Frequently Asked Questions
Why are you running for UAW International President?
I am running because our union is broken. For too long, the UAW has been led by people more focused on protecting their own power than protecting the members. We have seen retaliation against officers who spoke up, weak contracts, lost jobs, and no real strategy to deal with AI and automation. I am running to bring honesty, accountability, and real solutions back to our union.
What is your plan to protect jobs from AI and automation?
I released a detailed plan in 2025 to fight back against AI. My plan includes strong contract language such as no direct layoffs from AI, a joint AI task force with equal union representation, 90 days advance notice before AI is introduced, mandatory retraining at company expense, and strong protections against AI surveillance and monitoring. This plan has been public for over a year.
What is your 7-7-7 401k Plan?
The company puts in 7% of your pay automatically, even if you contribute nothing.
If you add up to 7% yourself, the company matches it with another 7%.
You only contribute 7%, but 21% total goes into your retirement every year and it is for every hour that you work. Along with no investment restrictions and fully vested from Day 1!
What will you do for UAW retirees?
I will fight to eliminate the Social Security Offset so retirees keep the full benefits they earned instead of seeing it cut at age 62. Where we will fight to roll whatever the supplement or bridge was before age 62 into all current and future pensioners pensions. I will also launch UAW Cares, a supplemental healthcare plan that uses our collective buying power to lower out-of-pocket healthcare costs for retirees and eventually all UAW members.
What is your plan for paid family leave?
I believe it is time we start putting UAW families first. I will fight for 10 weeks of paid maternity leave for every UAW woman, 4 weeks of paid leave for UAW spouses when their partner gives birth, and 2 weeks of paid leave for any UAW member who adopts a child 9 months or younger. I will also push for paid leave for court hearings related to adoption and foster care. Along with a $5,000 benefit to cover the cost of lawyer fees in adoption cases. Strong families build a stronger union.
What is UAW Cares and who will it help?
UAW Cares is a new supplemental healthcare plan I will create that uses our massive collective buying power to dramatically lower out-of-pocket healthcare costs for prescriptions, doctor visits, and medical care. This plan will especially benefit retirees who are not covered by the VEBA, as well as IPS, higher education, and other non-Big 3 members who have historically had weaker healthcare coverage. Over time, we will expand UAW Cares across the entire union so all members can benefit with world class healthcare.
What is my plan to deliver meaningful change for IPS workers?
1. 1-Year Wage Progression in ALL Contracts No more waiting years to reach top pay. Every IPS worker should reach top rate within one year.
2. Strong AI and Automation Protections Real job security, retraining programs, and the right to share in the gains created by new technology. We will not allow companies to eliminate IPS jobs without protecting our members.
3. 7-7-7 401k Retirement Plan The company will automatically contribute 7 percent into your 401k. If you contribute 7 percent, the company will match it with another 7 percent. This gives IPS workers a real path to retirement security while protecting legacy pensions.
4. Major Investment in Apprenticeships and Skilled Trades We will expand apprenticeship programs so IPS workers can enter skilled trades with proper training and good wages.
5. Mandatory Safety Training for Management All frontline managers will be required to complete National Safety Council training. Appointed Safety Reps will receive paid training to better protect members on the shop floor.
6. Limits on Mandatory Overtime Mandatory overtime will be capped at 8 hours per week. You will only be required to work one Saturday per month, with clear rules to stop companies from forcing you to work every weekend.
7. Maximum HSA Contributions Allowed by Law We will fight to allow IPS members to contribute the maximum amount permitted by law into their Health Savings Accounts.
8. Job Placement Priority Across the UAW Qualified UAW members will receive priority hiring when jobs become available in any UAW-represented workplace, giving IPS workers more opportunities.
9. Ability to Buy Extra Vacation Time Members will have the option to purchase additional vacation time so you can spend more time with family.
10. Paid Family Leave for UAW Families We will fight for 10 weeks of paid maternity leave for UAW women, 4 weeks of paid leave for spouses, paid adoption leave, and reimbursement for legal fees related to adoption. IPS families deserve real support.
11. Standardized IPS Master Contract We will push for a standardized contract that applies to all Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 IPS companies. This will bring consistency in wages, benefits, and working conditions across the supplier base. At the same time, we will use the strength of Big 3 negotiations to demand higher wages and better terms that flow down and improve pay and conditions for IPS workers.
During the next round of negotiations with the Detroit Big 3, what issues would you prioritize at the bargaining table?
In the 2028 negotiations with the Detroit 3, I would prioritize several critical issues that directly impact both current and future members.
First, I would fight for strong contract language to protect jobs from AI and automation, including advance notice, retraining requirements, and limits on how AI can be used to replace or monitor workers.
Second, I would push for the 7-7-7 401k plan so every member can build real retirement security with full vesting from day one and no restrictions on how they invest their money.
Third, I would make eliminating the Social Security Offset a top priority, so retirees keep the full pension they earned instead of seeing it cut at age 62.
I would also demand an end to the tier system, a maximum one-year progression to top pay, and an end to the abuse of temporary workers.
Finally, I would fight to expand paid family leave and launch UAW Cares to lower healthcare costs for retirees and eventually all members.
These issues are essential to protecting our members and securing the future of the UAW.
What do you see as the most important issue currently facing the United Auto Workers?
Artificial intelligence and automation represent the single greatest threat to UAW jobs since our union was founded in 1935. Companies are already openly discussing replacing workers with robots and AI systems, and many of our current leaders are either unprepared or unwilling to confront this reality.
What makes this even more dangerous is that much of our current leadership is largely technology illiterate. They don’t understand how quickly this technology is advancing, and they have failed to negotiate meaningful AI protections in recent contracts. While they talk about the threat at a high level, they have no real strategy or contract language to protect our members.
If we don’t get serious about this issue now, we risk losing tens of thousands more jobs in the coming years. This is not a future problem; it is a NOW problem that is happening right now on shop floors across the country.
We need leadership that understands the threat, has a detailed plan to fight back, and is willing to put strong protections in our contracts before it’s too late.
Why do you use AI in your campaign?
I use AI in my campaign because I am paying for and running it completely on my own. I do not have a large staff or outside funding, so I have to be strategic with my time. While I am a Multimedia Specialist by trade and fully capable of creating content myself, I cannot work full time on this campaign, engage with members, and still produce high-quality material at the volume needed. Using AI allows me to work more efficiently without sacrificing the quality or message of my campaign.
More importantly, by using AI myself, I gain a better understanding of how this technology can be used against UAW members in the workplace. This hands-on experience helps me develop a stronger and more effective plan to protect jobs, rather than just talking about the dangers of AI without truly understanding how it works.
How will you support UAW members who work in higher education?
I have a deep respect for UAW members who work in higher education. Before running for International President, I taught IT at a trade school and worked for 2.5 years in higher education supporting faculty and staff in the Education Technology Department at Ohio Northern University. I understand the challenges these members face, including shrinking budgets, increasing workloads, and attacks on public education. As your next International President, I will fight for strong contracts that protect higher education workers, improve wages and benefits, and ensure they have a real voice in our union. Higher education members are an important part of the UAW, and they deserve the same level of support and respect as members in any other industry.
How will you strengthen and protect the Strike Fund?
A strong strike fund is essential to winning good contracts and giving members real power at the bargaining table. Currently, weekly strike pay is too low, and the International has failed to properly grow and protect the fund. I will change that.
As International President, I will raise weekly strike pay to $625 and add a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) so it keeps up with inflation. I will also give members the option at the start of their contract to pay one additional hour of dues in exchange for up to double the weekly strike pay.
At the same time, I will make serious cuts to the bloated administrative staff at the International level and redirect those savings back into the strike fund. My goal is to grow the strike fund to over $1 billion by the start of 2028 while also increasing the number of boots-on-the-ground servicing reps so members receive better support.
This plan strengthens our ability to fight by giving members meaningful financial support during a strike and forcing the International to operate more efficiently instead of wasting money on unnecessary administrative costs.