Challenger wins close race to lead United Auto Workers union

DETROIT — A challenger defeated the president of the United Auto Workers in a close election and vowed Saturday to take a more confrontational stance in negotiating with the big automakers. Fain’s slate of candidates won control of the big union, as workers rejected most incumbents in the wake of a bribery and embezzlement scandal It was the 372,000-member union’s first direct election of its 14-member International Executive Board, which came in the wake of the wide-ranging scandal that landed two former presidents in prison. Fain’s UAW Members United slate now holds seven of 14 seats on the board, with one independent member siding with his slate. Fain’s statement said he wants to return to the union setting the wage and benefit standard for other sectors of the economy. The direct voting came after 11 union officials and a late official’s spouse pleaded guilty in the corruption probe, including the two former presidents who were sentenced to prison.