DETROIT -- The UAW filed its Labor Organization Annual Report, Form LM-2, with the U.S. Department of Labor today.

The LM-2 contains the union's membership numbers for the prior year.

The UAW's 2010 LM-2 report shows UAW membership increasing from 355,191 in 2009 to 376,612 in 2010.

"We are pleased that our membership increased in 2010 by 21,000. This increase is a reflection of new organizing by the UAW, the recovery of the domestic auto industry and UAW members who won a first contract during the year," said UAW President Bob King. "We hope to continue this growth in 2011 and beyond, as we fight to win a more fair and democratic process for workers to organize unions in the United States."

Earlier this year, the union released its UAW Principles for Fair Union Elections, which embody common sense principles inherent in any democratic election. The underlying principle is that the right to organize a union is a fundamental human right and that workers should be able to exercise this right in an atmosphere free from threats, intimidation or coercion.

The UAW is urging employers to agree to the principles to have fair union elections.

For more information, please contact Michele Martin, director, UAW Public Relations Department.