Laura Dickerson Elected UAW Vice President, Succeeding Chuck Browning

DETROIT, MI — The UAW International Executive Board has selected Laura Dickerson, currently the Director of Region 1A, as the new Vice President and Director of the Ford Department. She takes over the role following the retirement of Chuck Browning at the end of the month.

Under the provisions of Article 10, Section 17 of the UAW Constitution, the International Executive Board filled the vacant position through a majority vote. Dickerson's official swearing-in will coincide with Browning's departure.

Bringing nearly 30 years of union experience, Dickerson steps into history as the first African-American woman to hold the position of UAW Vice President. Her leadership continues a legacy of trailblazing within the organization.

UAW President Shawn Fain praised Browning's contributions, stating, “Chuck Browning has set the bar for what it means to fight for working-class people... We’re going to miss his fire at the table, but we know Laura Dickerson brings that same fighting spirit. She’s tough, she’s battle-tested, and she’s grounded in the membership. The Ford Department is in good hands.”

In his retirement statement, Browning expressed his gratitude and confidence in Dickerson: “It’s been the honor of my life to serve the UAW membership... I have all the confidence in the world that Laura will lead the UAW National Ford Department with strength and integrity.”

Dickerson expressed her commitment to advancing the department's achievements: “I’m proud to take the baton from Chuck and lead the Ford Department at a time when UAW members are demanding more—and winning... I’ll keep fighting every day to raise standards for the entire working class.”

Dickerson was re-elected as Director of Region 1A in December 2022, a position she first assumed in 2021 to complete Browning's term. Her election to the International Executive Board marked the first time an African-American woman achieved this milestone in UAW history.

A UAW member since 1997 with Local 600, Dickerson has held various roles, including chairperson, bargaining team member, and national negotiator with Ford.

Browning has served as Vice President and Director of the Ford Department since July 2021. His extensive experience includes leadership in the National Ford Department and Region 1A, as well as roles in the UAW President’s office. He began his union career in 1987 at the Mazda plant in Flat Rock.

In 2022, UAW members voted to update the union's constitution and bylaws, adopting a “one member, one vote” system for leadership elections. According to these rules, the International Executive Board fills vacancies for officer positions, while regional director vacancies are decided at special regional conventions. Laura Dickerson's appointment will be vetted by a Monitor as per the Consent decree before she is sworn in.