Why am I running?

UAW Members,

Hello, my name is Greg Mooney, and I have the privilege of serving as Recording Secretary for Local #2147 in Lima, Ohio, where we build the U.S. Militaries Main Battle Tank. Over the past year, I have recognized the threat AI poses to the future of my local and the profound impact it will have on my UAW family.

I believe AI and automation represent the greatest existential threat the union has faced since its founding in 1935. We must acknowledge that technology is evolving rapidly, and the UAW should lead the charge in guiding AI's integration into the workforce. AI and automation can boost productivity, but they can also be weaponized against us—eliminating jobs, surveilling our members, and eroding our strength by weakening our collective voice. We must collaborate with companies and policymakers to balance corporate profits and greed with the need for a safe, healthy, and productive society that provides purpose and dignity through work.

The fight against unchecked AI and automation is the defining battle of our generation, and a fight we MUST win, no matter the cost, to preserve our American way of life and secure a brighter future for our children. Elites openly discuss replacing our jobs with AI, robots, and automation while offering scraps like universal basic income as they drain the health, wealth, creativity, and resources from our great republic. Elon Musk envisions a future where you don’t own a car but rent one from his fleet of self-driving vehicles built by robots. Microsoft recently laid off 9,000 employees, replacing them with AI tools those very workers helped create, while simultaneously importing H-1B visa workers and posting record profits.

I find this future reprehensible and have crafted CBA language that any local can use immediately to protect your jobs. This isn’t mere talk or a promise for tomorrow—these are practical, actionable guidelines you can implement today.

The fight over AI in the coming decade will be hard-fought and challenging, but we must remain steadfast. I know the grit, determination, and will of the men and women of the UAW. I believe we can—and will—win this fight. I place my faith, hope, and trust in God, confident that He will provide for us and meet our needs. Therefore, I reject dependence on greedy corporations with no moral compass. I reject universal basic income. And I reject a future where we are stripped of purpose. Fair work for a fair day’s pay fuels our purpose and ignites the American spirit of creativity and innovation.

I fully expect that within the next seven years, every UAW local will face a strike over AI. We may look back at the 2008 financial collapse as the “good times” as UAW membership falls to levels not seen since our founding. I worry that as our membership declines, we won’t replenish our strike fund quickly enough to stand firm against corporate tyranny, forcing us to capitulate to elites, lose our solidarity, and fade into history.

In my view, a subset of the UAW’s leadership has been politically and ideologically captured by issues that don’t directly impact most UAW workers. This willful negligence means leadership is not taking the threat of AI and automation seriously enough to prevent job losses. If they were, we would already have a plan and contract language ready for current negotiations.

I cannot stand idly by, knowing what lies ahead, and be complicit in watching this great union falter. The UAW has protected my job countless times since I became a member, shielding me from management’s persecution and retaliation for simply sharing ideas or asking questions. I’m grateful for past UAW leaders who fought tirelessly to secure the best healthcare in the world, COLA, salary continuation, and countless other benefits. I’m thankful for my negotiating committee, who sacrificed months negotiating with corporate shills to ensure I can provide for my family.

Today, I recognize it is my time to stand up and continue the fight—to uphold the proud tradition of being a UAW member who doesn’t waver in the face of challenges. Therefore, I am proud to announce my campaign for IUAW President. Where I will push back against AI, ensure financial responsibility, invest in our future, and launch an organizing effort unlike any our union has ever seen. Join me to strengthen our union and build a brighter, more hopeful future for our nation. #UAWSTRONG

In Solidarity,

Greg Mooney