ABOUT SCOTT
Scott Houldieson is a lifelong product of the Calumet Region. The oldest of four children, he was raised in Griffith where he attended public schools, played American Legion baseball for Post 66, and was involved with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts throughout elementary and middle school. In 1984, Scott began attending Purdue Calumet, working as a math tutor and on the grounds crew while taking classes. As his family grew, Scott continued to attend school part-time, experiencing firsthand the challenges of low wages and the struggles of working-class Hoosiers.
With over 36 years of union experience, Scott’s career has been defined by his dedication to workers' rights. During his teenage years, he worked at Strack & Van Til, which marked his first experience with a union through his membership in UFCW Local 881. Following his time at Purdue Calumet, he joined UAW Local 551 in 1989 at the Ford Chicago Assembly Plant. After starting on the assembly line, Scott began an electrician apprenticeship in 1994. Throughout his tenure, he has continuously advocated for transparency, serving as the editor of the local union newspaper for over a decade and holding various leadership roles in UAW Local 551, including Financial Secretary, Vice President, and Chairperson of the Trustees, a position he was recently elected to in 2025.​
​Scott’s UAW leadership extends beyond his local union, as he held a pivotal role in the historic reform of the UAW. In 2019, following a major corruption scandal within the union’s top ranks, Scott co-founded and chaired Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD). Under his leadership, the caucus successfully campaigned for a direct election system, which passed by a 2-to-1 margin. This movement led to the historic 2023 election of a leadership slate that transformed the UAW, including UAW President Shawn Fain. Today, Scott continues this mission as the chair of the Steering Committee for UAW Member Action, which provides educational training for UAW members. Outside of his union work, he has been an active organizer and participant in movements for racial justice and police reform, and against unfair trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership. A recognizable figure in local grassroots politics, he has served as a precinct committeeperson in Highland, canvassed for federal and state candidates in Northwest Indiana, and helped to found the Progressive Democrats of American Calumet Region Chapter in 2017.
For the past 25 years, Scott has called Highland home, where he lives with his wife, Vicky. Their family includes six children and 13 grandchildren.