The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has called on Stellantis workers to authorize a strike, accusing the French-Italian automaker of breaching its contractual commitments. UAW President Shawn Fain conveyed this in a letter to the union’s U.S. chapters on Friday.
“We unanimously recommend that every UAW worker at Stellantis prepare for a fight, and that we all get ready to vote YES to authorize a strike at Stellantis,” Fain wrote in the letter, which the union shared in a Facebook post.
The union’s grievances primarily relate to Stellantis’ product and investment commitments, which were agreed upon during contract negotiations last fall.
“We have reviewed the serious contract violations and patterns of illegal behavior by Stellantis.
The evidence clearly shows that CEO Carlos Tavares is leading Stellantis on a path that will inflict significant harm on our members,” Fain’s letter added.
In response, Stellantis maintained that it has upheld its commitments to the UAW under the 2023 agreement.
The North American operations of Chrysler-parent Stellantis have been facing difficulties and have drawn criticism from both consumers and workers, who argue the company has not done enough to boost demand.
Key issues for the UAW include delays in Stellantis’ planned multibillion-dollar investment in a new battery plant and factory in Belvidere, Illinois, and potential plans to move production of the Dodge Durango SUV outside of the U.S.
Earlier this month, Fain noted that several UAW local chapters were laying the groundwork for strikes.
Tavares, meanwhile, has emphasized improving Stellantis’ performance in the U.S. and has indicated a readiness to shut down brands globally if they fail to generate profits.
