The United Auto Workers union, is in the process of negotiations with Stellantis, which makes vehicles under the Jeep, Ram, Dodge and Chrysler brands, as well as with General Motors and Ford. The union has been vocal in its criticism of the slew of battery plants that have opened recently or are in the works, which the union says will pay about half of what senior UAW members at assembly plants are paid.
Most of the battery plants are either under construction or still in the planning stages and have yet to hire workers. But workers at one of the battery plants that has opened, a joint venture between GM and Korean battery maker LG, in Warren Ohio, voted 710-16 in December to join the UAW. The union has yet to negotiate the first union contract there though. It says the workers are being hired at a starting pay of $16.50 and hour and only progressing to $20 an hour after seven years.