UAW membership down 7 percent

DETROIT, April 1 (UPI) -- The United Auto Workers union said membership fell 7 percent in 2008, as job losses in the automotive industry cut into its ranks.

In an annual financial report, the UAW said its membership fell to 431,037 last year, the Detroit Free Press reported Wednesday.

In the year, 33,873 members left the union, which peaked in membership at 1.5 million in the early 1970s.

UAW President Ron Gettelfinger has said the numbers are deceiving, claiming there are 513,000 active members and more than 575,000 retired members.

The report said the union spent $10.6 million on lobbying last year out of gross receipts of $315.7 million.