Tag Archive for: ultium

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In Another Win for Southern Workers, UAW Members at Ultium in Tennessee Ratify Local Agreement

Spring Hill, TN — Nearly 1,000 UAW members at Local 1853 overwhelmingly voted to ratify their first local agreement with Ultium, a joint venture of General Motors and LG Energy Solution. The local agreement builds on the successes of the national contract that Ultium workers joined as a major win of the 2023 Stand Up Strike.

A majority of workers Ultium Spring Hill signed cards last September and immediately launched their contract campaign, building on the agreement that is rapidly becoming the cornerstone for battery plants across the nation.

“When we voted to join UAW, I knew it would be a big deal. Now, I don’t have to worry about losing my job out of nowhere or going broke from a medical emergency,” said Derrick Kinzer at Spring Hill and bargaining team member. “We do the hard, dangerous work of building EV batteries, and now we’ve got a union contract that guarantees our future.”

“Building EV batteries is just as risky as working with combustion engines, and these workers deserve the best wages, health care and safety protections as they have in the Big Three,” said UAW Region 8 Director Tim Smith. “Ultium workers stood strong and won their fight. Now it’s time for Volkswagen—an even bigger, richer company—to quit dragging its feet and do right by its workers in Chattanooga with fair pay and fully paid health insurance.”

“We now have our health care costs covered, just like General Motors workers,” said Barry Hope, a battery worker at Spring Hill and bargaining team member. “I’m just like any other union autoworker—and now my benefits are guaranteed in writing, ensuring financial security for my family and access to necessary care when we need it most.”

Smith added, “Ultium workers are setting the bar for Southern workers and charting a brighter future. From Georgia to Kentucky to Texas, folks in these new EV plants know they deserve fair pay and benefits, just like union workers before them. And you can bet the UAW is going to stand with them to make sure they get their fair share and a collective voice on the job.”

More than 5,000 Tennessee autoworkers have joined the UAW in the last year.

Resisting Cynicism, Fighting Billionaires

Resisting Cynicism, Fighting Billionaires

In his first month, President Trump targeted the federal workforce by pushing resignations and firing officials, aiming to dismantle public services. Why? To undermine trust in government functions that Americans rely on daily, from food safety to disaster warnings, threatening essential services provided by dedicated federal employees across the country.

When corrupt billionaire Elon Musk is given unfettered power to destroy government institutions, it isn’t just an attack on public employees; it’s an attack on the entire working class. When power-hungry billionaires come for one of us, they come for all of us. We must stand united, stop the cuts to vital programs, and stand up for our future.

Below are two links covering why we need to be alarmed and involved in these injustices many government workers are facing:

“The era of cheap cynicism about government is over” →
“A snapshot of the federal workforce that is now under attack…” →

10 Easy Tips and Tricks for Better Smartphone Photos

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, visual storytelling is a powerful tool for labor communicators. Capturing compelling images with a smartphone can amplify workers’ voices, document workplace conditions, and bring labor movements to life. This article highlights key strategies including selecting a quality camera phone, utilizing natural lighting, adjusting exposure settings, enabling gridlines for balanced composition, and exploring features like Portrait and Pano modes. Mastering these techniques enhances visual storytelling, ensuring compelling and professional images that resonate with members.

Click here to read more →

UAW IN THE NEWS — UAW Reaches Tentative Agreement with Rolls-Royce

In a monumental victory for workers, the UAW secured a tentative five-year agreement with Rolls-Royce, benefiting over 800 Indianapolis workers. This landmark deal eradicates wage tiers, introduces substantial wage hikes, establishes an equitable profit-sharing plan, enhances retirement benefits, and incorporates Cost-of-Living Adjustments into base pay. This triumph underscores the unwavering dedication and solidarity of UAW members in their pursuit of fair compensation and improved working conditions. This is what Solidarity looks like!

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In Another Win for Southern Workers, UAW Members at Ultium in Tennessee Ratify Local Agreement

Nearly 1,000 UAW members at Local 1853 overwhelmingly voted to ratify their first local agreement with Ultium, a joint venture of General Motors and LG Energy Solution. The local agreement builds on the successes of the national contract that Ultium workers joined as a major win of the 2023 Stand Up Strike.

Click here to read more →

 

 

History of The Association of Legal Aid Attorneys — UAW Local 2325

Did you know the UAW represents Legal Aid attorneys? The Association of Legal Aid Attorneys — UAW Local 2325 (ALAA) represents over 2,700 public interest attorneys and advocates in the New York City Metro Area. Founded in 1969, they are the oldest union of attorneys and legal advocates in the country. They fight every day with pride on behalf of the neediest of New Yorkers and have launched an innovative contract campaign this year, lining up the contract expiration dates of multiple units to put pressure on decision makers. Here is a brief history of UAW Local 2325- well worth the watch.

Click here to watch the video →

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VIDEO: Ultium Members Vote 98% to Ratify Contract that Sets New Standard for EV Industry

LORDSTOWN, Ohio – UAW Local 1112 members voted overwhelmingly to ratify their historic contract at Ultium Cells, which builds battery cells for GM electric vehicles. The local contract, approved by 98% over the weekend, sets a new standard for the EV industry with strong wages and benefits and historic health and safety protections.  

The Ultium workers speak about the contract victory in a new video launched today by the UAW. The video can be accessed here, and the media is invited to use the footage.  

“It enables me to just go ahead and move forward in life rather than living from paycheck to paycheck,” said Ultium worker Donald Bevly. 

“This is setting a precedent that can be built on,” said Ultium worker Chris Wyatt. “This is a guideline that every other EV plant can follow through with.”  

When Ultium opened in 2021, the workers were nonunion, they made just $16.50 an hour, and the EV industry was in a race to the bottom. But the Ultium workers organized with the UAW in late 2022 and during the Stand Up Strike, they were brought under the GM national agreement.  

By October 2027, Ultium production workers will make $35 an hour, 112% more than before they joined the UAW. The contract includes:  

  • 30% raise over three years for production workers
  • Immediate $3,000 bonus
  • Four full-time union health and safety representatives in the plant as well as a full-time union industrial hygienist on site 

“The benefits are just the best benefits I’ve had in my life,” said Ultium worker Lori Lovitz. “Paid hospitalization, holiday pay. I’ve never had this many paid holidays. Job security.”  

Another Ultium plant is beginning operations in Spring Hill, Tenn., and battery plants that will employ tens of thousands of workers are being built across the country. The Ultium contract sets a powerful precedent for those facilities and the entire EV industry.   

For more details about the agreement, visit uaw.org/ultium

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