 2.5 years before the election, over concerns about favoritism, bullying by management, overwork, and scheduling issues.
“I’m thrilled we finally won our union. I’ve worked at Webasto for many years. We’re overworked and underpaid. We’re the ones who make money for the company. For too long, we’ve gotten nothing but disrespect from management. I’m ready for some mutual respect,” said Shara Bell, a Quality Technician for Webasto Detroit.
The victory at Webasto Detroit is part of a growing movement of auto supply workers who want the benefits and protections of forming a union at their plants. Workers in the supply chain are a vital part of the auto industry but are paid well below their counterparts at assembly plants. They often face dangerous working conditions, including exposure to hazardous chemicals without proper precautions.
“Tonight, I am proud to welcome Webasto Detroit workers to the UAW family. These workers fought for years to form their union and faced another tough fight from the boss in this election. But they believed in one another and never gave up,” said UAW Region 1A Director Mark DePaoli. “Webasto Detroit workers have won a collective voice on the job, and now they’ll begin working to win the fair pay, time off, and safer working conditions they deserve.”
Webasto Detroit workers join their colleagues at Webasto Pilot Road, who unionized with the UAW in 2023, and ratified their first contract in 2024.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FullSizeRender-scaled-e1775137469845.jpeg9902483Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2026-03-31 22:44:012026-04-02 08:44:41Webasto Detroit Workers Vote to Join the UAW
Detroit Diesel, a manufacturer of diesel engines and axles in Detroit, has announced the addition of a third shift, the recall of laid-off workers, and the hiring of dozens more, in response to strategic tariff pressures.
In October, after months of lobbying, the federal government imposed a 25 percent tariff on heavy truck imports to prevent further offshoring and drive investment in the US heavy truck industry. The move is the latest win for UAW members in the union’s fight for reshoring and reinvesting in good union jobs.
“Strategic, targeted tariffs are an important tool in the toolbox to undo the damage of our free trade disaster and bring back good union jobs to the U.S.,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “Companies like Detroit Diesel, and their parent company Daimler Truck North America, need to step up to reinvest in the workers who make the product and stop laying off American workers while making billions in profit. We applaud this first step in the right direction.”
“Detroit Diesel UAW members build a high-quality product that makes this company billions, and it’s only right that this company would invest right here in Michigan and recognize that success,” said UAW Region 1A Director Mark DePaoli. “We congratulate our members who are coming off of layoff and all those who will join our union with the creation of these new jobs.”
In 2025, workers from the Detroit Diesel Axle unit voted by 99 percent to ratify a new contract that won profit-sharing and cost-of-living adjustments for the first time after authorizing a strike.
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 Mayhugh2026-03-11 11:05:002026-03-25 11:16:18After UAW Tariff Push, Detroit Diesel to Add Third Shift, Hire More, and Recall Laid Off Workers
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
The UAW members and elected leaders conclude the 2026 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.
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.
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.
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 Bernie Sanders addresses attendees at the 2026 UAW National CAP Conference in Washington, D.C., on February 11, 2026. Photo courtesy of Brian Hedger.
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
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 autoworker at the Dearborn Truck Plant is a proud member of a strong and fighting union —the UAW. He believes in freedom of speech, a principle we wholeheartedly embrace, and we stand with our membership in protecting their voice on the job.
The UAW will ensure that our member receives the full protection of all negotiated contract language safeguarding his job and his rights as a union member.
Workers should never be subjected to vulgar language or behavior by anyone—including the President of the United States.
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 Mayhugh2026-01-14 12:36:402026-03-25 11:16:21Statement on Ford Plant Visit from VP Laura Dickerson, Ford Department Director
UAW Local 174, Unit 347 joins the Monroe County Opportunity Program (MCOP). MCOP is a nonprofit community action agency dedicated to reducing poverty, improving quality of life, and promoting self-sufficiency in Monroe County, Michigan. Through a variety of services, MCOP supports individuals and families in need, focusing on housing, food security, senior services, and financial education.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/public-sector-1.jpg9711616Tiffany Weathersbeehttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngTiffany Weathersbee2025-11-07 16:40:372026-04-17 14:15:27Region 1A, Local 174, Unit 347 Joins the Monroe County Opportunity Program
The 2025 Region 1A Summer School was focused on building committee skills, embracing diversity, and strengthening union awareness. Over 200 members from the region joined together at Black Lake to strengthen bonds across locals, foster mutual support, and gain a deeper understanding of collective action.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/region-1a-summer-school-2.webp450600Joe Simpsonhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJoe Simpson2025-09-29 16:00:262026-03-25 11:16:21RECAP: 2025 Region 1A Summer School
Detroit—The UAW has announced the results of an election held today in UAW Region 1A to fill the vacancy created when former Regional Director Laura Dickerson was elected UAW Vice President.
Delegates at a special regional convention elected UAW Local 600 1st Vice President Mark DePaoli to serve as the next Regional Director of UAW Region 1A, which covers thousands of active and retired UAW members across southeast Michigan.
“Laura Dickerson has been a dedicated leader and now brings her experience and commitment to our members in the Ford Department,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “We welcome Mark DePaoli to the International Executive Board and look forward to his leadership in Region 1A.”
DePaoli said, “I am honored to serve the members of Region 1A and to continue building our union’s strength in the workplace and our communities. Together, we will stand up for justice, fairness, and a better future for the working class.”
While the union has moved to a system of regular direct elections for its International Executive Board, mid-term vacancies at the regional level are filled by a vote of delegates, as outlined in the UAW constitution.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/546747073_1380986727366516_2095893713201217431_n-e1757712471511.jpg7682048Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2025-09-12 17:28:172026-03-25 11:16:22UAW Announces Results of Special Election in Region 1A
Our members endorsed Pastor Kinloch because we want a mayor unafraid to stand up and fight for every block in Detroit. For too long, politicians have focused on downtown. While developers and billionaires have had a feast, too many of Detroit’s working people haven’t had a plate.
Pastor Kinloch stood by UAW members—on strike and in the community. We know he will fight to make sure the neighborhoods that have been left behind finally get a seat at the table. His campaign has been about affordable housing that Detroiters can actually afford, good jobs that allow people to take care of their families, and a seat at the table for those who have been left out.
For our union, this campaign isn’t limited to ballot box results. UAW members participated in intense leadership training and development to run a bold, worker-led campaign. Our members knocked on thousands of doors and made tens of thousands of phone calls. They talked to UAW retirees on their porches, UAW kids on their blocks, and UAW members in their union halls and workplaces.
We look onward to November to fight for a Detroit that lifts every block.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/KinlochVictory-e1754456857355.jpg6401242Justin Mayhughhttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngJustin Mayhugh2025-08-06 11:54:442026-03-25 11:16:22UAW Statement on Detroit Mayoral Primary Results
DETROIT, MI — The UAW International Executive Board has elected Region 1A Director Laura Dickerson to serve as Vice President and Director of the Ford Department, succeeding Vice President Chuck Browning, who will retire at the end of this month.
In accordance with Article 10, Section 17 of the UAW Constitution, the vacancy was filled by a majority vote of the International Executive Board. Dickerson was elected to serve in this critical role and will be sworn in when Browning officially vacates the position at the end of the month.
Dickerson currently serves as Director of UAW Region 1A and brings nearly three decades of union experience to her new role. She becomes the first African-American woman to serve as UAW Vice President, continuing a trailblazing legacy of leadership.
“Chuck Browning has set the bar for what it means to fight for working-class people,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “He’s been one of the toughest and most effective negotiators this union has ever seen. When the bosses dug in, Chuck pushed harder. During the Stand Up Strike, he led the charge to kill tiers at Ford, win back COLA, and make the company pay up. He knew our power—and he used it. We’re going to miss his fire at the table, but we know Laura Dickerson brings that same fighting spirit. She’s tough, she’s battle-tested, and she’s grounded in the membership. The Ford Department is in good hands.”
Reflecting on his retirement, Browning said: “It’s been the honor of my life to serve the UAW membership. I cannot express strongly enough the respect and appreciation I have for our members and for those I’ve served with. I have all the confidence in the world that Laura will lead the UAW National Ford Department with strength and integrity. She will do it with the same fire and same heart that has earned her the admiration and support from those that she has served.”
Dickerson pledged to build on the department’s legacy: “I’m proud to take the baton from Chuck and lead the Ford Department at a time when UAW members are demanding more—and winning. We’re not doing business as usual anymore. We’re doing things differently, and it’s working. Our members stood up, took on the Big Three, and showed the world what union power looks like. I’m ready to build on that member-led momentum, fight for even stronger contracts, and make sure every worker has the dignity, respect, and voice they deserve. This union raised me, and I’ll keep fighting every day to raise standards for the entire working class.”
Dickerson was re-elected Director of UAW Region 1A by its membership in December 2022, after first being elected in 2021 to complete the term of Chuck Browning. She was the first African-American woman in UAW history to be elected to the International Executive Board. She was elected as a Regional Director.
A UAW member since 1997 with Local 600, Dickerson has served in elected roles at nearly every level of the union—chairperson, bargaining team member, national negotiator with Ford, staff council vice president, and more.
Chuck Browning has served as UAW Vice President and Director of the Ford Department since July 2021, following his election by the International Executive Board. His decades of leadership have spanned the National Ford Department, Region 1A, and the UAW President’s office, where he served as both Administrative and Top Administrative Assistant. He began his career at the Mazda plant in Flat Rock in 1987 as a member of Local 3000, eventually becoming Plant Chairperson. He will continue bargaining at Volkswagen.
At the 2022 UAW Constitutional Convention, members amended the union’s constitution and bylaws, voting overwhelmingly to adopt a “one member, one vote” system for choosing union leadership and updating the rules for leadership selection. Under the UAW Constitution, vacancies for the five officer positions (president, secretary-treasurer, and three vice presidents) are filled by a vote of the International Executive Board. Vacancies for regional directors are filled at special regional conventions by previously elected delegates to the Constitutional Convention. Per the Consent decree, the Monitor will vet Laura Dickerson prior to being sworn in.
https://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Dickerson_banner_WHM.png10882833Tiffany Weathersbeehttps://uaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/uaw-logo-white-transparent-trademark-300x300.pngTiffany Weathersbee2025-06-13 13:59:412026-04-17 14:22:52UAW Executive Board Elects Laura Dickerson as Vice President to Succeed Chuck Browning
Member Mobilization Institute Postponed
2026 UAW-Union Built Vehicle Guide
Ground Effects Workers Vote to Join the UAW