Come to the BlueOval SK Union Town Hall
The BOSK union organizing committee invites you to an open town hall to discuss why we are forming a union. Get all of your questions answered and talk about next steps!
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 14, 11 AM – 1PM
WHERE: 1851 Leitchfield Road, Elizabethtown, KY
SEE HOW BATTERY WORKERS AT ULTIUM CELLS FORMED A UNION AND WON BIG
OUR VOICES AT BOSK
We know what is best for ourselves and our families. With a union and collective bargaining, we will have a stronger voice to prioritize what matters to us here at BOSK. Read why our co-workers are joining together to form our union.
I have worked both union and nonunion jobs and have seen the power of the union firsthand. Where I used to work, they weren’t giving out bonuses fairly, the union stepped in and made it fair for everyone. At BOSK we don’t have a say in anything they do, we are at the mercy of the company. With a union, we would have a voice and be on a level playing field with management. I like the quote, “There is nothing fairer than workmen having unions of their mutual benefit.” Why can’t BOSK have mutually beneficial policies? A union would make it mutually beneficial for all.
Andrew McLean
Formation–Logistics
One of the main reasons I want to form a union is because I want the workplace to be a fair and just place for all employees. I have seen a lot of wrongful things happen to us and we deserve fair treatment. With a union, we would have a voice and power. My dad told me something that stuck with me- a union is only as strong as its weakest members and I feel that here at BOSK we are some of the best and qualified workers I have seen, so I know our union will be strong.
Emily Drueke
Quality–SQM/IQC Process
Unionization is paramount to obtaining structure, stability, and job security. With the protection of a union contract, BOSK won’t be able to take things away like they have done in the past. I was promised all kinds of things when I started such as free insurance. Two weeks after I started, they announced they were going to take it away. I want to have a voice that is heard and valued; We will have that by coming together to form our union.
Amy Scheidemantel
Production–Formation
I want to form a union at BOSK because we are hurting. We are underpaid and we now have to pay more and receive less with our insurance. We have no say in any aspect of our work life, BOSK makes all the rules and they change things over and over to benefit themselves. When we form a union we can negotiate a contract. A contract has predictability, better benefits, better pay, and health and safety protections. Forming a union at BOSK will give us the life we deserve.
Bill Wilmoth
Production–Formation
I want a union so that we all have assurance of consistency, fairness, and equality within BOSK. By forming a union with my coworkers, we will give ourselves a voice that is heard and that matters.
Michael Drake
Production–Module
The biggest thing for me is job security because everything at BOSK is at will. A union would give us a safety net to protect our jobs so they can’t just turn around and say your job is gone. It also gives us a voice and a seat at the table, that is one of the best parts about having a union.
Marcus Fatjo
Production–Module
I want a union because our voices need to be heard.
Clint Shawler
Maintenance–Cell Assembly
I want a union because I want representation. I’ve been in the hot seat before without anyone to represent me. I don’t want to see anyone leave the company because of a lack of representation where the truth is decided in a one sided fashion. With a union, some of our coworkers, working next to us, will receive training to know how to implement the contract and help enforce it. I want to see my brothers and sisters at work united so strongly that the company can’t neglect our needs whether it be safety or benefits.
Joseph Morgan
Maintenance–Formation
I’ve worked at a lot of places where we had no choice but to listen to what management says. I have never worked at a company where workers had a union before but the more I learn about it, I find it actually gives us power so that we don’t get run over. With a binding contract HR would not be allowed to ignore us. The union would also help my family through better benefits and pay. It takes a whole community to form a union it’s not just one person it will take all of us to get power for our community of workers here at BOSK.
Austin Shissler
Maintenance–Formation
By coming together and forming our union, BOSK employees will be put on a level playing field. With collective bargaining we can ensure fair conditions, pay, and benefits for our labor. That is why I will be signing on to form a union at BOSK.
Ben Schwab
Maintenance–Formation
Forming a union would give us solidarity. Solidarity allows us to come together as one voice and be properly heard. I personally want to form a union because I have seen the wrongdoings of the company take a toll on our co-workers. I know these dynamics will continue if nothing is addressed and we don’t come together as one voice with a union.
Chad Johnson
Quality–Module
The U and I in union is what makes us strong. If we unite and come together we can use our strength to make a better life for all our families.
Brandon Chaffins
Quality–Formation
My dad worked at a job with a union, and the first thing he said to me when I got hired at BOSK was, if workers form a union, make sure you are a part of it. Being raised in a union family showed me how when you are a part of a union, you will always have someone who has your back if you need support in the workplace. We will also be able to fight collectively for raises and bring fairness to how decisions about job positions are made.
Michelle Hoffman
Production–Module
United together.
Neutral playing field.
Internal decisions.
Offering a binding contract.
Never bowing down to the man.
Having a union does just that, it levels the playing field and allows us to have a voice at BOSK.
Neutral playing field.
Internal decisions.
Offering a binding contract.
Never bowing down to the man.
Having a union does just that, it levels the playing field and allows us to have a voice at BOSK.
Joey Decker
Quality–Module
Quality–Module
I believe we should have the ability to bargain over retirement, health care, pay, and especially safety on the job. Forming a union will provide us with a contract, guidelines, and protocol that we deserve.
Lavon Poynter
Maintenance–Electrode
Having a union at BOSK would mean coming together and joining a family that is going to stay strong.
Angie Conto
Production–Formation
When I was hired at BOSK four months ago they promised free health care, PTO, etc. Then they changed everything. A union is for us, BOSK workers. It is how we ensure we have our best interest in mind. BOSK has a track record of giving us things and then taking them away. I am helping to form a union to create a fair and equitable environment at our workplace.
Tiffany Diprisco
Quality–Evaluation
Forming a union will lead toward positive change for the greater good of everybody and put us on a level playing field.
Brittany Diprisco
Quality–Cell Assembly
With a union, we would not just be employees, but we would be a bigger part of the company. It would give us more ownership of the success of the company and of how we are treated. That’s why I’m union strong, all day long!
Natalie Jevning
Production–Cell assembly
To me it’s really about safety. I used to be at a union facility. Here at BOSK, I see what it’s like to work without a union safety committee. When I was a part of a union, if we had an unsafe area, our union representatives would come out and if it was deemed unsafe, we wouldn’t work until it was taken care of. Here at BOSK, we don’t have that protection and it’s dangerous. I’ve been hurt here at work. I am working to form a union because it would give us workers a voice. We are the ones that are going to do it best.
Robert Collett
Production–Formation
In my opinion, Union work is the only way to work. When you have a union you know that you have a team ready to go to bat for you and you can provide that support to other people as well.
Halee Hadfield
Quality–SQM/IQC Process
The biggest reason I’m doing this is so that all of us have a respectful place to work. Forming a union would allow this to happen by getting our voices to be heard.
Sarah McGrew
Production–Formation
I’ve never worked at a place with a union before. It is new for me. What I’ve learned is that in manufacturing, we need to stick together so we have more of a say at our jobs. I don’t want to have to work until I die. Being part of a union would allow us to make this a career, not just a job.
Tony Huff
Production–Cell Assembly
If you stand for nothing you’ll fall for anything. That is why we have to stand up to BOSK. There has to be unity to stop them from doing anything they want to do at our expense.
Randall Moore
Production–Formation
The reason it’s important for me to be a part of forming our union is for the security of our jobs, fair wages, and especially the grievance procedure. With that protection, I know if something happens we will have the support of all of us standing up for our futures.
Jessica Christie
Quality–Electrode
We the workers are important and matter and BOSK isn’t treating us like that. We deserve more. I believe the only way to achieve that is to stand in unity and not let BOSK divide us.
Amanda East
Quality–Evaluation
I want to form a union so that we are one team coming together for all. I feel that’s important so that we can have the power of all of us standing together, not just one. There is power in that.
Paula Elliott
Quality–Evaluation
We are coming together to fight for what is right. A union would provide that.
Ashley Stogsdill
Production–Electrode
WINNING OUR UNION
On April 19, we won a real voice on the job. United in the UAW, we have collective power to improve our jobs at Volkswagen and our quality of life in the Chattanooga area. Here’s how we did it.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does it mean to sign a union authorization card?
Signing a union authorization card means that you want to form a union with your coworkers. BOSK could recognize our union once we hit a majority of signatures or we can ask for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). After the election, BOSK workers will elect a bargaining team and collectively decide on bargaining priorities.
Why are BOSK workers forming a union?
Forming a union with collective bargaining rights is the only way to have the power to negotiate with BOSK management as equals and reach a legally binding contract. With collective bargaining, workers at BOSK set our priorities and our agenda—and we elect our coworkers as representatives to negotiate on an equal footing with management for improvements such as pay raises, better health care coverage, more paid time off and safety in the plant. Without a union contract, BOSK can change policies and benefits whenever and however they want.
We saw the safety protections and life-changing raises and benefits battery workers won at Ultium Cells. Now we’re standing up to win our fair share at BOSK.
What is collective bargaining and how does it work?
Collective bargaining is how we negotiate our union contract. It’s a process, protected by federal law, that equalizes the power relationship between employees and their employer.
Under collective bargaining, BOSK workers will elect coworkers to negotiate as equals with BOSK management. These negotiations result in a proposed contract called a tentative agreement. BOSK workers then vote to democratically approve the tentative agreement. If approved, it becomes a legally binding contract that guarantees the terms and conditions of our employment.
Through collective bargaining, UAW battery workers have set the standard in our industry for strong pay, excellent benefits, pay during shutdowns, job security, protection from unsafe conditions and unfair treatment, and many other issues on the job.
Without collective bargaining, BOSK has unilateral power to change our working conditions. For example, BOSK currently decides unilaterally whether or not we get annual raises, what healthcare coverage is available to us, and can mandate when we use our PTO. Any term and condition of employment is up to management to decide.
What is the process for forming our union?
- BOSK workers from every department and shift form a diverse organizing committee (OC) to reach out to our coworkers and see what issues we all want to address in our union.
- A majority of all BOSK workers sign authorization cards indicating we want to form a union.
- BOSK workers send our authorization cards to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), requesting a democratic election.
- The NLRB holds an election at BOSK and we democratically decide to have a union.
- We elect a bargaining team of our coworkers to help negotiate the contract and we all fill out bargaining surveys to set the priorities for bargaining.
- Bargaining committee negotiates a contract.
- BOSK workers democratically vote to keep the contract.
- Workers do not start paying dues until after the first contract is approved.
How will we choose our bargaining team?
After forming our union, BOSK workers will democratically elect a bargaining team made up of our coworkers. Our elected bargaining team will work with experienced UAW staff to negotiate a contract with management.
Why are we forming our union with the UAW?
UAW members at Ultium Cells in Lordstown, Ohio, just won a historic contract that raised the bar for battery workers. They negotiated the same strong standards that UAW members won at Ultium’s parent company, General Motors.
As BOSK workers, we make battery cells for Ford autos. We deserve the strong pay, benefit and safety standards won by UAW autoworkers at Ford. Management here may say unions aren’t a Southern thing. But tell that to the 12,000 UAW members at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant and Louisville Assembly. Or tell the UAW members at GM’s biggest-in-the-U.S. plant at Arlington, Texas. All of those Southern UAW members won the strong pay, benefits and rights at work that we deserve at BOSK.
Is the UAW a corrupt organization?
In the 2010s, 17 UAW leaders betrayed the legacy of the UAW and pleaded guilty to corruption charges. In response, UAW members passed a referendum to ensure this would never happen again. They voted to give every member the right to directly elect the union’s top officers. In 2023, reformer Shawn Fain was elected president and under his leadership UAW autoworkers won their strongest contracts in decades.
Can the union guarantee specific improvements?
BOSK workers make up our union and will democratically prioritize which improvements to bargain for in contract talks. With a union, BOSK workers will negotiate as equals with management for the changes we want to make. We have far more power to negotiate improvements collectively than we do as individuals.
A contract will legally secure those improvements against unilateral changes by the company. Currently, BOSK can change policies and benefits whenever and however they want.
With a union, we will vote on our contract. If we don’t like it, we can vote against it and go back to the negotiating table to work out a better agreement.
What improvements have UAW autoworkers bargained for at other companies?
UAW members at Ultium Cells in Lordstown, Ohio, won life-changing raises and benefits. Ultium was nonunion when it opened. Starting pay was $16.50 an hour and safety problems were rampant. After Ultium workers joined together and formed their union, they won a contract that will more than double their pay by 2027, and they won strong safety protections enforced by worker representatives.
UAW battery workers build on the victories of UAW autoworkers at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. In 2023, UAW members at the Big Three bargained for and won the highest pay, the best benefits, and the strongest protections in the auto industry – protections from unsafe working conditions, harassment, favoritism and more.
UAW members at the Big Three have some of the best health care in the country and they don’t pay a dime in premiums or deductibles. They also bargained for profit-sharing, so they benefit when the company does well.
Job security is another area where unionized workers have negotiated improvements. UAW members won contractually binding investment commitments from Ford, GM and Stellantis. If they get laid off, they get Supplemental Unemployment Benefits, also known as “SUB pay.” SUB pay is added to state unemployment pay and together they average between 85% and 95% of an employee’s weekly after-tax pay. If UAW members are laid off, they have fully paid health care coverage for two years, full SUB full pay for one year, and a lesser amount for the second year.
Will I have to pay union dues?
Dues are 2.5 hours of straight-time pay per month. Dues are important because they provide the resources to build a strong union with real power in the plant. In the UAW, there are no membership dues until workers have voted democratically to approve a first contract. After that, each individual BOSK worker can decide whether to pay membership dues or not.
What is dues money used for?
Union members democratically decide how union dues are spent.
Do UAW dues go toward presidential candidates?
No. 97 percent of membership dues go to programs that directly build member power in the plant, at the bargaining table, and on the picket line if an employer won’t bargain a fair contract. 3 percent of membership dues go toward the UAW Community Action Program (CAP), which supports community and local political action, including advocacy on issues that matter to UAW members. For example, the UAW advocates for fair trade policies that protect our jobs and benefit working people and our families. This dues money cannot be used for federal campaign contributions, such as a presidential race.
Members may choose to donate additional money to the UAW Voluntary Community Action Program or “VCAP,” which can be used in federal elections. That additional voluntary contribution is completely separate from dues.
Will BOSK workers have to go on strike if we form a union?
Our right to strike is one of our most powerful tools as workers. BOSK workers will decide if and when to strike. Under the UAW Constitution, when 2/3 of participating workers vote yes in a democratic strike authorization vote, the bargaining team can call for a strike.
Will we lose benefits if we form a union?
Currently, BOSK can change or eliminate any benefit of employment without our agreement. If we win our union, management is legally prohibited from changing or eliminating a benefit without our agreement through collective bargaining. Before we have a union, it is also unlawful for BOSK to threaten to take away a benefit if we choose to unionize. As a union, we can democratically determine what our bargaining priorities are, and we can then vote to ratify the contract we collectively bargain.
Will forming a union result in layoffs or plant closure?
BOSK has spent billions of dollars to start production in Kentucky. BOSK’s parent company, Ford, has unionized workforces in the U.S. around the world and it has partnered effectively with 12,000 UAW members at its two plants in Louisville.
RESOURCES
UAW VOLKSWAGEN VOLUNTEER ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
VW workers from across the plant have joined the UAW Volunteer Organizing Committee (VOC) to get the word out about our union. Did you Stand Up and sign a union card? Now step up and help win our union: JOIN THE VOC
MICHAEL ACCETTURO, Assembly
BASHAAR AL-HUSSIENI, Assembly
DE’JUAN ALFORD, Assembly
JOSE AMARO, Logistics
ROBERT ATKINS, Paint
EUGENE BAKKER, Assembly
OLUDARE BAMGBOSE, Assembly
DANIEL BARNETT, Assembly
ELIZABETH BARNETT, Assembly
JOSHUA BEAN, Assembly
BROOKE BENOIT, Body
LETONJA BERRY, Logistics
TIFFANY BLACKSTOCK, Assembly
TRISTAN BODINE, Assembly
MATTHEW BOISEY, Assembly
KRANTZSY BOURSIQUOT, Assembly
NOUREDDINE BOUSSAFEUR, Assembly
JEREMY BOWMAN, Logistics
DUKE BRANDON, Battery
ALVIN BROMFIELD, Assembly
MICHAEL BROMLEY, Assembly
CHARLES BROWN, Assembly
CHRISTOPHER BROWN, QA
STEVEN BURNHAM, QA
JASON CAMPBELL, Assembly
BOBBY CAMPBELL, Body
ROSLYNNE CAMPER, Body
ROBERT CHORTKOFF, Assembly
STEPHEN COCHRAN, Battery
REGINALD COLE, Logistics
CAMERON CONBOY, Assembly
KEEONA MONIQUE CONYERS, Assembly
ZACHARY COSTELLO, Assembly
VAUGHAN CRABTREE, Assembly
ALAN CROCKER, Assembly
ROBERT CRUMP, Assembly
ZACKERY CURVIN, Assembly
STEVEN DE VRIES, Body
AMANDA DENNISON, Assembly
RICKEY DIAL, Assembly
DAVID DODSON, Assembly
JONES DOUGLASS, Assembly
CEDRIC DREW, Paint
TYRRELL DUBOSE, Assembly
CHRISTOPHER DYER, Assembly
NADINE ELEM, Assembly
TRAVIS ELLIOTT, Assembly
LISA ELLIOTT, Assembly
JOSHUA EPPERSON, Assembly
CHRISTIAN ESCUE, Assembly
BENJAMIN FERGUSON, Assembly
ROBERT FINK, Assembly
BRIAN FLETCHER, Paint
DAVID FREISTAT, Paint
JUSTIN FRIAR, Battery
STEVEN FUGATE, Assembly
SAMUEL GALLARDO, Assembly
SAMI GAMU, Assembly
KERRY GANNAWAY, Body
DAVID GOAT GLEESON, Assembly
JUSTIN GODFREY, Assembly
GENARO GONZALEZ SANCHEZ, Assembly
RAVEN GOODWILL, Assembly
ISAAC GRAHAM, Logistics
TRAVIS GRAY, Assembly
PHIL GRAYS, Assembly
ZACHARY GROSS, Assembly
JARED GULLEDGE, Assembly
ANDREW HALL, Paint
MATTHEW HANCOCK, Assembly
SHERMAN HANEY, Body
CHRISTOPHER HANKINS, Paint
CARY HANSON, Assembly
STEVEN HARDEN, Paint
RYAN HINEMAN, Assembly
DAVIAN HISLOP, Assembly
JOHN HOLLAND, Assembly
VICKY HOLLOWAY, Body
JOSEPH HOLMES, Battery
BILLY HOPKINS, Paint
ALISHA HOUSTON, Assembly
JUSTIN HOWELL, Assembly
JAMES HUDSON, Assembly
BRIAN HUGHEN, Assembly
SETH HUGHES, Assembly
JAMES HUGHES, Paint
MATTHEW HUMPHRIES, Logistics
TROY HUNT, Paint
JOHN HUYCK, Assembly
CRYSTAL JENKINS, Logistics
FRANK JENNINGS, Body
JIMMY JOHNSON, QA
DANIEL KACZMAREK, Paint
JAMES KILGORE, Assembly
KENNETH KILGORE, Battery
DAMIEN KOZIK, Paint
PERRY KRUG, Assembly
GAVIN LANGSTON, Paint
NATHANIEL LARSON, Assembly
SHAUN LAWLER, Paint
WENDAL LAWSON, Assembly
WILLIE LAY, Logistics
ZACHARY LIVINGSTON, Assembly
DEVON LOFTIN, Assembly
SHANNON LOGAN, Body
ANTHONY LOMBARDO, Assembly
DIEUNER LOUISDOR, Assembly
IVAN LOWE, Assembly
JOHN LUMBRA, Assembly
JERRIAL MANGHAM, Assembly
MALIQUE MARSHALL, Assembly
PATRICIA MCFARLAND, Assembly
JOSEPH MCMULLAN, QA
MATTHEW MCWAIN, Assembly
ISAAC MEADOWS, Assembly
JOHNNY MEEKS, Paint
JESUS MERCANTETY, Assembly
JARRET MITCHELL, Assembly
EDWARD MOORE, Paint
CLINTON MORGAN, Assembly
CARLTON NESMITH, Assembly
WILLIAM NICHOLS, Assembly
ZACHARY NORTHCUTT, Assembly
WILLIAM O’MALLEY, Assembly
LARRY OLIVE, Assembly
BRAEDEN OLIVER, Logistics
KIMBERLY ONOFREY, QA
JONATHAN OWENS, Assembly
ASHLEY PARKER, Assembly
CHRISTOPHER PARKIN, Assembly
SHEA PARMENTER, Assembly
JEREMY PATTERSON, Assembly
ANDI PENNER, Assembly
YOLANDA PEOPLES, Assembly
CORY PIPER, Assembly
EBONY POWELL, Body
ED PROK, Assembly
QUINCY QUARLES, Assembly
WILLIAM QUIGG, Assembly
JOSHUA RAY, Assembly
KENNETH REAM, Assembly
TIMOTHY REID, Assembly
CRISTOPHER REYES-LAGOS, Assembly
LANDON ROBINSON, Assembly
JAMES ROBINSON II, Body
ANGEL RODRIGUEZ, Body
JERE ROLLINS, Body
JOHN ROUT, Body
WALTER RUSSELL, Paint
NATHANIAL SALDANA, Assembly
ROBERT SANDERS, Assembly
ROGER SCHEIBE, Assembly
KEONNA SHAW, Body
MATTHEW SHOWALTER, Assembly
NOE SIMMONS, Assembly
BRADY SIMS, Assembly
DANIEL SIVLEY, Assembly
PATRICK SLAUGHTER, Assembly
WILLIAM SMITH, Assembly
KELCEY SMITH, Paint
ANTHONY SNELL, Paint
DOUGLAS SNYDER, Body
ROBERT SODERSTROM, Body
KALEB SOWDER, Assembly
WILLIAM SPRINKLE, Paint
ANDREW STANDIFER, Assembly
ORLANDO STRICKLAND, Assembly
CHRISTOPHER SUITS, Assembly
MATTHEW TALFORD, Assembly
ROBERT TATE, Assembly
JOSHUA TREECE, Assembly
JAMES TUCKER, Assembly
VICTOR VAUGHN, Logistics
DAVID VINES, Logistics
AUSTIN WADE, Assembly
STEVEN WESTMORELAND, Paint
ZARIA WHEELER, Assembly
ORION WHEELER, Logistics
SHORHONDA WHITE, Logistics
JONMONTAE WICKLEY, Assembly
JAMUAN WILLIAMS, Assembly
TIFFANY WINDMON, Assembly
BEAU WINESBURGH, Assembly
JOSHUA WOODWARD, Assembly
MATTHEW WREDE, Assembly
WAYNE WRITESEL, Assembly
YOUSIF YOUSIF, Logistics
Resources
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