RESOLUTIONS
Delegates Act to Meet
Future Challenges
Approve $60 million fund for organizing and special projects
June 13, 2006
Photos: Ben Zimmerman 
Delegates rally during Tuesday's convention session, after approving up to $60 million to promote strategic organizing and key UAW issues. |
Acting to confront the challenges facing UAW members and working families, UAW convention delegates moved to secure the union’s finances, freeing up additional funds for local unions, the International Union, and for organizing and other special projects.
The changes were accomplished with no increase in monthly union dues.
“Adoption of these changes does not raise union dues one penny,” said Kevin Bollman, a delegate from UAW Local 722 in Minneapolis, who served as chair of the Constitution Committee, which recommended the proposed changes to the convention.
Delegates adopted a new dues rebate formula; authorized a one-time $50 million transfer from the Strike Assistance Fund to the General Fund; and reallocated the use of interest from the strike fund. Delegates also approved up to $60 million in spending for special projects, including strategic organizing campaigns and efforts to promote national health care, fair trade and other UAW priorities.
Under the new formula, local unions and the International Union will receive a greater share of dues dollars, while the share of dues contributed to the Strike Assistance Fund – which now has a balance of more than $925 million – will be decreased.
“This strengthens the hand of our locals,” said Jim Rogers, president of UAW Local 2325, who spoke in support of the dues change. “And it directs resources to organizing, which we desperately need – not just so the UAW can grow, but for all those voices in the wilderness, all those workers who need a union.”
“The New York Times said today the UAW convention hit a somber tone,” said Rogers. “I don’t see any somber tone – I see a roomful of fighters. This will give us more money to fight!”
Under the new rebate formula, so long as the Strike Assistance Fund has a balance of more than $500 million, the fund will receive 5 percent of dues money, or the actual amount of funds spent each month to support UAW members on strike or lockout, whichever is less. Local unions will receive a regular monthly rebate of 12.35 percent of dues dollars, an increase from the current rebate of 10 percent. The International will receive a 12.65 percent rebate.
Constitution Committee Chair Kevin Bollman reports to delegates on Tuesday morning. |
Additional amounts will be rebated to locals and the International to reflect periods when spending to support striking and locked-out workers is less than 5 percent of dues income.
Delegates also gave the International Executive Board authority to allocate additional interest from the Strike Assistance Fund for necessary union operations. As previously, 75 percent of interest will be allocated to organizing, education and communications but the IEB now has authority to allocate the remaining 25 percent as needed.
The increased funds for local unions, the International Union and special projects will not impact the union’s ability to support striking workers, said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. The union will still be able to support members during a lengthy strike or lockout, even at large employers.
In other convention action, delegates approved changing the name of the UAW Civil Rights Department to the UAW Civil and Human Rights Department; specified that the union’s official communication with the membership can be through print or electronic means; clarified the process for appealing local union elections; and updated the Constitution to reflect the current salaries of union officers and international representatives.
