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United Auto Workers Reform Caucus to Disband
In 2021, Scott Houldieson led the effort to help found Unite for All Workers (UAWD), a reform caucus within the UAW. Now, Houldieson is leading efforts to disband the reform caucus in a vote this weekend.
The move to disband the UAW's reform caucus comes as Shawn Fain forms a "Unity Caucus" to bring together various factions of the union. Houldieson is proposing that the reform caucus funds be steered into the Unity Caucus.
Union members are protesting the move, though.
Last week, Payday broke a story about the union refusing to release the minutes of the last two years of UAW Executive Board meetings during Fain's two-year reign as president.
"The UAWD faction wanting to dismantle the caucus has the apparent backing of the leadership of Labor Notes, the DSA Bread and Roses Caucus, and the Social Justice & Solidarity Fund trustees," wrote a group of union members in a public letter. "We urge them to reassess that support, and to stand with the UAWD founders and members who see the urgent necessity of building an even stronger democratic caucus in these turbulent times. The reform of the UAW has taken big steps but the work is far from done, as elements of the entrenched bureaucracy are pushing back to mute the organized voice of the progressive rank and file".
Volvo to Lay Off 980 UAW Members Over Tariffs
Fain's support of Trump's Tariffs continues to be controversial within the union. Neither the Machinists nor the Steelworkers support the union, and Canadian union leaders have denounced Fain for backing them.
Last week, Stellantis announced that they were laying off 900 auto supply workers at five plants, who make parts sent to Canadian plants.
Volvo has announced that they intend to lay off over 800 UAW members, mostly at their New River Valley plant in Dublin, Virginia.
"Heavy-duty truck orders continue to be negatively affected by market uncertainty about freight rates and demand, possible regulatory changes, and the impact of tariffs," Coley said in a statement to The Patriot-News. "In the case of [New River Valley], this is unfortunately a second wave of layoffs. You might recall that we announced a layoff of 250-350 in February; this ended up being about 180 people, due to attrition. So we currently expect that the total impact at [New River Valley] will unfortunately be about 430 to 530 people."
For more, check out the Patriot-News.
UAW to Target West Tennessee Blue Oval Plant
In Kentucky earlier this year, a supermajority of UAW members filed for a union election at BlueOval, a Ford and SK ON joint venture. Now, the UAW is targeting another BlueOval facility in West Tennessee.
The plant opened just three weeks ago.
"Just as Ford (and other manufacturers) drove economic growth in Detroit, BlueOval City can boost economic growth in West Tennessee," wrote labor scholar Steven Pitts in an oped widely circulated by the UAW. "Just as UAW intervention was needed to ensure growth benefited all Detroiters, similar action will be necessary to secure strong community benefits agreements so that all West Tennessee residents share in the economic growth."
For more, check out the Memphis Commercial-Appeal.
Horse Racing Industry Pushes More for Immigrant Visas
Finally, the horse racing industry is pushing for more immigrant visas. From Virginia Public Media:
"Everyone is an immigrant. We rely 100% on immigrants, from the hot walker to the groom to the jockey," Pinones said, talking about the people who prep, ride, and cool down the horses after they run at breakneck speed. "Everyone comes from another country to work in the industry."
Horse racing generated some $36 billion in 2023, the latest figures available, according to the American Horse Council. The industry heavily relies on workers with H-2B visas to get a horse on the track, because owners and trainers say they're unable to find enough U.S.-born workers. (Jockeys can qualify for a special visa for athletes.)
Still, a large portion of the workforce is estimated to be without legal status, according to industry groups.
Two widely-sought worker visa programs have already reached their annual caps, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced in March.
Visas no longer available for 2025 include the H-1B visa, which goes to those with bachelor degrees or higher, and the H-2B visa, for non-agriculture seasonal labor such as in hospitality, landscaping, or working with animals.
For more, check out Virginia Public Media.
Headlines & News Elsewhere
- Federal agencies that are laying off workers
- Wellesley Faculty are on strike. They say administrators asked their colleagues to cross the picket line
- How China's Boeing Ban threatens to backfire on Its own Plane Maker
- VA is selectively enforcing Trump's order stripping workers of union rights
- Alaska Sen. Murkowski and other US lawmakers seek guest worker visa exception for seafood industry
- 'I want a resounding death,' Gaza journalist wrote before strike killed her
- Finally, Tesla is being squeezed out of the Chinese market, workers are being pushed to their limits
Alright folks, that's all for today. Keep sending tips, story ideas, comments, and complaints to melk@paydayreport.com
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Melk
