Tennessee-based Ultium Cells' workforce has unionized with the United Auto Workers union.
United Auto Workers Secures Unionization at Ultium Cells' Plant in Spring Hill
In a significant development, approximately 1,000 workers at Ultium Cells' second battery manufacturing plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, have unionized with the United Auto Workers (UAW). This unionization follows the ratification of a contract by Local 1112 members at a battery supplier's facility in Lordstown, Ohio, more than two months ago.
The joint venture between General Motors Co. and LG Energy Solution has agreed to recognize the union at the Ultium Cells' plant in Spring Hill. This unionization sets a precedent for other battery manufacturing facilities, including Ford Motor Co.'s BlueOval plants in Kentucky and Tennessee.
Tim Smith, Director of UAW Region 8, stated that the union wins at Ultium and Volkswagen demonstrate that new jobs in the South will be union jobs. The unionization at the Ultium Cells' plant in Spring Hill is a testament to this assertion.
Ultium Cells began production at the Spring Hill facility earlier this year, shipping its first battery cells to GM in March. The negotiation partners for the new collective agreement conditions for the reorganized employees at the Ultium Cells factory in Spring Hill, Tennessee, are representatives from the United Auto Workers (UAW) union and General Motors (GM) management.
Details about the contract conditions and demands for the new Spring Hill union members have not been specified in the UAW release. However, the ratified contract in Lordstown included wage increases of 30% over the next three years, which is considered a 'powerful precedent' for the unionization at the Ultium Cells' plant in Spring Hill and other similar facilities.
Workers in battery plants and EV factories from Georgia to Kentucky to Texas understand they deserve strong pay and benefits, according to the UAW release. This sentiment is echoed by Smith, who stated that the union wins at Ultium and Volkswagen are a clear indication that workers deserve fair and equitable treatment.
The unionization at Ultium Cells' plant in Spring Hill follows the historic victory of the UAW at Volkswagen's Chattanooga, Tennessee, factory. This victory is a significant milestone in the union's efforts to organize workers in the South and secure fair wages and benefits for them.
As the battery manufacturing industry continues to grow, it is expected that the unionization trend will also continue. The unionization at Ultium Cells' plant in Spring Hill is a clear indication that workers are taking a stand for their rights and demanding fair treatment. The UAW is committed to supporting these efforts and ensuring that workers in the South have a voice in their workplace.
