UNITED AUTOMOBILE, AEROSPACE & AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WORKERS OF AMERICA LOCAL 1596 (UAW)

UAW Local 1596 is a labor organization located in Canton, Massachusetts.

The union president is usually the individual who leads negotiations on behalf of the union. The President of UAW Local 1596 is Kathy Melish. Union members do not get to vote on who leads negotiations.

UAW Local 1596 LM2 Report 2023

Every year unions are required to file financial reports with the U.S. Department of Labor. These reports show all the money a union collected in a particular year, including the source of the income. Reports also show where the UAW spent the money it collected.

Where does Local 1596 spend its money?

Found on the Local 1596 LM2, Fiscal Year 2023 Report: STATEMENT B - RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS

$1,052,891 Representational Activities – Money spent by the local attempting to organize non-union workers

$69,160 Union Employee Benefits – Health, welfare, retirement benefits for employees of the union itself

$5,428 Political Activities & Lobbying – This is money spent on political lobbying and donating to the International union’s selected political candidates

$17,533 General Overhead – There is no specific definition of this term. It could include various general costs of operating the union and maintaining its physical assets

$423,426 Taxes to the International – Taxes paid to the International UAW by Local 1596 on behalf of the Local's members

$60,090 Union Administration – Money that Local 1596 spends on internal affairs

$0 Individual Members – Money that the local disburses to its members

United Automobile, Aerospace, & Agricultural Implement Workers of America Local 1596 Representation Election Track Record

How has the local 1596 fared in NLRB representation elections in first contract negotiations?

Since 1990, there have been 5 representation petitions filed with the NLRB.

Out of the 5 representation petitions filed, here are the results:

  • Won 2 elections (40%)

  • Withdrew 2 prior to the vote (20%)

  • Lost 0 elections

    • Pending 1 election (Newbury Comics)

Unions usually withdraw a petition if they feel they are going to lose an election

Of those 2 wins, the UAW was able to reach a contract on both occasions.

But out of the 2 contracts signed, employees got more in wages and benefits than what they had prior to unionization just 1 time.

That is an overall success rate of 20%.

Below is information from an independent research firm reflecting these results:

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

All unions, including UAW, have an International Constitution that contains the rights and powers of union officials, as well as rules and obligations all members must follow. According to the UAW Constitution:

  • Members are bound to an oath of loyalty to UAW. If a member violates a rule in the Constitution, they can be fined, suspended, or expelled from the union. Article 31

  • The union can bring members up on internal disciplinary charges. At a hearing, cases are heard by a trial committee consisting of union members. Article 31