The United Auto Workers (UAW) has announced that its union locals, representing tens of thousands of workers, are prepared to file grievances against Stellantis, the parent company of Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge, and Fiat. The grievances stem from Stellantis’ failure to uphold product and investment commitments at the Belvidere, Illinois plant, which the union says is a direct violation of last year’s collective bargaining agreement.
According to the UAW, Stellantis informed the union that it would not launch the Belvidere Consolidated Mopar Mega Hub in 2024, begin stamping operations for the Mega Hub in 2025, or start production of a midsize truck in Belvidere in 2027. These plans were key components of the agreement that ended the previous strike against Stellantis, Ford, and General Motors during last year’s contract negotiations.
Moreover, the UAW highlighted that it had secured the right to strike over product and investment commitments and successfully negotiated the reopening of the idled Belvidere Assembly Plant as part of the agreement. The union views the failure to follow through on these promises as a major breach, endangering job security and future opportunities for workers nationwide.
UAW President Shawn Fain emphasized the union’s determination to enforce the contract, stating, “This company made a commitment to autoworkers at Stellantis in our union contract, and we intend to enforce that contract to the full extent.” He accused Stellantis of attempting to undermine American workers and warned that the union is prepared to strike if necessary to hold the company accountable.
Fain also released a video last week criticizing Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares for the company’s decision to delay the reopening of the Belvidere plant. He pointed out that Stellantis has experienced a significant decline in sales and profits over the past year, further complicating the situation.
The UAW warned that Stellantis’ actions not only jeopardize the Belvidere facility but also threaten all other investment commitments made by the company. The union stated that these failures could impact Stellantis members across the country, limiting job transfer opportunities in the event of layoffs. If the grievances are not resolved through the standard procedure, the union may authorize a national strike.
