Ground Effects Workers Vote to Join the UAW

For the second time in 24 hours, Michigan auto supply chain workers have voted to unionize. Workers at Ground Effects won a majority in a National Labor Relations Board election to form a union with UAW. Ground Effects produces spray-on truck bedliners, in addition to other aftermarket parts and customizations.

Workers at Ground Effects have been organizing since last year. They began their campaign to form a union due to low pay, overwork, forced overtime, management abuse, and favoritism.

Just yesterday, workers at Webasto Detroit voted by a 2-1 margin to form a union with the UAW, after organizing for 2.5 years. Today’s victory at Ground Effects underscores the desire of auto supply workers to be treated fairly and achieve the same respect and benefits enjoyed by unionized autoworkers at the assembly plants.

“Ground Effects workers just showed what courage and determination can do,” said UAW Region 1D Director Steve Dawes. “These workers stood together and stood strong against the underhanded anti-union tactics coming from the boss and their hired guns. Now, Ground Effects workers will have the right to sit with management as equals and negotiate a contract that gives them the dignity and respect they deserve.”