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President's Report - August 2026

Lindsay Alexander
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2026-08 President's Report
2026-08 President's Report


 

UAW LOCAL 276
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
AUGUST 2026

Brothers, Sisters, and Siblings:

It's been a busy month for our Local, and there's a lot to cover — from a new home for our union office to two important elections coming up this fall. Please take a few minutes to read through this report and share it with a co-worker who might have missed it.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND ALTERNATES/CO-CHAIRS

Congratulations to all of the newly appointed Standing Committee Chairs and Alternates/Co-Chairs! Serving on a standing committee is one of the best ways to get involved in your union and have a direct voice in how Local 276 runs. Names for each Chair and Alternate/Co-Chair are below — ask how you can get involved

Chaplaincy Committee

  • Chair – Gary Craven
  • Alternate – Roy Davis

Citizenship & Legislative Committee

  • Chair – Pauline Mims
  • Alternate – Chevelle Baxter

Civil & Human Rights Committee

  • Chair – Lawrence Brown
  • Alternate – Jacque Jones

Community Services Committee

  • Chair – Elonda Clark
  • Alternate – Apria Wilson

Conservation & Recreation Committee

  • Chair – LaShondar Price
  • Alternate – Ebony Taylor-Holmes

Constitution & Bylaws Committee

  • Chair – Martin Walker
  • Alternate – Tony Dixon

Consumer Affairs Committee

  • Chair – Jeffery Britton
  • Alternate – Lateefah Watson

Education Committee

  • Chair – Victoria Binion
  • Alternate – Kalisha Palm

LGBTQIA+ Committee

  • Chair – Tashila Benjamin
  • Alternate – Matia Gilbert

LUCA Committee

  • Chair – Bertha Dooley
  • Alternate – Marcus Hill

Member-to-Member Committee

  • Chair – Antha Smiley
  • Alternate – Kara Hveem

Organizing Committee

  • Chair – Marcus Hill
  • Alternate – Ericka Powell

Union Label Committee

  • Chair – Shanell Simmons
  • Alternate – Marilyn Mills

Veterans Committee

  • Chair – Sheila Collins
  • Alternate – Roy Davis

Women’s Committee

  • Chair – Maileen Williams
  • Alternate – Renaye Simmons

NEW TEMPORARY UNION OFFICE

We have officially moved into our temporary office location. Please update your records and stop by if you need us:

  • Address: 218 Billings Street, Suite 310, Arlington, TX 76010

  • Hours: 6:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

SEPTEMBER UNION MEETING 

Our September union meeting will be held off-site while our own hall is unavailable. Mark your calendar:

  • Date & Time: Sunday, September 13th at 2:00 p.m.

  • Location: UAW Local 848/129 Hall, 2218 East Main Street, Grand Prairie, TX 75050

NOVEMBER ELECTION – SAVE THE DATE

Election Day this year is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. This is a Local, State, and Federal election and your vote matters — for our union, for our contracts, and for our communities. Key Texas dates to know:

  • Voter registration deadline: Monday, October 5, 2026

  • Early voting: Monday, October 19 – Friday, October 30, 2026

  • Deadline to request a mail-in ballot (if eligible): Friday, October 23, 2026

  • Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026

If you're not registered, or you've moved and need to update your address, don't wait — the registration deadline comes up fast.

REMEMBER YOUR OBLIGATION TO VOTE

When you signed your union card, you didn't just join Local 276 — you took on the obligations that come with membership under our Bylaws. Article 4 (Membership), Section 4 of the Local 276 Bylaws is clear:

“It shall be the duty of each member to participate in all Local, State and Federal Elections by voting.”

That's not just good advice — it's a promise you made as a member. It applies to the November general election above, and it applies just as much to our own union's International Officer election below. Voting isn't optional for a UAW member; it's part of the deal.

IEB ELECTION – WATCH YOUR MAIL

Ballots for the 2026 UAW International Officer election began going out on or about August 21, 2026. Watch your mailbox and cast your vote as soon as it arrives — this is how we elect the people who lead our International Union.

Important dates:

  • Members must be in good standing by September 30, 2026, for their vote to count.

  • Completed ballots must be received by the designated Post Office by October 5, 2026.

  • Vote tabulation begins October 6, 2026.

  • If no candidate in a race wins a majority, a run-off election will follow, with ballots anticipated to be mailed in December 2026 and counted in early February 2027.

If you don't receive a ballot, or you need a replacement, contact the Election Vendor right away at 855-433-8683 or go to mrgballot.com — the deadline to request a replacement ballot is September 23, 2026.

WHO AND WHAT YOU’RE VOTING FOR

Members are electing three International Officer positions: International President, International Secretary-Treasurer, and three International Vice President seats. The certified candidates for each position are:

International President

  • Rich Boyer

  • Shawn Fain (incumbent)

  • Tricia Geiger

  • Brian Keller

  • Will Lehman

  • Greg Mooney

 

International Secretary-Treasurer

  • Brandon Campbell

  • Roc Ciers

  • Margaret Mock (incumbent)

 

International Vice President (3 seats)

  • Mike Booth

  • Laura Dickerson

  • Rachael Dickinson

  • Eric Fleming

  • Kevin Gotinsky

  • Ryan Hiestand

  • Kisha Richardson

  • Matt Slade

  • Tony Totty

  • Mike Turner

  • Robert Wright

 

For candidate statements, forum recordings, and full campaign literature, visit uaw.org/election2026 or check the packet that comes with your ballot.

UNION FACT OF THE MONTH

On February 11, 1937, after a 44-day sit-down strike at its Flint, Michigan plants, General Motors became the first automaker in the country to recognize the UAW as the bargaining representative for its workers — a victory that helped launch the modern labor movement and paved the way for the union we're part of today.

 

In Solidarity,

Mike Cartwright
President
UAW Local 276

 

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