Longtime UAW union officer to retire, sources say

By Kalea Corridor and Nora Eckert

DETROIT (Reuters) -Chuck Browning, who has been a outstanding chief within the United Auto Staff union and negotiated its offers with Ford Motor (NYSE:F), is retiring, in accordance with three sources acquainted with the matter.

Browning introduced his retirement on Tuesday at a gathering of native union leaders in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He’s main negotiations between the union and Volkswagen (ETR:VOWG_p) at a plant there, which final yr turned the primary foreign-owned auto manufacturing unit within the U.S. South to arrange.

He is among the most outstanding officers behind UAW President Shawn Fain, and helped safe a document take care of Ford Motor in the course of the labor group’s six-week strike in late 2023. Automakers Common Motors (NYSE:GM) and Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) adopted swimsuit, agreeing to 25% base wage will increase and cost-of-living changes.

Browning is predicted to retire after finalizing the Volkswagen contract, leaving his submit forward of the subsequent union presidential election, which is slated for 2026.

“Chuck Browning shouldn’t be solely one of many best bargainers within the labor motion, however certainly one of our strongest, beneficiant and succesful leaders. Our union is immeasurably stronger due to his a long time of service to our members,” Fain stated in an announcement. Browning didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Browning has been on the union’s worldwide employees since 2000. He was elected by the  UAW’s Worldwide Govt Board  as vice chairman in 2021, and was sworn in for a second time period in 2023 by way of the union’s first direct election, during which Fain was chosen as president.