BlueOval SK workers in Kentucky file for union vote with UAW in 2025

Workers at BlueOval SK Petition for Unionization Amid Safety Concerns

GLENDALE, Ky. — Employees at BlueOval SK (BOSK), a collaborative initiative between Ford and SK On, have initiated proceedings to hold a unionization vote under the United Auto Workers (UAW). This marks the first significant union election filing in the Southern United States for 2025, reflecting a growing trend of union organization among Southern autoworkers.

The petition, submitted to the National Labor Relations Board, comes after a supermajority of workers expressed their support. A video featuring BOSK workers discussing their motivations can be viewed here. Additional details and worker testimonials are available at uaw.org/bosk.

Halee Hadfield, a quality operator at BOSK, stated, “We’re forming our union so we can have a say in our safety and our working conditions.” Hadfield emphasized the risks involved with hazardous chemicals, noting the potential for catastrophic explosions. She believes a union would empower employees to address safety issues proactively.

The unionization effort began publicly in November after significant worker support was confirmed. In response, BOSK has employed anti-union consultants to counter the campaign.

Angela Conto, a production operator, noted, “What we’re doing here can be transformative, but there are problems with management that we have to fix.” Conto criticized management for neglecting safety concerns and for attempting to prevent union formation, stressing that worker unity would rectify these issues and elevate BOSK in the electric vehicle battery market.

In December, a town hall meeting in Elizabethtown, Ky., featured UAW members from Ultium Cells in Lordstown, Ohio, sharing their successful unionization journey. Ultium, originally a nonunion plant, faced challenges similar to those at BOSK. However, they successfully secured a union contract with improved safety conditions and substantial wage increases.

Andrew McLean, a logistics worker at BOSK, remarked, “I have worked both union and nonunion jobs and have seen the power of a union firsthand.” McLean underlined the importance of having a voice at BOSK, especially during the establishment of a new facility, asserting that unionization would allow for open communication with management without the threat of retaliation.

BOSK's unionization efforts draw inspiration from victories at Ultium in Lordstown and the recent success at Ultium in Spring Hill, Tenn., where workers joined the UAW in September. This burgeoning movement among nonunion battery workers, especially in the Southern U.S., is further energized by the UAW’s recent achievements, including the Stand Up Strike at the Big Three and Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga, Tenn., joining the UAW.