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The director of the Ford Department for the United Auto Workers will retire next month, the union said Tuesday.
Gerald Kariem, 65, of Saginaw will continue in his position through June 30. He is one of the longest-serving members of the international s union board after being elected to it in 2010. The board will appoint a replacement to finish out Kariem s term, which ends in 2022.
He took over the vice president role in January 2020 after Rory Gamble became president of the UAW following the resignation of Gary Jones amid a federal investigation into union corruption. Since then, Kariem has led Ford UAW members through the implementation of the 2019 contract, the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns and safety protocols, and the semiconductor shortages challenging the automotive industry now.