James “Jimmy” Settles Jr. was re-elected Vice President of the UAW in June 2014, at the union’s 36^th Constitutional Convention in Detroit.  Settles was first elected Vice President in 2006 by delegates at the 34^th Constitutional Convention, and re-elected in 2010 as Vice President of the UAW at the 35^th Constitutional Convention.

Settles has served on the UAW International Executive Board since June 2002, when he was elected director of UAW Region 1A. As Region 1A director, Settles played a lead role in successful organizing campaigns at such automotive parts suppliers as Johnson Controls, Arvin Meritor, GKN Sinter Metals, ACI, Bridgewater Interiors and Hollingsworth.

As Vice-President Settles has worked in a myriad of responsibilities including leading negotiations at the State of Michigan, American Axle, Mitsubishi Motors North America in Bloomington, Ill., Boeing, Spirit Aerosystems, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Health Alliance Plan. In 2011 Settles led the negotiations with Ford Motor Company that had the potential to be a powder keg. Settles decision to use social media to help members have input and get information in a rapid manner turned out to be a bold and instrumental in getting to a deal.

Settles began his career as a Trade Unionist and member of UAW Local 600 working for Ford Motor Company’s Dearborn Iron Foundry and Michigan Casting Center June 21, 1968, one day after his high school graduation.

He was elected to positions of increasing responsibility by his co-workers, starting in 1970 with his election to the General Council of Local 600, an amalgamated local union. In 1973, he was elected district committeeperson and unit recording secretary. Two years later, he was elected unit vice president and district committeeperson. In 1980, his co-workers elected Settles as unit president. He was also elected as a delegate to the UAW Constitutional Conventions in 1974, 1977 and 1980.

Settles was appointed to the UAW Local 600 staff in 1982; he served as staff director in 1983 and as administrative assistant in 1984. UAW Local 600 members elected Settles recording secretary in 1984 and first vice president in 1987. He was a member of the UAW-Ford National Negotiating Committee in 1990 and later appointed to UAW Region 1A Staff as a servicing representative in 1992.

A longtime political activist and Democratic precinct delegate, Settles has worked on numerous campaigns for progressive candidates and causes in southeast Michigan.

During the 2012 Presidential Election Settles founded Detroit Circles, a grass roots campaign aimed at building support for President Obama in the 2012 Presidential Election, through a series of gatherings throughout Detroit and the surrounding metropolitan area.  The purpose of these gatherings was to fundraise for the upcoming election, and encourage volunteerism for the election cycle.  This campaign raised over $50,000 for President Obama’s campaign and thousands of volunteers and voters were engaged and worked throughout this elections cycle. 

A Detroit native, Settles is active in a wide range of community and civic organizations.  He is a Board Chairman of the Wayne County Authority, Board Secretary of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) and a member of the Trade Union Leadership Council (TULC).  He is a board member of Detroit Music Hall, Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Michigan, Michigan Round Table for Diversity & Inclusion and on the Board of Trustees for the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.  He also works with the Detroit Public Schools.  He is a Life Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and serves as Second Vice President of the Detroit Branch NAACP.

Settles is a recipient of the Nelson Jack Edwards Award, named in honor of the former UAW vice president, Man of the Year Award from the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), and the Jimmy Settles, Jr. Lifetime Community Activist Award named in his honor by UAW-Ford.

Settles and his wife, Karen, live in Detroit and they attend Greater Christ Baptist Church.  He has three children – James III, Jamelle, Ashlynn, and is stepfather to Dennis, Anthony and Derrick Yancy.