Trouble could be brewing for Stellantis as several United Auto Workers union branches say they’re ready to file grievances.
In a statement released on Monday (Aug. 19), the UAW accuses Stellantis of failing to keep its investment commitments and honor the union contract.
In the 2023 UAW Stellantis agreement, UAW won the right to strike over product and investment commitments and a historic commitment to reopen Belvidere Assembly, which was indefinitely idled in early 2023.
The union says the company has reneged on its product commitments at Belvidere and has been unreceptive to talks with the union to stay on track.
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“This company made a commitment to autoworkers at Stellantis in our union contract, and we intend to enforce that contract to the full extent,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “On behalf of autoworkers everywhere, we’re standing up against a company that wants to go back on its commitments and drive a race to the bottom at the expense of the American worker.”
The contract violation imperils all of the company’s other investment commitments. According to UAW, it also impacts Stellantis members nationally, as they will not have those jobs for transfer opportunities in the event of layoffs.
The union may authorize a strike once an issue has been taken through the grievance procedure.
Some of the most prominent locals that could be involved include Detroit Assembly Complex, Warren Truck, and Sterling Heights Assembly.
Some of the most prominent locals that may file these grievances include UAW Local 12 (Toledo Assembly, Toledo, OH); Local 140 (Warren Truck, Warren, MI); Local 1700 (Sterling Heights Assembly, Sterling Heights, MI); Local 7 (Detroit Assembly Complex – Jefferson, Detroit, MI); Local 51 (Detroit Assembly Complex – Mack, Detroit, MI); Local 685 (Kokomo Transmission, Kokomo, IN); and Local 1166 (Kokomo Casting, Kokomo, IN). Any local covered under the national UAW Stellantis agreement may file these grievances at any time.
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