It has only been a few months since the United Autoworkers Union (UAW) won big time after its historic strikes against Detroit’s Big Three automakers, but union organizers have another bone to pick with Stellantis. Workers at the company’s Warren Stamping plant will vote next week on the decision to strike due to health and safety concerns at the facility.
The Warren Plant provides parts for more than a half-dozen Stellantis facilities, so a strike would land a significant blow to the automaker’s production efforts, including some of its most popular models like Ram trucks and the Jeep Wrangler.
At issue are complaints surrounding plant ventilation fans, personal protective equipment, and ergonomic floor mats. There have also been problems with flooding, the restrooms, and lighting at the facility.
In a statement, a UAW rep said, “We’re standing up for health and safety at Warren Stamping. When it rains, the facility floods because the ceiling is leaking. We have to fight for every single pair of work gloves, while we handle metal and materials to build world class vehicles for Stellantis. The list goes on, and we’re putting an end to it.” Stellantis said it was committed to providing a “safe and healthy work environment for all employees” and noted that it was in discussions with union leaders to determine a path forward.
The UAW has been on a tear since appointing Shawn Fain as its new president. It recently landed a victory at the VW plant in Chattanooga, TN, with workers voting to organize the facility. Other plants across the South are in its crosshairs, including Mercedes-Benz’s plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
[Image: Stellantis]
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