May 6, 2026
2026 UAW Region Retiree Conference Day Two
text and photos by Region 8 Webmaster John Davis

Day Two of the 2026 UAW Region 8 Retiree Conference kicked off at 8:30 AM at the Bilmar Resort in Treasure Island, Florida. Today’s activities include an address from UAW President Shawn Fain and reports from our vendors who provide health care options through the VEBA Trust.

Assistant Director George Palmer kicked the day off with morning announcements and introduced Director Tim Smith who came forward to introduce UAW President Shawn Fain.

“I want to that Tim and George for the work they do in this region,” President Fain stated. “Seventeen states are a lot of territory to cover and the leadership and staff do a great job. It requires work and groups like our retirees are important in that. The councils across the UAW do an incredible job and you have a lifetime of experience.

When we look at the big picture, we have a lot of important things ahead of us. The 2026 midterms are vital to take back the House and Senate and stop this daily attack on workers in DC. We currently are in the greatest wealth inequality in our nation’s history- more so than the great depression. My grandparents lived through the depression and went north seeking better jobs in the auto industry. They got UAW jobs and it changed their life. They used to remind me all the time our family came from poverty. We are currently in a life defining moment, as corporate power is attacking workers more than it ever has. We have our Constitutional Convention coming up this summer and this will set the tone for the next four years and our next round of bargaining.

The working class has been left behind by corporate greed. The top 26 companies we represent have made $563,000,000,000 in profit in the past ten years. In that time, they have spent $530,000,000,000 in stock buybacks, leaving only $33,000,000,000 to be divided by all those workers. Every person who works should earn a living wage. They should have adequate health care, not bare basic that doesn’t protect workers. We are the richest country in the world and we rank 26^th in health care. We need retirement security in this country. A recent study showed that 60% of Americans have no retirement savings. Workers are living paycheck to paycheck has corporations rank in record profits. AI is an issue that will impact our members. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is currently trying to raise $100,000,000,000 to build a workless factory. AI is currently unregulated and unfettered. We must make sure that AI works for ALL people. We have to ask how will this impact humanity. Walter Reuther said in the 50s that we must master technology not let technology master us. In Montgomery, Alabama, Hyundai has workers wearing gloves that map their movements so they can replace them with humanoid robots.

We have been told all our lives that everything should favor the companies. We have been in a class war all our lives. Our members don’t have to work for less. We need to make sure our representatives in Congress are keeping workers in the narrative. There are 13,000,000 factory supply workers in this country, most of which are in the automotive sector. Most of these workers are non-union, working for substandard wages and no benefits. We have an Administration in the White House that is tearing apart labor laws every day. Organizing and solidarity is our power. I say all the time that union density is destiny and our strength. Without work there is no profit.”

Following President Fain, Colleen Allen from the VEBA Trust gave an update on benefits, along with representatives from the various vendors who provide health care services from for our members.

First was John Dowsley from Blue Cross Blue Shield. Covered updates and answered questions concerning Blue Cross Blue Shield. Lauren Davis from Delta Dental covered changes and additions to the dental cover. Christina Fountain from Optum talked about the prescription coverage for retirees.

Colleen Allen Of The VEBA Benefits Trust gave an update on the Trust Assets.

The current numbers are:

Company Assets Number of Those Covered