United Automobile Workers Union Reaches Tentative Contract Agreement at Ohio EV Battery Factory

The United Automobile Workers union has reached a tentative contract agreement at an Ohio factory that produces batteries for electric vehicles, marking a significant achievement in improving compensation and safety within the E.V. supply chain.

Details of the Agreement

The agreement applies to 1,600 employees at a Lordstown plant operated by Ultium Cells, a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution. The plant is responsible for manufacturing batteries exclusively for G.M.'s electric vehicles.

After initially operating as a non-unionized facility in 2022, the workers at the plant were integrated into the U.A.W. as part of the national contract negotiated with G.M. in the previous year. The new contract, which is contingent on ratification by the plant's employees, outlines specific wage and working condition provisions tailored to the Lordstown location.

Shawn Fain, president of the U.A.W., characterized the accord as a "game changer for the electric vehicle battery industry" in a letter addressed to the union members.