UAW members at Stellantis vote for strike over unmet investment promises

UAW Members at Stellantis' LA Facility Vote for Strike Authorization

ONTARIO, Calif. — The United Auto Workers (UAW) at Stellantis' Los Angeles Parts Distribution Center have taken a significant step by voting to seek strike authorization from their International Executive Board. This decision comes as a response to unresolved grievances concerning Stellantis' alleged failure to meet its contractual investment obligations in the United States.

This move marks the first of its kind by UAW members at Stellantis since grievances were initially filed in August. These grievances allege the company's non-compliance with product and investment commitments outlined in the current contract. With the grievances in motion, other local UAW branches at Stellantis might soon follow suit with similar strike authorization votes.

UAW President Shawn Fain emphasized the union's position, stating, “Stellantis made a contractual promise to invest in America and we are not going to let them weasel out of it. Our members won those investments during the Stand Up strike, and we will strike again to make Stellantis keep the promise if we have to.”

The 2023 contract secured by the UAW included $19 billion in promised investments, ensuring thousands of union jobs in the U.S. The agreement also granted the right to strike should the company fail to meet these commitments. However, a year into this contract, Stellantis has reportedly initiated plans representing only about 2% of the promised $19 billion. The company is also accused of retracting commitments to reopen the Belvidere, Illinois assembly plant and to produce the Dodge Durango in Detroit.

Fain criticized Stellantis' financial priorities, saying, “If Stellantis can give CEO Carlos Tavares a 56% raise and spend billions lavishing rich shareholders with stock buybacks and dividends, then they sure as hell have the money for productive investments in our plants.”

In an effort to sway the vote, Stellantis has been making robocalls to UAW members nationwide, urging a no vote on strike authorization. Despite this, the decisive yes vote in Los Angeles indicates strong support for potential industrial action. The company has also taken legal measures, filing suits to prevent UAW members from exercising their contractual strike rights over the company's alleged broken promises.

Fain did not hold back in his criticism of Stellantis’ leadership, stating, “Carlos Tavares is being sued by suppliers and shareholders, the national dealers network is up in arms against him, and he is now facing down a strike from the mighty UAW. If an autoworker in the plant did as piss-poor of a job as Tavares, they would be fired. It’s time for Stellantis to shitcan Carlos!”

For further details on the UAW's efforts to hold Stellantis accountable, visit UAW.org/KeepThePromise.