Report to members on the union’s finances

The UAW had a successful collective bargaining year, negotiating contracts for our workers at Caterpillar Inc., Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co. and Mitsubishi, as well as gaming workers, state employees and many more.

Yet the economy continues to stifle real job growth in America as companies make record profits but fail to recall previous workers or hire new ones.

Some sectors of our union are showing signs of new life as the agriculture industry has done substantial hiring, expected in auto as well, which should translate into new jobs. We have enjoyed substantial success in organizing in the gaming industry and in higher education. Considering these bright spots and the gains recently made in the European economic troubles, we are hopeful that the U.S. economy will take a favorable turn in 2012.

To face the challenges placed before us, with a shrinking membership and fewer dues dollars, the UAW has had to make many institutional decisions, some of which were painful but necessary. We have made these decisions on how to best move our union forward to regain the power that is necessary to effectively represent our membership.

Your monthly dues of two hours’ pay per month not only secures a wealth of history, tradition and knowledge in protecting and securing decent pay and good working conditions, but it also secures the foundation for our union to continue advocating on behalf of all working families.

Our union’s strength is our solidarity. That is every bit as true today as it was 75 years ago. Our solidarity doesn’t always guarantee a victory in every fight, but sometimes the victory is in the fight. We are mobilized, marching forward organizing new members and bringing social justice to working families here and around the world.

We thank you and appreciate your support and participation and ask that you continue to be involved in being a leader in your union hall, your workplace and your community spreading the UAW philosophy.

This financial report provides information about the union’s financial position. Among the highlights:

The union’s total fund balance at the end of 2010 was $1,035,158,221.66.

Total income in 2010 was $175 million, while total expenses were $234 million. The difference, $59 million of disbursements in excess of receipts, was due primarily to the continued decline in per capita taxes, membership and declining average dues.

Approximately 50 percent of all dues collected since June 2006 went to local unions, 5 percent went to the Strike Assistance Fund and 45 percent went to the International Union’s General Fund.

Overall active and retired membership stood at 973,963.

During 2010, our union won 31 recognition elections, accounting for 1,681 potential new members.

Approximately 2,812 UAW members went on strike or were locked out in 2010, and they received over $15.2 million from the union’s Strike Assistance Fund, which pays for weekly benefits, medical assistance and other expenditures.

The following pdf is a summary from UAW Secretary-Treasurer Dennis Williams. The full report is available for examination at all local unions.

Click here for a summary (PDF 980 KB) from UAW Secretary-Treasurer Dennis Williams. The full report is available for examination at all local unions. ).