UAW Secures Recognition for TN Battery Plant Union

The United Auto Workers (UAW) has successfully secured union recognition at a battery manufacturing plant in Tennessee, operated as a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution. The majority of workers at the Ultium Cells facility have signed cards to join the UAW, following a similar successful move at a plant in Ohio last year.

The United Auto Workers (UAW) announced Wednesday that a battery manufacturing joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution has agreed to recognize the union at its Tennessee plant. The UAW mentioned that a majority of the workers at the Ultium Cells facility signed cards to join the UAW, prompting the company to acknowledge their union status. This decision follows the successful unionization and new contract negotiations at a similar Ohio Ultium plant in 2022, which resulted in significant wage increases.

The Tennessee facility, employing 1,000 workers, manufactures batteries for GM's electric vehicles, including the Cadillac Lyriq, built at a nearby assembly plant. A spokesperson for GM confirmed, 'The team at Ultium Cells in Tennessee has indicated their desire to be represented by the UAW. The parties will now move into the local bargaining process.'

Representatives for LG have not yet commented. The issue of unionizing GM's battery operations was a major point of contention during last year's UAW contract negotiations, which included strikes at multiple Big Three automaker plants over six weeks. Eventually, GM agreed to include its Ultium battery plants under the union's master agreement once a majority of workers decided to unionize. UAW President Shawn Fain is spearheading a $40 million nationwide campaign targeting major automakers like Toyota and Tesla.

The UAW recently celebrated a unionization victory at Volkswagen's Tennessee plant, where 73% of voting workers joined the union, marking a significant win in the South. In contrast, workers at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama voted against unionizing. Additionally, over 30% of employees at Hyundai's Alabama plant and a Toyota auto parts factory in Missouri have shown interest in joining the UAW. The union's executive board has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, highlighting her support for workers compared to former President Donald Trump, who has faced criticism from UAW's President Fain.

Though a supportive administration might bolster the union's efforts, labor experts note it won't be decisive in the overall organizing campaign.

(With inputs from agencies.)