The UAW International Executive Board (IEB) voted on December 5 to merge the states represented by UAW Region 5 between UAW Regions 4 and 8. This merger became effective today, February 28, 2020.

States have been apportioned between Region 4 and 8 in the following way:

UAW REGION 4

Current Region 4: Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana

Added Into Region 4: Kansas, Missouri, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Alaska and Hawaii

UAW REGION 8

Current Region 8: Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware and four Pennsylvania counties: Franklin, Cumberland, Adams and York.

Added Into Region 8: Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Utah and California.

“This action was taken in the interest of maintaining continuity in representing and servicing our members. Both Regions 4 and 8 have been prudently managed, cover wide geographic territories and have proven experience effectively representing UAW members. This will not impact any individual locals or state CAP councils or retiree councils,” said UAW President Rory Gamble. “When a vacancy occurs on the IEB – as happened with Region 5 – the UAW Constitution allows for the International Executive Board to combine regions, an action that has been taken in the past. These consolidations have no impact on regional staffing, International Union programming or the operation of local unions.”

As in 2002 and 2012, when recent past mergers occurred, regional programming and operations remained in place through the new regional structures.

“Whenever there is a regional director vacancy, the UAW IEB takes the opportunity to look at our structure and consider the best interests of our members and the Union,” said Ray Curry, UAW Secretary-Treasurer. “As with more recent region mergers, we have determined that this decision is prudent for the best interests of the union.”

“It is our goal to efficiently manage the transition and respect local traditions and representation needs,” said UAW Region 4 Director Ron McInroy and UAW Region 8 Director Mitchell Smith in a joint statement.