UAW Volunteer Community Action Program
Fighting for Academic Workers’ Interests in Sacramento and Washington
There’s a direct relationship between the ballot box and the bread box, and what the union fights for and wins at the bargaining table can be taken away in the legislative halls.”
– Walter Reuther, UAW President 1946-1970
The UAW Volunteer Community Action Program (VCAP) is our union’s member-supported political fund. Thousands of UAW members make monthly VCAP contributions to support pro-worker political initiatives and candidates who earn the endorsement of the UAW Western States CAP/PAC Council.
Political leverage in Sacramento and in Washington can strengthen our bargaining position, and it can help win victories beyond bargaining. It’s fundamental to have this leverage because state and federal law shape the rights and working conditions of public sector unions like ours.
The UC system spends millions on their lobbyists. A strong VCAP program means Academic Workers can compete with them in Sacramento and advance our own vision for the university: an inclusive research culture, fair compensation for our labor, and accessible education for all.
Why is vcap important?
In today’s political climate, with a resurgent and organized right-wing movement and an all-out attack on working people by corporations, workers need to use every source of leverage available to win power. By supporting candidates with progressive, pro-labor platforms, Academic Workers can gain the upper hand in the fight for dignified working conditions and a UC that fully invests in its research and teaching missions.
Legislative support played an important role in helping win key demands during the 2022 strike. Over 50 California state legislators sent letters of support to UC on anti-bullying, transit, and ending UC’s bad faith bargaining that helped propel us to victory.
Last election cycle, Academic Workers worked with other UAW locals and California unions to elect labor candidates like Hugo Soto Martinez (UNITE HERE) and Liz Ortega (AFSCME 3299) who are fighting for workers’ rights at the municipal and state levels.
UAW members also fought to re-elect Katie Porter to Congress and prevent an anti-abortion candidate from taking her seat. Katie Porter authored a letter and organized over 30 of her colleagues from the California Congressional delegation to support union recognition for Student Researchers United in 2021. During the strike, Katie Porter led another letter urging UC to bargain in good faith and resolve our unions’ demands, and she reached out directly to President Drake and encouraged him to accept our transit demands, which he did soon thereafter.
vcap victories
Through VCAP, UAW has been able to support winning pro-worker candidates, including seasoned labor organizers. Some are current or former UAW members. Others are trusted allies who have long histories of advocating for Academic Workers. Some recent labor champions who won their elections with UAW support include:
Hugo Soto-Martinez
Labor organizer, Los Angeles City Council
Sheng Thao
Oakland Mayor
Janani Ramachandran
Former UAW member, Oakland City Council
Liz Ortega
Labor organizer, California State Assembly
Nationwide, UAW’s VCAP program has supported a dynamic progressive agenda including the right to abortion, an equitable transition to a greener economy, stronger funding for education and research, and improved, ethical visa and immigration policies, including expanded opportunities for work authorization and permanent residency. VCAP donations have also helped our union stop Republican attempts to cut federal science funding and win higher salaries for Postdoc and Academic Researchers.
In California, VCAP allowed our union to close a loophole that enabled UC to commit wage theft (SB 698, Leyva, 2019) and secured the right for Student Researchers to unionize (SB 201, Skinner, 2017). Recently, UAW VCAP supported the first repeal of Right to Work laws in 58 years in Michigan, as well as successful progressive policies like Illinois’s landmark Climate & Equitable Jobs Act and New York State’s Build Public Renewables campaign. UAW VCAP also played an important role in key races in the House, Senate, and Presidency in 2020, and the Senate in 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we decide where VCAP money goes, and who decides?
We make endorsements as part of UAW Western States, which includes California, Oregon, Washington and other states, members can get involved to decide what candidates and legislation they want to see our union support. Those priorities are ultimately voted on by the UAW Western States CAP/PAC Council, which our Local presidents sit on.
Is this partisan?
No. Our union supports candidates with pro-labor, progressive, and left values, not just a party platform. We have supported challengers to incumbent Democrats many times, including LA City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez.
What if I am an international worker and am not allowed to contribute to VCAP?
- Green card holders can actually contribute to VCAP!
- Even if you can’t contribute monetarily, international workers are still active in UAW’s political program because it’s not just working conditions but also living conditions that are determined by the state. International workers can get involved in our union’s political organizing committee to organize our coworkers around political issues, make lobby visits, and encourage their coworkers to contribute to VCAP.
What is the difference between VCAP contributions and dues that go to CAP?
VCAP is voluntarily-given PAC funds that are contributed towards external candidates. CAP is part of your dues and is used to support other political activities, but cannot be used toward candidate elections.
Does it matter if I am not paid through UC PATH?
VCAP is paid the same way that dues are deducted, so if someone has dues deducted, they can contribute to VCAP.