BlueOval SK workers win union vote, face company ballot challenges

Workers at BlueOval SK Vote for Union Representation in Kentucky

In a significant move toward unionization, workers at the BlueOval SK plant in Glendale, Kentucky, have successfully voted in favor of joining the United Auto Workers (UAW). This marks a pivotal advancement for the employees who faced substantial resistance from their employer during the election process.

Although the election results show a clear preference for union representation, there remain 41 contested ballots. According to the UAW, these ballots are being disputed as they are considered an attempt by the employer to disrupt the clear choice made by the workers. “We believe they are illegitimate and represent nothing more than an employer tactic to flood the unit and undermine the outcome," a UAW spokesperson stated.

The UAW is determined to challenge these disputed votes, emphasizing the importance of respecting the democratic decision of the plant's workforce. "The challenged ballots are not part of the group of workers who built their union from the bottom up," added the spokesperson, reinforcing the demand for an appropriate bargaining unit.

In response to the election outcome, the UAW is urging Ford to respect the workers' decision and to cease any efforts perceived as undermining the election results. They emphasize the union's commitment to ensuring that BlueOval SK’s production and maintenance employees work under conditions that are both safe and fair, highlighting the necessity for union jobs in Kentucky's burgeoning battery industry.