UAW President Shawn Fain has secured a second four-year term with more than two-thirds of the vote, following internal rifts over his leadership in recent years.
The details: The former electrician, who led the 2023 strikes against the Detroit 3 automakers, received 68% of the vote in member balloting for the union’s top officers, based on unofficial tallies, though turnout was just over 10%, reported Labor Notes.
Fain faced five opponents, with his closest challenger, incumbent Vice President Rich Boyer, receiving 14% of the vote.
Challenged ballots still need to be counted, and the election results have yet to be officially certified, per Labor Notes.
Fain’s United UAW slate-mate for secretary-treasurer, Brandon Campbell, also secured roughly two-thirds of the vote, defeating challengers that included incumbent Margaret Mock.
Why it matters: Fain’s reelection signals continuity in the UAW’s leadership and bargaining approach, potentially influencing future labor negotiations, production costs, and vehicle pricing at unionized automakers, with implications for dealer inventory and affordability.
The car business moves fast. Stay ahead.
The most important insights from automotive retail, delivered to your inbox daily.
Join 74,000 others now, it's free:
Other context: Fain’s victory follows a turbulent period for the UAW president after leading pivotal negotiations with Detroit automakers in 2023 and other contract battles on behalf of the union’s 400,000 active members.
A small faction of UAW members at a Stellantis truck factory and an engine plant in Michigan tried to oust Fain last year, claiming his negotiations with the automaker led to thousands of factory layoffs.
The group also accused Fain of mismanaging union funds and retaliating against UAW Secretary-Treasurer Mock after she refused to approve certain expenses, stripping her of her responsibilities.
A federal monitor also found that Fain’s actions against Mock were retaliatory and ordered the reinstatement of her responsibilities, including purchasing, benefits, and pensions.
Bottom line: Fain’s reelection reinforces his position at the helm of the UAW despite internal opposition, signaling continued labor pressure on Detroit automakers as they navigate restructuring and cost challenges.
A quick word from our partner
Blue sky multiples tell you what the market thinks a franchise is worth.
They don’t tell you what’s driving the revenue underneath.
That’s where the Franchise Horsepower Index comes in, one of the proprietary tools in the Haig Report®, offering our take on the data shaping today’s buy-sell market.
This quarter, Lexus, BMW, Toyota, and Mercedes-Benz posted scores more than double the market average.
