UAW Local 869 President Romaine McKinney III emphasized the importance of workers feeling a sense of ownership in the workplace, not simply being seen as a number or a body on the assembly line. More than 1,000 workers at a Stellantis metal stamping plant in Warren, Michigan have voted to authorize a strike due to health and safety concerns. The union stated that grievances have been filed regarding issues such as ventilation fans, ergonomic matting, personal protective equipment, flooding, basement lighting, oil leaks, and other problems at the factory. Although the union did not specify a strike deadline, Stellantis mentioned in a statement that discussions are ongoing and employees are currently working at the Warren plant.
The Warren plant supplies parts to several Stellantis facilities, including those in Windsor, Ontario and Saltillo Mexico. A potential strike could impact the production of popular vehicles like the Ram pickup truck Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Wagoneer. Stellantis expressed its commitment to providing a safe work environment and resolving the issues raised by employees without disrupting operations.