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Updated: Fain Wins Historic UAW Presidential Election (Video)

March 27, 2023

This election cycle marks the first direct election of officers for the union. Top leadership was previously chosen through a delegate system.

IW Staff

Editor's note: This story was updated March 29, 2023, to add Fain's acceptance speech video and comments from that speech.

After participating in a close run-off election, Shawn Fain beat incumbent Ray Curry for the UAW’s international president position; he was sworn into office on Sunday.

Curry received the most votes in the initial election, but he failed to achieve a majority, prompting a run-off vote.

Fain, an International administrative representative in the Stellantis department, ran on a more aggressive negotiations approach. He was elected ahead of this summer's crucial contract negotiations.

Fain kicked off his presidential acceptance speech (see video below) with an extended "Let's get ready to rumble!" shout. He later added, "Now, we're here to come together to prepare ourselves for our war against our one and only true enemy: multi-billion dollar corporations and employers who refuse to give our members their fair share."

UAW leadership has shifted drastically in the past five years, with two former presidents convicted of corruption.

Curry was chosen as president by the International Executive Board in 2021. “I am committed to ensuring that this transition is smooth and without disruptions. I wish him, the entire UAW International Executive Board, staff and clerical support as well as UAW’s membership great success for the future,” he said in a statement.