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It was quite the year for Ultium Cells in Lordstown.
The multibillion dollar next-generation factory -- the first producing electric-vehicle battery cells for General Motors' EVs -- marked a notable milestone in July, that it hit the 10 million production mark.
The achievement was a "major step forward" in the company's "mission to lead the charge in supporting the transportation industry in its pursuit of an all-electric future," the company stated in a release.
Ultium Cells is a joint venture between GM and South Korea's LG Energy Solution to provide battery cell capacity to support the Detroit automaker's EV assembly in North America.
Around the same time the company announced the production milestone, contract talks between United Auto Workers and GM and Detroit's other two automakers, Ford and Jeep maker Stellantis, were about to begin.
Key among the issues for the union was securing a foothold in joint venture EV battery plants, like Ultium Cells.
In fact, new UAW President Shawn Fain met with workers in May at the plant to hear what they had to say about work and safety, and then addressed UAW members from the UAW Local 1112 hall nearby during a live broadcast on the union's Facebook page.
He was critical of the wages paid to employees.
Back in July, as new contract negotiations were underway, a group of 28 U.S. senators, including Ohio's Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, urged top auto industry executives to fold joint venture plants, like Ultium Cells, into the national UAW contract.
The group stated in a letter: "Profits should translate to gains for workers. It is unacceptable that in the midst of extreme financial gains for companies, executives and investors, the workers making the electric-vehicle batteries that will enable a transition to clean-energy vehicles are making poverty-level wages."
The company responded in August, stating in a letter there was no "viable legal or practical path" to fold Ultium Cells employees into a national agreement. The company is a "separate legal entity and independent employer" from either of the joint venture partners.
Then in August, UAW workers at the facility overwhelmingly ratified an agreement with the company that gave raises worth 25% on average to hourly union workers.
Josh Ayers, UAW Local 1112 chairman, said the factory "can and should be a highly desirable place to work," which is "achievable in collaboration" between the union and company.
Ultium Cells spokeswoman Katie Burdette said the action was the right action.
"This is just a first step to reward our team for their hard work and dedication to ensuring Ultium Cells' success in leading a transformation of American transportation," she said.
Back in Detroit, the UAW ultimately went on strike, targeting certain plants. The strike lasted about six weeks, and at the end, all three automakers agreed to allow EV battery plant workers into the master UAW agreements. GM was the first to concede.
UAW workers at GM ratified the deal in November with about 55% approval. Workers at Ultium Cells in Lordstown voted 97% to 3% to approve the contract.
With it, production workers at the factory won an immediate pay increase of $6 to $8 per hour. The wage would be $26.91 per hour and go to $30.88 per hour over the course of the 4 1/2-year deal, according to the UAW.
They also will receive a $5,000 ratification bonus.
Minimum skilled-trades wages at Ultium Cells would be $31.80 per hour and rise to $36.49 per hour in September 2027, according to the UAW.
In addition, the contract provides a six-month window for former GM Lordstown assembly plant employees working at the plant on Nov. 26, 2018, to apply to work at the battery factory.
They would keep their current wages, benefits and seniority if they transfer to Ultium Cells.
GM closed the plant in March 2019 after more than 50 years of making vehicles there. Doing so caused scores of workers to find jobs at GM plants in other states.
Ultium Cells also found itself at the center of investigations involving health and safety at the plant.
It was Oct. 12 when it was announced the Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the company with 17 serious and two other-than-serious violations, which stemmed from inspections April 24 and May 5. The agency recommended a more than $270,000 fine against the company.
Ultium Cells contested the violations Oct. 26. The cases now rest with the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, an independent federal agency that decides contests of citations or penalties issued by OSHA.
Said Burdette regarding the reason to contest the citations, the company "would like to reach an agreement with OSHA and UAW regarding the citation items, but needed more time to evaluate and understand OSHA's claims."
She added that company and UAW representatives met informally with OSHA to talk about workplace safety and health at the plant, "and looks forward to continuing those discussions."
"Ultium values employee safety and health and strives to work with the UAW to identify ways to improve," she said. "Those efforts will continue."