The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has petitioned the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to hold an election at the BlueOval SK battery plant in Kentucky, a joint venture between Ford and SK On of South Korea. This move signals the union’s continued push to expand its presence in the electric vehicle (EV) sector.
On January 8, the UAW announced a petition to organize employees at the Kentucky plant. When fully operational, the plant will employ 5,000 workers across two facilities. Currently, the company has hired 750 workers, and the first plant is set to begin production later this year.
The UAW claims that a “supermajority” of workers at the plant have signed cards supporting unionization. However, BlueOval SK called the petition “premature,” stating that most of the workforce has yet to be hired.
A company representative states, “The UAW is trying to rush BlueOval SK into unionization before our full workforce has the opportunity to make a truly free and informed choice.”
UAW’s push
The union’s push to organize BlueOval SK is part of a broader effort to solidify its presence in the evolving EV industry, reshaping the American auto workforce. In 2023, battery plants co-owned by Detroit automakers were contentious during the UAW’s six-week strike against Ford, General Motors (GM), and Stellantis.
UAW President Shawn Fain has sought to build on recent union victories, including organizing Ultium Cells, a GM-LG Energy Solution joint venture, at plants in Ohio and Tennessee. In September 2024, GM voluntarily recognized the UAW at Ultium’s Tennessee facility after most workers signed union cards.
When a company refuses to recognize a union voluntarily, the NLRB conducts an election where a majority vote is required for the union to be established.
Labor experts suggest the UAW’s timing reflects strategic considerations. Despite its small size, organizing the current workforce helps the union gain a foothold as the plant ramps up production. Frequent delays in EV-related facilities also make waiting for a full workforce impractical.
Art Wheaton, a labor professor at Cornell University, stated, “If the union wins this election but future hires oppose unionization, they can always move to decertify the labor group.”
Political implications
The UAW’s push at BlueOval SK highlights the broader political dynamics surrounding organized labor and the EV industry. While President Joe Biden has supported the union, even joining picket lines during the 2023 strike, UAW President Shawn Fain has had a contentious relationship with President-elect Donald Trump.
Fain previously described a potential Trump presidency as a “complete disaster for the working class.” Trump, in turn, criticized Fain and called for his removal.
Although an election date has not yet been set, the process typically takes several weeks after filing a petition. The outcome at BlueOval SK could set a precedent for future organizing efforts at EV battery plants and signal how the union adapts to the rapidly electrifying auto industry.
