UAW President Shawn Fain will oversee the union’s Stellantis Department going forward, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation.
The move means the reassignment of those duties from Vice President Rich Boyer, who had been in charge of the department. Boyer will retain his oversight of the union’s Competitive Shop/Independents, Parts and Suppliers departments, according to the sources who spoke to the Free Press on Thursday. The sources agreed to talk to the Free Press on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss sensitive issues.
The UAW declined to comment on the move involving the union department connected to the company that owns the Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat brands.
The decision to move the Stellantis Department to the president’s office was not made through the International Executive Board, which is the union’s top leadership body. One source described being frustrated with the president’s actions in making the change.
The union has three vice presidents. The other two, Mike Booth and Chuck Browning, are in charge of the General Motors and Ford departments, respectively.
It wasn’t immediately clear what precipitated the move. Boyer could not be reached for comment.
It’s the second shakeup of leadership duties on the International Executive Board in recent months following moves in February to reassign departments that had been under Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock. In that case, the Women’s Department went to Region 1 Director LaShawn English and the Technical, Office & Professional Department went to Region 1A Director Laura Dickerson.
Fain sent a letter to staff explaining the changes involving Mock as a reorganization of some departments and assignments.
More: UAW President Shawn Fain reveals why he thinks Mercedes vote failed
An activist group with the union, however, Unite All Workers for Democracy, had posted allegations against Mock on its Facebook page, such as accusing her of refusing to approve expenses related to last year’s strike against the Detroit Three.
Mock said the allegations were not true, and that she “must protect the sacred dues dollars that our members work so hard to earn and that they entrust to us to spend wisely in their best interest.”
Notably, Fain ran on the same reform slate as both Boyer and Mock in the UAW’s first direct election that wrapped up early last year, ushering in a more activist approach to organizing and bargaining. That election was a result of the agreement with the federal government following the corruption scandal that sent numerous ex-UAW officials and auto executives to prison.
Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: UAW shakeup: Fain now overseeing Stellantis Department
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