UAW Local 1853 Ratifies First Contract with Ultium in Spring Hill, TN

Local 1853 Secures First Contract with Ultium Amidst EV Industry Advances

Spring Hill, TN — In a significant development for the electric vehicle industry workforce, nearly 1,000 members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 1853 have successfully ratified their inaugural local agreement with Ultium. This joint venture, involving General Motors and LG Energy Solution, adds to the achievements of the national contract won during the 2023 Stand Up Strike.

The campaign for this agreement started last September when a majority of Ultium Spring Hill employees signed cards, initiating their push for a contract. This agreement is now a pivotal model for battery manufacturing facilities nationwide.

Derrick Kinzer, a Spring Hill worker and member of the bargaining team, expressed relief over job security and healthcare guarantees: “When we voted to join UAW, I knew it would be a big deal. Now, I don’t have to worry about losing my job out of nowhere or going broke from a medical emergency.” Kinzer emphasized the importance of the contract in safeguarding their roles in the EV battery production sector.

Highlighting the importance of equitable treatment, UAW Region 8 Director Tim Smith stated, “Building EV batteries is just as risky as working with combustion engines, and these workers deserve the best wages, health care and safety protections as they have in the Big Three.” He urged larger companies, like Volkswagen, to follow suit in providing fair compensation and benefits.

Barry Hope, a member of the Spring Hill workforce and part of the bargaining team, proudly noted, “We now have our health care costs covered, just like General Motors workers.” This contract places them on par with other unionized autoworkers, ensuring financial stability and access to necessary healthcare.

Smith further declared that Ultium’s workers are setting a precedent for Southern manufacturing employees. He stated, “From Georgia to Kentucky to Texas, folks in these new EV plants know they deserve fair pay and benefits, just like union workers before them. And you can bet the UAW is going to stand with them to make sure they get their fair share and a collective voice on the job.”

Within the past year, the UAW has welcomed over 5,000 new members from Tennessee's automotive sector.