Former United Auto Workers President Ray Curry accused the current union's leadership of "fear, intimidation and retaliation" in a letter sent to retired officers and regional directors seeking interest in a video call on the future of the Reuther Administration Caucus a year out from the next Constitutional Convention.

The letter obtained by The Detroit News is another sign of a potential challenge to UAW President Shawn Fain, who already has shared his intentions to run for reelection. Fain won attention during the Detroit-based union's "Stand Up" strike in the fall of 2023, propelling the union into national discourse, negotiating record contracts with the Detroit Three automakers and successfully organizing Volkswagen AG autoworkers in Tennessee.

But commitments around transparency and ridding the union of corruption have come under scrutiny amid investigations by the union's court-appointed monitor, including one that concluded Fain retaliated against second-in-charge Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock. The watchdog was installed by a first-in-UAW-history consent decree to oversee the union in 2021 for at least six years following a years-long corruption scandal that entangled former UAW presidents Dennis Williams and Gary Jones and several others in criminal charges.

Fain in 2023 beat Curry by 483 votes — 50.2% to 49.8% — in a narrow run-off election in the union's first directly elected vote for its top officers. Fain was the first UAW president not to be backed by the Reuther Caucus, later called the Administration Caucus, since Walter Reuther was elected president in 1946. Fain, Mock and others were backed by the Unite All Workers for Democracy Caucus, which started from a movement within the union led by frustrated members wanting to see reforms. UAWD in April dissolved over "ongoing disagreements," according to a statement on its website.

Curry said in a phone interview with The News that the letter was sent in mid-June following discussions with former UAW presidents Rory Gamble and Ron Gettelfinger and former Region 2B Director Ken Lortz, in recognition that the 39th Constitutional Convention where candidates for the International Executive Board, including president, will be nominated by delegates is less than a year away on June 15-18, 2026.

"Our Membership, Staff, IEB members and all of us personally have benefited tremendously from the (Reuther Administration) Caucus over the years and it's important to hear your thoughts as we move forward," Curry wrote. "It is imperative that we be prepared and have a plan to support the election process that follows" the convention.

As a retired UAW member, Curry said he isn't eligible to run for an IEB position under the rules in the UAW constitution. Members, however, could seek to change those rules by submitting a resolution for the convention, or a delegate can raise one from the floor of the convention.

"That's not anything I’m seeking or asking," said Curry, who said he's been enjoying retirement after returning to the South from Michigan, including volunteering and helping members when they reach out.

Curry deferred questions regarding UAW leaders and the state of the union to his comments in the letter. It said "outsiders" who supported Fain's campaign are in leadership positions without having worked in a UAW facility or paid dues.

"Their leadership style is based on fear, intimidation and retaliation," Curry wrote.

A request for comment with Fain's staff didn't receive immediate response.

Curry noted after 10 international staff terminations over the past two years, they are "employees-at-will subject to termination without explanation and without recourse." Curry also criticized Fain — without ever naming him explicitly — for having "resisted compliance and withheld documentation from investigations" by the monitor — who previously had complained of delays in response to document requests when Curry was in charge as well.

Curry also noted 24-hour security protection for Fain, including at his home which received a "$30,000 + security system."

"Spending is out of control and infighting with his UAWD board members is beyond belief," Curry wrote.

Curry also wrote that the Detroit Three contracts left money on the table, noting General Motors Co. announced stock buybacks following the talks; Chrysler parent Stellantis NV eliminated temporary employee positions instead of converting them; and Ford Motor Co. planned to expand Super Duty pickup production to Canada. He added that other sectors of the union are being ignored.

Curry in the letter described the situation of Reuther Administration members as "fluid" with Laura Dickerson taking over Chuck Browning's vice president role at the start of July following his retirement.

"It would be nice to be able to sit back and ignore what is happening," Curry said, "but I am always reminded of our constitutional oath which is the key (tenet) to support our UAW."

Curry wrote he would send a follow-up invitation to the former union leaders with information for a Zoom video call. He declined to specify whether that has been held.

"There’s been a lot of response," Curry told The News. "That’s where we are with it. I think there could be some future conversations that we have about this."

The letter appears to be an effort by the former upper echelon of the union to explore their options and to see if there is a viable candidate to run, said Marick Masters, professor emeritus of business at Wayne State University.

"They've got baggage, but I think it's important to remember the people involved in the wrongdoing have been identified and punished and purged from the union," Masters said. "A lot of people came from the ranks of the administrative caucus. That's probably where there's still a lot of talent."

The 12th report from Neil Barofsky, the union's monitor, filed last month in the U.S. Eastern District Court of Michigan painted Fain, the UAW president, as a retaliatory, foul-mouthed labor leader who coordinated with underlings to remove Mock in February 2024 from oversight of 11 union departments and two external board positions. Barofsky recommended that Mock be returned to her leadership roles, to which the union has responded in court by accusing Barofsky of overstepping his role.

The monitor stopped short of filing any charges against Fain amid ongoing investigations focused on "allegations concerning a retaliatory pattern of conduct" involving the union president. Barofsky's investigation into Fain doesn't appear to involve criminal allegations. However, Barofsky can try to discipline, remove, suspend, expel and fine UAW officers and members.

Mock in an interview with The News didn't specify if she will run for reelection or a different role next year, only that she must be nominated at the Constitutional Convention to run for any role.

"A lot of it depends on what can happen with respect to Shawn Fain in regard to what the monitor does in his investigation, which will determine the viability of his candidacy," Masters said. "If as a result of that investigation, he becomes a less-viable candidate, and the dissident faction may want to continue leading, then they'll have to find another candidate. It's setting itself up to be a confused-looking situation going forward.

"It's unclear whether the faction that really led the opposition to the Reuther Caucus has any legs to stand on at the current time beyond the current appointees on staff."

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