DETROIT, Sept 17 (Reuters) - The United Auto Workers
union plans to hold strike authorization votes at one or more of
its Stellantis ( STLA ) local chapters in the coming days,
union president Shawn Fain said on Tuesday, which could lead to
a disruptive walkout against the Jeep maker.
The UAW leader has in recent months called out Stellantis ( STLA )
CEO Carlos Tavares for failing to keep the product and
investment commitments the automaker agreed to after the union
conducted a six-week strike last autumn.
"We are still waiting for the company to make good on the
vast majority of its product commitments. Not all of them are
contract violations yet. But we're watching them closely and
we're preparing to take action," Fain said in a video address on
Tuesday evening.
Local Stellantis ( STLA ) chapters have filed grievances related to
the company's alleged plan to move production of the Dodge
Durango out of the United States, union leaders said this week.
The union on Monday also filed unfair labor practice claims
with the National Labor Relations Board against Stellantis ( STLA ),
saying the company refused to provide information about its
future product plans.
Representatives for Stellantis ( STLA ) did not respond to a request
for comment.
Fain also reiterated his anger around the company's delays
of a planned multi-billion dollar investment into a new battery
plant and factory in Belvidere, Illinois.
Securing jobs at the Belvidere plant was one of the
union's most prized victories after its nationwide strike
against Stellantis ( STLA ), Ford Motor ( F ) and General Motors ( GM )
late last year, and a symbol of the labor group's ability to
protect union jobs as the industry shifts to producing electric
vehicles.
The UAW also won a record 25% general wage increase, the
return of cost-of-living adjustments, and the right to strike
over product commitments and investments, the latter of which
Fain said allowed them to hold a walkout against Stellantis ( STLA ) now.