(WXYZ) — A critical vote is facing local United Auto Worker unions across the country.
Members have been holding a strike authorization vote. And today is the deadline for unions to turn over their tallies.
Adding to the pressure of contract negotiations are government investigations into bribery allegations among UAW presidents across the country, including Canton Township.
Contracts are set to expire Sep.14th – that means negotiations will likely intensify – especially with this FBI, IRS and Department of Labor investigation.
Investigators executed a search warrant at the home of local UAW President Gary Jones, as part of a nation wide investigation, looking into potential bribery and other corruption.
Investigators were at gary jones’ house in canton for for about six hours. They did take items from the home in evidence boxes.
UAW presidents in California, Wisconsin, Missouri and Northern Michigan also had their homes searched.
The FBI investigation could not come at a worse time for the UAW, as they plan a potential strike with either Ford, General Motors or Fiat-Chrysler.
The UAW did release a statement yesterday that said in part, “There was absolutely no need for search warrants to be used by the government...the UAW has voluntarily responded to every request the government has made throughout the course of its investigation.”
