OUR UAW

Why I'm the right choice to represent you:

I'm currently classified as a hot metal driver for GM at the Bedford location. I work and live in Indiana but I am an Ohio resident. This February I started functioning as the EAP rep when asked by Local 440. With 28 years of credited service, I finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. However, I know our great UAW is struggling. I don't believe our International Leadership is in touch with the people on the floor, this goes to accountability. Thankfully, we can change this!

My work experience and education has created a passion in me to build a better UAW. I have spent over 20 years working on the floor with many of you. As President of UAW Local 1714 and Local 1112, I gained insight into the entire organization and how it operates. There is good and bad and I will build on the good. I know the importance of focusing on the future and letting go of the past. We should be looking forward and bargaining better contracts. If we strengthen our members financially and emotionally, we can give them a reason to believe in the UAW again. If we lead with ethics and service and give our members a voice, a real voice, we can build a better UAW. The choice is yours! Below is a bullet point of my life.

Education:

BA in Social Sciences. Youngstown State University, 1999
Masters in Organizational Leadership. Geneva College, 2008
Graduate Certificate, Instructional Communication. Youngstown State University, 2019

Work experience:

GM: Summer helper, 1989-1994
Hired, 1995-present
General assembly
Material handling
Team leader
Body shop
Pressroom
Die Casting
Hot metal driver

Elected:

Trustee UAW 1714, 2003-2006
Vice-President UAW 1714, 2006-2007
President UAW 1714, 2007-2013
President UAW 1112, 2018-2019
Delegate UAW 440, 2022-present

Appointed:

Alt. Health and Safety UAW 440, 2020-2022
Temp. EAP UAW 440, 2022-present

Volunteer work:

CASA for Mahoning County Juvenile Court, 1999-2002
United Way Merger Committee, 2012-2013
Mahoning County Precinct Committee Person, 2012-2016
Multiple UAW functions for every committee and CAP 2002-present

Our members need to have their contractual concerns acknowledged by the International Leadership. Local officials need help. Many get tired of calling for the support their members deserve. The people who speak up get pushed in a corner. Some give up, others go along with the directions out of fear. This lack of accountability has put our great Union in a bad place. It has also put our members in a bad place.

We need strong leadership, those willing to put it on the line. Our members need to be first, always and forever. Fair and equal pay with benefits for all is a must. Strong leaders build leaders. They inspire and support the whole team by accepting criticism and taking accountability. When an organization hand picks, those leaders are only accountable to those that put them there. I will only be beholden to the UAW Members of Region 2B, I am one of you!

I didn’t get here from doing everything right. In fact, I failed many times but believe this is what made me who I am.Two years ago I ran for the same job and lost, yet I haven't given up, I will keep trying to create the real change we need. The easy way out is to sit back and wait for retirement. However, my passion for workers rights and social justice empowers me to not give up. Our International UAW needs to do a better job at fighting for our retired, current and future members. I know I am putting myself out there by running for Region 2B Director, this will be the most challenging job of my lifetime. I promise you this, I will give the membership everything I have.

This is your Union and for the first time in decades, YOU have a voice!

Please feel free to reach out with any concerns or questions.

In Solidarity,

Dave

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