Summary
- Ultium Cells workers in Spring Hill, Tennessee voted to form a union, making it the second Ultium Cells workplace and auto industry plant in the U.S. South to unionize
- The United Auto Workers is leading a organizing effort in the South to better working conditions and benefits for workers in the auto industry
- Workers at Ultium Cells in Ohio, the first to unionize, saw a 30% raise over three years, a $3,000 bonus, and health and safety protections
- General Motors voluntarily recognized the new union and Southern workers are ready to stand up for their fair share by winning unions
- The UAW organizing drive in the South has gained momentum, with workers at Volkswagen in Chattanooga joining the union and more EV battery jobs expected to come online across the region
Article
The United Auto Workers union has made significant progress in organizing workers in the Southern region of the United States, following a $40 million organizing effort. With the recent vote at Ultium Cells in Spring Hill, Tennessee, 1,000 workers have formed a collective bargaining unit, making it the second Ultium Cells workplace and the second auto industry plant in the South to vote in favor of unionization. This represents a shift in the traditionally anti-union sentiment in the region, with companies like EV automaker Tesla eyeing the South for manufacturing opportunities due to historical lack of unionization.
The success at Ultium Cells demonstrates that workers in the battery plants and EV factories in the South recognize the need for strong pay and benefits, similar to what the UAW has secured for its members. The first Ultium Cells battery plant to join the UAW, located in Lordstown, Ohio, ratified a contract that included a 30% raise over three years for production workers, an immediate $3,000 bonus, and health and safety protections. Workers like Tradistine Chambers at the Spring Hill location see unionization as a way to secure better healthcare, pay, and overall decency in the workplace for current and future generations.
General Motors, a joint owner of Ultium Cells with LG Energy Solution, voluntarily recognized the new union at the Spring Hill plant, marking a historic moment for workers in Tennessee and the South. Trudy Lindahl, a worker at the facility, described the unionization as a significant victory for all workers in the region, signaling a readiness among Southern workers to stand up and win their fair share by forming unions. The successful organizing drive at Ultium Cells and other recent victories, including a vote at a Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, show a growing momentum for unionization in the South.
Despite facing some setbacks, such as a failed vote at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama, the UAW remains determined to establish a strong presence in the emerging Southern battery belt. Organizer Keith Brower Brown of Labor Notes believes that the union at Spring Hill could serve as a potential anchor for massive factories under construction in the region, where tens of thousands of new EV battery jobs are expected to be created in the coming months. The UAW’s efforts to organize workers in the South are seen as crucial in ensuring that these new jobs provide fair pay, benefits, and working conditions for the workforce in the region.
The shift towards unionization in the Southern auto industry is a promising development for workers in the region, who are beginning to realize their collective power to demand better treatment and compensation. The UAW’s successful organizing efforts at Ultium Cells and other facilities show that workers in the South are determined to secure their fair share and improve working conditions through union representation. With major automakers like Ford also expanding their presence in the Southern region, the UAW’s momentum in organizing workers in the EV battery sector could have far-reaching implications for the future of labor relations in the South. As more workers in the region join unions and advocate for their rights, the landscape of the Southern labor market may be transformed in favor of fair treatment and equitable compensation for all.
Read the full article here
