Statement on the Court Appearance and UAW Resignation of Dennis Williams

Former UAW President Dennis Williams has pled guilty to serious infractions, and in doing so put his personal and self-interest above that of our members and this Union.  These serious charges deserve serious legal consequences as they violate the oath of UAW officers and they violate the trust of UAW officers to handle our members’ sacred dues money.

Earlier this summer the UAW’s International Executive Board took action to stop payment of Williams’ legal fees.  Subsequently the UAW demanded Williams fully resign from his membership with the Union or face charges under Article 31 of the UAW Constitution to remove him from our membership.  On September 18, 2020, pursuant to that demand from the International Executive Board, Williams resigned his UAW membership effective immediately.  Under policies of the UAW, including those enacted by current UAW President Rory L. Gamble and our International Executive Board, Williams will be required to repay the UAW for all legal fees paid by the Union on his behalf or face legal action, and Williams will be required to repay any further Union funds he wrongly took or misspent. 

The UAW - under the leadership of current UAW President Rory L. Gamble and our International Executive Board - continues to focus on strengthening and implementing new financial and ethical policies and controls. The UAW continues to have proactive discussions with the U.S. Attorney’s Office as we continue to build a stronger and more ethically sound Union.

And the UAW continues our commitment to our members that we will take all available actions to hold responsible any officer, staff, or member who violates their UAW oath, our Union’s ethical standards or the law, no matter how high the office they hold.

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