Senator Peters Announces UAW Region 1 Director LaShawn English as 2024 State of the Union Guest

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) announced today that United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 1 Director LaShawn English will be his guest for President Biden’s State of the Union Address this Thursday, March 7^th. Peters and English will highlight the UAW’s success in securing record contracts for UAW workers and supporting unionization efforts across the country. In February, the UAW announced an investment of $40 million through 2026 to support organizing efforts by non-union autoworkers and battery workers across the country in order to meet the surge in organizing activity among non-union workers that followed the UAW’s historic contract negotiations with the Big Three Automakers in October.

“This past fall, Michigan autoworkers won record contracts that will lift up working people and middle-class families not only in Michigan but across our country,” said Senator Peters. “Today, the UAW is continuing to lead the charge to make sure every hardworking American has a free and unhindered opportunity to join a union and fight for the wages, benefits, and job security they deserve. As someone who has held numerous leadership positions and served more than two decades as a member of the UAW, LaShawn has played a critical role in this success and supported the advancement of workers throughout our state. I’m honored she will join me for the State of the Union address.” 

“With more than two decades of service in the skilled trades and a wealth of experience in various leadership roles, I know firsthand the challenges that workers, and particularly women, face in today’s workplace,” said UAW Region 1 Director LaShawn English. “I’ve dedicated my career to breaking down those barriers and advancing workers’ rights throughout our state. It’s an honor to join Senator Peters for this year’s State of the Union to celebrate the record contracts that UAW members delivered through hard work and perseverance this past year, and to highlight the fight ahead to ensure workers everywhere have the opportunity join a union.”

English joined the UAW in 1999 as a member of United Association Building Trades Local 370, where she obtained her journeyman’s card as a pipefitter. During her 22 years of service, English has held several leadership positions in the UAW, including on the skilled trades council, election committee, and Women’s Committee, and served three terms as Recording Secretary. As Director of UAW Region 1, English represents over 50,000 active members and over 100,000 retired members throughout 8 counties in Southeast Michigan, including Detroit, as well as Canada. English was recently appointed as Director of the UAW Women's Department, which organizes and mobilizes the hundreds of thousands of UAW women for justice on and off the job.

Peters has been a consistent supporter of UAW workers and has long fought to protect every American’s right to collectively bargain. As UAW contract negotiations began last July, Peters sent a letter to the CEOs of the Big Three auto manufacturers urging them to negotiate in good faith. In August, he then met with UAW members in Lansing to show his support and hear their priorities. Peters also joined the picket line with UAW members in Michigan multiple times while they fought for better wages, benefits, and job security. Following the UAW’s record contracts this fall, Peters led his colleagues in sending a letter to 13 non-unionized automakers urging them not to illegally block UAW unionization efforts at their manufacturing plants.

Peters grew up in a union household, where his mother was a Service Employees International Union (SEIU) steward and his father was a member of the National Education Association (NEA).

Michigan is home to the most auto workers in the United States, and UAW represents around 70,000 auto workers in Michigan. The auto industry directly and indirectly employs 1.1 million workers in Michigan, or about 20 percent of the state’s workforce.

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