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Workers at an Ultium Cells plant near Cleveland are voting on
Wednesday and Thursday after the United Auto Workers (UAW) union
petitioned to represent about 900 workers. Results of the
election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board are
expected on Friday.
The vote is a crucial test of the UAW's ability to organize
workers in the growing electric vehicle supply chain.
The UAW petition sought the election after a majority of
employees signed cards authorizing the union to represent them.
UAW President Ray Curry said in October that "by refusing to
recognize their majority will" Ultium "has decided to ignore
democracy and delay the recognition process."
An Ultium spokesperson said the venture "respects workers’ right
to choose union representation and the efforts of the UAW to
organize battery cell manufacturing workers at our Ohio
manufacturing site."
Last week, GM CEO Mary Barra told Bloomberg TV the company is
"very supportive of the plant being unionized ... The employees
are going to be voting, but we’re very supportive."
In a trip to South Korea in May, President Joe Biden expressed
support for workers seeking to unionize JV battery plants. The
Detroit Three automakers all have battery plants in the works
with South Korean partners.
In August, the Ohio plant began production, the first of at
least four planned Ultium U.S. battery factories.
GM and LG Energy are considering an Indiana site for a fourth
U.S. battery plant. They are building a $2.6 billion plant in
Michigan, set to open in 2024. Last week, Ultium said it would
boost its planned investment in a $2.3 billion Tennessee plant
by another $275 million.
In July, the U.S. Energy Department said it intends to loan
Ultium $2.5 billion to help finance new manufacturing facilities
including the Ohio plant. Sources told Reuters the loan could be
finalized as soon as next week.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Robert Birsel)
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