The United Auto Workers (UAW) in the US said, after the filing of Article 30 charges against him by the union's international executive board, Vance Pearson, had resigned as director of UAW Region 5, effective immediately, and was retiring.
He also resigned his UAW membership, effective immediately. Pearson had been on leave from his position.
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The UAW earlier had said its board had filed charges against president Gary Jones – who recently took a lengthy leave of absence – and his aide Pearson, aiming to remove them both from their elected positions and to expel them from the union's membership.
Jones stepped down as rumours circulated about his role in an ongoing federal investigation of senior union officials.
US media reports suggested acting UAW president Rory Gamble is favourite to replace Jones with a new vice-president likely to come from the ranks of regional directors. The board is expected to vote soon on these appointments.
Federal authorities have now charged 12 UAW current or former officials as they investigate corruption within the organisation, much of it involving inappropriate use of funds.
Separately, Cindy Estrada, the UAW's FCA department head, said the union had "intensified our discussions with FCAW.
"While we have had a few outside distractions since then, your negotiators have remained focused on resolving all your outstanding demands," she said in a news bulletin for unionised workers at the automaker.
"Much progress has been made but we still have some difficult issues to resolve.
"Your negotiators are committed to bargaining a pattern agreement that meets the needs of the membership and provides long term job security."
She said the union had previously negotiated an agreement with FCA that Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after [this week in the US] would be paid holidays under the extension agreement.
