UAW Rift With Stellantis Could Lead To U.S. Auto Jobs Vanishing

To Ruth Breeden, who assembles Ram trucks in a Detroit suburb, the simmering dispute between the United Auto Workers (UAW) union and Stellantis isn’t just about reopening a distant factory in Illinois.

2,700 jobs are at stake as no timeline has been provided for reopening the Stellantis plant in Belvidere, Illinois. I Photo: UAW International Union Facebook

For her, the standoff signals potential danger for all UAW workers, Tom Krisher and Josh Boak reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Stellantis had pledged to reopen its Belvidere, Illinois assembly plant under a contract with the union last year. However, citing unfavorable “market conditions” due to poor sales and earnings, the company has delayed the reopening.

While Stellantis says it will eventually fulfill its commitment, no timeline has been provided for reopening the plant, building a new battery plant, or opening a new parts warehouse—projects that were promised in last year’s contract.

About 2,700 jobs are at stake.

Breeden and other union members worry that Stellantis may break further commitments, putting more jobs at risk. “It’s the whole company,” she said at a union rally in Sterling Heights.

“Who knows which plant is next?” The union has threatened to strike over the issue, which could have a ripple effect across the industry.

Labor experts suggest that Ford and General Motors are closely watching as they consider their own strategies, potentially moving future production sites outside of the U.S. to avoid union-related issues.