WARREN, Mich. – The United Auto Workers’ stand-up strike last fall proved costly and highly disruptive, and once the dust settled, many felt we’d seen the last of job actions in the auto world for a while.
But there’s one brewing in Warren. In a highly unusual move, Local 869, inside the Warren Stamping Plant, took a strike authorization vote on Monday, May 6. It passed 72%-28%. It’s unknown when the strike will start.
Over 1,000 members of the UAW Local 869 voted to authorize the strike over the company’s refusal to address health and safety grievances at the facility.
“We must stand up and stand together for this health and safety grievance procedure because this is our livelihood,” said Local 869 member Chautay Smith. “So, let’s stand up at Warren Stamping and take care of us the way we need to be taken care of.”
Workers at the facility said they’re facing a wide range of unresolved issues, which include problems with ventilation fans, ergo matting, personal protective equipment (PPE), flooding, basement lightning and flooring, restrooms, oil leaks, overall sanitation, and much more.
“Not only do we want these health and safety grievances resolved, we want our members to leave the same way they came,” UAW Local 869 President Romaine McKinney III said. “We want members to understand they’re not just a number or just a body on the line. They will come to work and feel like they have some ownership in that building.”
The UAW has national and local contracts in every plant, each covering differing parts of the workforce’s issues.
Workers at the Warren Stamping Plant said they haven’t had a local contract in about 15 years, and they last had local contract negotiations a couple of weeks ago. They believe the strike vote might speed that process along.
The Warren Stamping Plant is important. It opened in 1949, and its 78 acres make hoods, liftgates, and fenders for vehicles like the Durango, Pacifica, Jeep Gladiator, Grand Cherokee, Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer, Wrangler, and RAM trucks. Should they walk here, roughly half a dozen plants serviced could idle.
Local 869 President Romaine McKinney said his membership feels anything but important.
“The company has the right to mismanage the building, and they’re doing a great job,” McKinney said.
Many of the 700 or so production workers came to Local 869 on Monday to vote on whether to authorize a strike. They told negotiators—like McKinney—they have the right to strike if they can’t get any farther at the bargaining table.
Outside the plant, the rank and file gave specifics.
“We use sheet metal every day, right? And we’re required to wear kevlar gloves and kevlar sleeves. You work in the morning and there aren’t any there for us,” said Tim Godfrey, who has worked at the plant for 25 years. “It’s ridiculous.”
The company put out a statement:
“Stellantis is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment for all employees. The Company is in discussions with UAW Local 869 to assess open health and safety grievances at the Warren (Michigan) Stamping Plant and aims to resolve this matter without a work stoppage.”
Stellantis Warren Stamping Plant vote
McKinney said he’d like to see that but doesn’t expect it, considering they’ve not had a local contract here since 2007. He said the company simply denies the grievances filed and there are about 200 so far.
“While the members of UAW Local 869 from Stellantis’ Warren (Michigan) Stamping Plant have voted to authorize a strike, discussions between the Company and UAW are ongoing, and employees are still at work. Stellantis remains committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment for all employees and resolving this matter without a work stoppage.”
Stellantis on Warren Stamping Plant vote