A majority of workers at Ultium Cells battery plant in Spring Hill signed cards to the join the United Auto Workers, and the company agreed Wednesday to recognize the union without a vote.
Ultium, a joint venture of General Motors and the Korean company LG Entergy Solution, produces battery cells for electric vehicles. The plant has 1,000 employees.
The other U.S. Ultium plant in Ohio voted to join the UAW in 2022 and won a new contract this summer.
In 2023, the UAW won favorable new contracts after striking against GM and the other two major U.S. automakers, Ford and Stellantis. At that time, GM agreed to accept a union without an election at its Ultium plants if a majority of workers asked join one. Most U.S. companies today insist on a federally monitored election even if a majority of their workers sign cards to join a union.
After the strike, the UAW turned its attention to the South, where unions have historically been weak. The results have been mixed.
In April, nearly three-quarters of the workers at the VW plant in Chattanooga voted to join the UAW. In May, however, the UAW lost a vote at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama, even though a majority of workers there had signed cards to join the union.
Reuters contributed reporting to this story.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Spring Hill Ultium EV plant workers join UAW union
Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.
