UAW, GM pact would allow Lordstown workers to return
The drive back home
LORDSTOWN — A tentative contract agreement between the United Auto Workers union and General Motors would give former Lordstown assembly plant workers the opportunity to come home and work at Ultium Cells, the automaker’s joint venture battery-cell manufacturing plant.
That’s according to a report Friday on The Detroit News’ website that states the language is part of an agreement highlighter obtained by the newspaper.
If UAW members ratify the deal, there would be a six-month window for the former small-car assembly plant employees working at the plant on Nov. 26, 2018, to apply to return and work at Ultium Cells, according to the paper.
The paper also reported former workers who transfer would keep their current wages, benefits and seniority.
Ultium Cells is a joint venture between GM and South Korea’s LG Energy Solution to mass produce battery cells for electric vehicles. The more than $2.3 billion plant, which is approximately 3 million square foot, launched production toward the end of 2022
The latest employee number there was about 1,400.
Ultium Cells is located on state Route 45, immediately east of GM’s former assembly plant the automaker shut down in March 2019, ending more than 50 years of automaking prowess at the facility. There were about 1,500 people working at the plant when it closed; some chose to transfer to other GM facilities, others decided to retire and still others decided to cut ties with GM and find work elsewhere.
GM announced in November 2018 the decision to idle the plant. The last vehicle made there was the Chevrolet Cruze.
Pulling employees at EV battery factories into national contracts between the UAW and Detroit automakers — GM, Ford and Jeep maker Stellantis — was important for UAW President Shawn Fain.
GM was the first to concede unionizing EV battery plants, but last of the three automakers to reach a tentative agreement with the UAW.
At noon today, Fain and Vice President Mike Booth will address UAW members on Facebook to give deal highlights of the agreement with GM.