FAQ

Last time we checked, we do. But we know some more conservative unionists wish we didn't. Read more here.

A union caucus is an organized group of union members who have a shared understanding of what their union should be doing. Caucuses work to improve engagement in a union and create positive change. Read more about caucuses.

Our caucus, Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD), was formed by UAW members and is not representative of the UAW itself. We aren’t sponsored by or affiliated with any other outside groups either—we are a movement of union members across UAW dedicated to putting our union on a class-struggle footing.

Currently, CAPS UAW Local 1115 has two caucuses: UAWD Local 1115 and SDU.

UAWD is a movement of UAW Members who practice and promote class struggle unionism. UAWD Local 1115 believes a complete cultural shift is necessary in order for workers to regain control of their workplaces and society. 

Class struggle unionism is a form of unionism that challenges the control over our society by the superrich—the handful of billionaires who own the vast majority of resources in the United States and the world. Class struggle unionists believe in the capacity of workers to organize and fight for themselves. Class struggle unionism directly opposes all forms of class collaboration. 

Class struggle unionism promotes building shop-floor organization around social justice issues. Class struggle unionists see this as a critical step in regaining control of our society from the billionaires that exploit the must vulnerable workers.

Labor liberalism is a form of unionism that straddles the fence between business unionism and class struggle unionism. It embraces the values of social justice without building shop-floor organization around social justice issues. Labor liberalism, through its close ties with the Democratic Party, helps ideas from the billionaire class seep into the labor movement. Labor liberals see themselves as indispensable work-place organizers that are granted favor by the politicians they help elect. This viewpoint erodes organized worker power and leads to disengagement.  

Currently, the platform of the SDU caucus states "...we have the power to influence who our next boss will be." This statement is the very definition of labor liberalism. UAWD Local 1115 is focused on fighting the boss, not collaborating with them. 

UAWD Local 1115 views all caucuses who promote business unionism or labor liberalism as perpetuating billionaire class rule. These union models are rooted in collaboration with the boss or promoting a political party's agenda over a real working class agenda. Staff led unions, by their very nature, are contrary to class struggle unionism as staff interests and motivations diverge from that of the workers. This ultimately leads to class collaboration, not class struggle.

Labor liberalism includes the SDU Caucus at CAPS-UAW Local 1115. SDU is led by UAW Region 6 directed staff, and the now renamed Admin Caucus—the Stand Up Slate, which the Region 6 Director belongs to. The Admin Caucus is well known for historically repressing member-led militancy, strikebreaking, and promoting class collaboration.