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In New Video, BlueOval SK Workers Link Union Drive to Ford Workers’ 20th-Century Fight for Safety

GLENDALE, KY—Today, the UAW released a powerful new video featuring BlueOval SK workers calling for a union to win a real voice on the job, especially when it comes to their health and safety. The video ties the effort by workers at Ford Motor Company who pushed for safer factories nearly a century ago to the high stakes fight today as workers at its joint venture battery plant in Kentucky gear up for an NLRB election in a few weeks.

The new video, “BlueOval SK Union Drive Echoes Workers’ Historic Safety Fight at Ford” is available for use by the media here.

After months of an aggressive union-busting campaign driven by the company, production and maintenance workers at BlueOval SK, Ford’s joint venture battery plant in Glendale, Kentucky, will finally have their chance to vote in a union election on August 26 and 27. The vote will be conducted by the NLRB, with ballots counted starting at 8 p.m. on August 27.

In the video, BOSK workers connect their fight for basic protections today to the UAW’s historic fight at Ford to make auto plants safer in the 20th century. “It’s our time to sit across the table from management as equals,” narrates several BOSK workers in the new video. “We want a legally binding contract that guarantees our wages, health care, PTO policies, and health and safety.

“Workers in Michigan began a wave that changed America,” the video’s narration continues. “Battery workers in Ohio, Tennessee, and Indiana have already taken this step and won. Now, it’s our turn.”

Currently, BlueOval SK is the only battery plant involving the Big Three that is non-union. GM’s Ultium plants in Ohio and Tennessee already operate under a UAW contract, and Stellantis’ StarPlus Energy plant in Indiana joined the union and ratified their local agreement earlier this year.

“A supermajority of BOSK workers filed for this election back in January because they were done with broken promises and unsafe working conditions. They were done being left out of decisions that impact their health and their futures,” said UAW Region 8 Director Tim Smith. “Just like Ford workers in the 30s and 40s, these workers are seeking safer working conditions, the affordable health care they were originally assured, and a voice on the job. They’re ready to get it.”

Kentucky taxpayers have poured millions of public dollars into this plant, and workers have expressed they should have a fair shot at choosing their union. Every elected official in Kentucky who claims to stand on the side of the working-class should look at BOSK right now to see what courage looks like.

Despite illegally firing and retaliating against union supporters and holding unlawful closed-door meetings to intimidate workers, the company has not stopped BOSK workers from moving forward. Workers remain determined to vote for a union and have a voice on the job.

Full transcript of the newly released UAW video featuring BlueOval SK workers ahead of their union election this month: 

[Narrated by several different workers from BlueOvalSK in Glendale]

In 1941, Ford auto workers changed history.

Facing workplace injuries, exhaustion, and deaths on the job, Ford workers took a stand that would echo generations. 

They came together and organized and—as United Auto Workers—won the right to negotiate for all of their working conditions. 

This history is not just a source of pride; it’s a lesson in solidarity to show what’s possible when working class people stand together. 

Today, Kentucky is the center of the battery belt. We’re building the future of the auto industry, and this transformative moment requires the same worker power that guarantees our safety and job security.

Whether in Dearborn, Michigan or Glendale, Kentucky, the technology may differ, but the risks remain the same. 

Wherever corporate greed puts our lives at risk, the fight for a safe workplace binds us together. 

 It’s our time to sit across the table for management as equals. 

We want a legally binding contract that guarantees our wages, health care, PTO policies, and health and safety. 

Workers in Michigan began a wave that changed America. 

Battery workers in Ohio, Tennessee, and Indiana have already taken this step and won. 

Now it’s our turn. 

I’m ready to have a voice at BOSK. 

I’m ready to have a voice at BOSK—as United Auto Workers.

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UAW Statement on International Motors (Navistar) Union Election

The following statement regarding tonight’s union election results can be attributed to the UAW:

“Once again, the statewide political and business elites have closed ranks to protect their power and privilege, stacking the deck against Alabama workers. The statewide business lobby and their allies in government poured tens of thousands of dollars into commercials, digital ads, and union-busting consultants who charge thousands of dollars per day to coerce workers and sow fear at International Motors Huntsville.

When workers at this facility started organizing their union, over 60% of workers signed cards saying they wanted to form a union with their coworkers. Navistar management then violated the neutrality agreement in its contract with other UAW-represented employees and unleashed its aggressive, illegal union busting campaign.

The workers put up a brave fight in the face of illegal intimidation tactics and coercion, but ultimately it was not enough to overcome a defunded, understaffed National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and a system that overwhelmingly favors the employer at the expense of workers.

International Motors is a wholly owned subsidiary of Traton Group, a German company whose official policy is to remain neutral if workers decide they want to unionize. Instead of following its own policy, the company CEO descended on the plant for the first time in years to campaign against workers unionizing. Then, ten days before the vote, as momentum built for the union, management tried to buy back support by reinstating a health insurance plan they had taken away last year. Now that the election is over, nothing stops them from ripping it away again. That’s exactly why workers need a union: without a contract, there’s no guarantee—only empty promises.

While the workers and the UAW followed the neutrality policy and the letter of the law, International Motors and Alabama’s anti-worker corporate special interest groups stopped at nothing to prevent workers from using their power to improve their lives. The UAW will pursue every available avenue, including multiple Unfair Labor Practice charges and the full use of the grievance procedure, to win justice for these workers.”  

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UAW Statement on Detroit Mayoral Primary Results

Our members endorsed Pastor Kinloch because we want a mayor unafraid to stand up and fight for every block in Detroit. For too long, politicians have focused on downtown. While developers and billionaires have had a feast, too many of Detroit’s working people haven’t had a plate.

Pastor Kinloch stood by UAW members—on strike and in the community. We know he will fight to make sure the neighborhoods that have been left behind finally get a seat at the table. His campaign has been about affordable housing that Detroiters can actually afford, good jobs that allow people to take care of their families, and a seat at the table for those who have been left out.

For our union, this campaign isn’t limited to ballot box results. UAW members participated in intense leadership training and development to run a bold, worker-led campaign. Our members knocked on thousands of doors and made tens of thousands of phone calls. They talked to UAW retirees on their porches, UAW kids on their blocks, and UAW members in their union halls and workplaces.

We look onward to November to fight for a Detroit that lifts every block.

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UAW Workers at Challenge Manufacturing Win Major Wage Gains, Tentative Deal Reached After Workers Stood Up to Company Rhetoric

Pontiac, MI — After weeks of stalled talks and mounting frustration, UAW members at Challenge Manufacturing have reached a tentative agreement that delivers significant wage increases, stronger job security, and greater union protections—overcoming the company’s stubborn refusal to deliver a contract that met members’ demands.

The deal comes after the company’s refusal to negotiate in good faith pushed workers to the brink of a strike. But UAW Local 653 members stood firm, mobilizing their coworkers and the community to force the company back to the table.

“Four weeks ago, the company called their offer ‘last, best, and final.’ It wasn’t good enough—and we fought back,” said James Gonzales, President of UAW Local 653. “We stayed united, rejected their proposal, and organized non-stop to hold them accountable. That pressure stopped them in their tracks. Now, we have a tentative agreement with 80% higher wage increases than what was on the table a month ago. Because we stood together in solidarity, we have a much stronger contract to bring to our members.”

The tentative agreement includes:

  • Wage increases of up to $3/hour, which for most employees represent a wage increase of at least 15%.
  • Stronger job security, including limits on the use of temporary workers and clearer paths to permanent employment.
  • Enhanced union security provisions, ensuring new hires are properly brought into the union and workers have stronger representation on the shop floor.

Challenge Manufacturing supplies critical parts for major GM and Stellantis models, including the Ram 1500, Jeep Grand Cherokee, GMC Hummer EV, and Corvette. The facility’s 400 workers had been without a contract since June 10, with some making as little as $18 an hour—less than many fast-food jobs in Oakland County.

“I’m proud of my UAW family at Local 653 who refused to settle for a bad deal,” said UAW Region 1 Director LaShawn English. “They stood strong, communicated directly with members every step of the way, and nearly doubled the company’s so-called final offer from just four weeks ago. On top of that, they secured important gains on job security and union rights. That’s the power of solidarity and smart organizing.”

Full details of the agreement will be shared with membership ahead of a ratification vote next week. The bargaining committee is unanimously recommending ratification.

“This contract sends a clear message,” Gonzales said. “We’re done being disrespected. We’re done being underpaid. And we’re done settling for less than we deserve.”

Working together, the Challenge Manufacturing Shop Chairman and Shop Committee stood firm with the local, regional and International leadership to reach a tentative agreement. Their dedication, unity, and persistence at the bargaining table were instrumental in securing a deal that reflects the priorities and strength of the membership.

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UAW Region 8 Director Tim Smith Statement on Texas Redistricting Power Play

The following statement was issued by UAW Region 8 Director Tim Smith:

Greg Abbott and Texas Republicans want to use this “Special Session” to rig the rules, pick their voters, and protect the billionaires they serve. What they aren’t doing is working on flood infrastructure and warning systems that could save Texans’ lives. They aren’t working on improving worker protections and laws that will help Texans have a stronger retirement and better healthcare.

They want to redraw Texas’ voting maps behind closed doors so they can choose their voters instead of the other way around. Their endgame is clear. They want to pass even bigger tax breaks for the wealthy by slashing vital services like Medicaid and Medicare. Enough is enough. Stop feeding the corporate greed machine and start looking out for Texas workers and their families.

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Dozens of NY Elected Officials Sign Letters in Support of Striking UAW Legal Services

Full letter to CAMBA leadership led by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. 

Full letter to Goddard leadership led by Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal. 

 

NEW YORK— Approximately 1,850 of the 2,000 legal services workers represented by the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys—UAW Local 2325 (ALAA)—reached tentative agreements last week following powerful strike actions and sustained public pressure. Remaining on strike are ALAA members at CAMBA Legal Services, Goddard Riverside Law Project, and Urban Justice Center while legal workers at organizations including the Legal Aid Society, New York Legal Assistance Group, Bronx Defenders, Office of the Appellate Defender, and the Center for Appellate Litigation are working as they vote on tentative agreements.  

This week, New York politicians representing neighborhoods where the remaining striking organizations serve vulnerable community members signed two letters of support, one addressed to CAMBA and the other to Goddard Riverside, respectively. 

The letter to CAMBA addresses the organization’s President and CEO Valerie Barton-Richardson and Chief Legal Officer and Executive Director Elizabeth Miller, with the executive senior staff, senior vice presidents, and board all copied. It was led by Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and includes 26 elected officials such as NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, State Senators Zellnor Myrie and Jabari Brisport, City Counselors Carmen De La Rosa, Rita Joseph, and Crystal Hudson, and more.

The Goddard letter, addressed to Roderick L. Jones, President of Goddard Riverside, is signed by the elected representatives who refer cases to Goddard and, in some cases, have worked with Goddard for decades. The letter was led by Democratic Nominee for Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, currently a State Senator, and includes every single Manhattan west side elected representative.

Every day, ALAA members provide free legal representation to tenants facing eviction, immigrants at risk of deportation, families navigating child welfare and custody cases, survivors of domestic violence, the unhoused, and people seeking access to health care, disability benefits, and other critical services.

Underfunded for decades, these legal services workers are demanding fair wages, adequate resources, and staffing to reduce burnout and high turnover—issues that directly impact the quality of representation their clients receive. Common demands across the sector focus on lifting wages and guaranteeing workload protections that ensure working class New Yorkers get the best, most experienced advocates and that these union members can afford to stay in jobs they love.

As the cost of living rises and the city’s legal services funding lags, they are taking action to ensure all New Yorkers—especially working-class communities targeted by the Trump Administration’s harmful policies—have real access to justice.

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UAW Statement on U.S. Trade Agreement with Japan

The UAW is deeply angered by the Trump administration’s announced trade deal with Japan. What we’ve seen so far makes one thing clear: American workers are once again being left behind.

For decades, Japanese automakers have exploited open access to the U.S. market while failing to do right by American workers. Now, instead of addressing the problem, this deal gives them another break—at the expense of the very companies and workers that built the American auto industry into the global standard for good jobs and world-class products.

The UAW has pushed for well-crafted tariffs as a tool to level the playing field, bring back good jobs, and drive investment in American manufacturing. We know tariffs can work—but the execution here falls far short. Shifting timelines and moving goalposts have undermined business confidence and delayed investment. So far, only GM has stepped up with serious reshoring efforts.

Rather than building on that momentum—rewarding companies investing in union jobs—this deal hands a win to transnational automakers that rely on low-road labor practices: substandard wages, excessive temps, and union-busting.

Now, those same companies stand to benefit from lower tariffs, while unionized automakers—who could quickly create tens of thousands of good jobs using existing capacity—are left with fewer incentives to do so. Once again, American workers are being forced to suffer the consequences.

A better deal would have held Japanese automakers to the same standards U.S. workers have fought for at GM, Ford, and Stellantis: living wages, quality health care, secure retirements, job stability, and the freedom to form unions without intimidation.

If this becomes the blueprint for trade with Europe or South Korea, it will be a major missed opportunity. After decades of failed trade policy, American workers don’t need another deal that pushes them down for demanding a better life.

We need trade deals that raise standards—not reward the race to the bottom. This deal does the opposite.

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Penn Postdocs and Research Associates Win Their Union

Philadelphia – By a decisive margin, Postdoctoral Scholars and Research Associates at the University of Pennsylvania have voted in favor of forming a union, RAPUP-UAW. The vote was 703 to 38, or 95% in favor, according to ballots tallied by the National Labor Relations Board Thursday evening.

“We are thrilled with tonight’s results, and ready to work with the university towards a more democratic workplace,” said Emily Perkins, Postdoctoral Fellow in Psychology. “We love our jobs, but the increasing threats to international scholars coupled with inadequate compensation made a union the obvious choice. We’re ready to speak in one voice for fair pay, better job security, and a more equitable university.”

Postdocs and Research Associates form the backbone of Penn’s research enterprise. Having already earned a PhD in their field, they perform groundbreaking research in laboratories and offices across campus. Their work attracts hundreds of millions of dollars in funding each year, and has helped establish Penn as one of the premier research universities in the world.

But despite these contributions, many struggle to make ends meet. Workers have very limited job security, no meaningful protections against harassment and discrimination, and spotty benefits that are not guaranteed. International workers are particularly vulnerable to pressure to work overtime without pay, hostile work environments, and sudden termination.

“Penn Postdocs and Research Associates deserve benefits and protections that reflect their role as highly skilled academic workers and scientific collaborators,” said Ray Jensen Jr., Assistant Director of UAW Region 9. “The vote results send a strong signal to Penn’s administration: it’s time to sit down at the bargaining table and negotiate the improvements and protections these workers deserve. The UAW looks forward to supporting them as they bargain their first contract.”

Postdocs and Research Associates at Penn join more than 120,000 UAW-represented academic workers across the United States, including 4,000 graduate workers at Penn who voted to form their union in 2024. This victory comes amidst an ongoing wave of workers voting to form unions at academic institutions across the country, including postdocs at Johns Hopkins, the National Institutes of Health, and Princeton University; graduate workers at the University of Vermont and University of New Hampshire; and non-tenure track faculty and researchers at Harvard.

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NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani and AG Letitia James Rally with Striking UAW Legal Workers to Demand Resources Needed to Represent Vulnerable New Yorkers

NEW YORK— On Tuesday, legal services workers with the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys—UAW Local 2325 (ALAA)—rallied in solidarity with striking members to demand the funding, staffing, and support they need to continue delivering justice for low-income New Yorkers.

The rally launched a picket line of 400 workers and drew support from mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, underscoring his close ties to the UAW—the first union to endorse his campaign back in December. They were also joined by State Attorney General Letitia James, New York City Council Labor Chair Carmen De La Rosa, New York City Council Member Justin Brannan, State Assembly Member Claire Valdez, and others.

“ALAA members are striking for the resources they need to represent working class New Yorkers in our city’s courts,” said UAW Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla. “We cannot sustain the high levels of attrition, burnout, and turnover in our workplaces. This is a fight for justice for poor and working-class people all over New York City.

“We need the mayor to step up and utilize these record reserves that they’ve been bragging about to ensure that we actually ‘Trump-proof’ the city by keeping legal advocates and attorneys in their jobs,” said Mancilla.

“ALAA members are the people that keep New Yorkers in their homes. They are the people that keep families together,” said Mayoral Candidate and State Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani at today’s rally. “And it is incumbent upon every single one of us to stand with them so that they can continue to afford to do this work.

“Because for too long, we have asked people to engage in public service at the expense of themselves. Why are we struggling to attract new applications? Why are we struggling to retain the existing workforce? Because this is not work that is paying people enough to stay in this city.”

Every day, ALAA members provide free legal representation to tenants facing eviction, immigrants at risk of deportation, families navigating child welfare and custody cases, survivors of domestic violence, the unhoused, and people seeking access to health care, disability benefits, and other critical services.

“What individuals need now more than ever is someone on their side. And that is a legal aid attorney,” said Attorney General Letitia James at the rally earlier today. “Someone who will defend the rights of marginalized and vulnerable populations. Someone who will go against corporate landlords. Someone who will stand up; someone who will not be afraid.

“As a former legal aid attorney who can relate to ALAA members, I recognize that this city must pay them more so that they can pay their bills. I stand with ALAA in solidarity as they fight for decency and respect.”

Underfunded for decades, these legal services workers are demanding fair wages, adequate resources, and staffing to reduce burnout and high turnover—issues that directly impact the quality of representation their clients receive. Common demands across the sector focus on lifting wages and guaranteeing workload protections that ensure working class New Yorkers get the best, most experienced advocates and that these union members can afford to stay in jobs they love.

“I’m so proud of how much we’ve already achieved. But our fight is not over.” said UAW Local 2325 President Lisa Ohta. “The city needs to invest in our communities now more than ever. We need housing advocates, immigration defense advocates, and public defenders to ‘Trump-proof’ our city.

“This means funding our work so that we can stay in jobs we love and continue serving our communities.”

As the cost of living rises and the city’s legal services funding lags, they are taking action to ensure all New Yorkers—especially working-class communities targeted by the Trump Administration’s harmful policies—have real access to justice.

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