Ohio Battery Strikers Refuse UAW Deal

Workers at the Clarios battery plant in Holland, Ohio, are still on strike. They turned down a deal between the company and United Auto Workers union negotiators. About 550 employees from UAW Local 12 went on strike on May 8th because of changes in overtime eligibility and production incentives. Only a few are picketing outside the factory entrance.

The strike update is that workers are still standing strong. A temporary restraining order was placed on them by the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas. However, they are not backing down. Their previous contract with Clarios expired after five years, but they are not willing to sign a new one that they believe is a step backwards.

Dave Green said a possible agreement was made over the weekend, but the workers didn't approve it.

Mr. Green said the members have spoken. He works for them. He will do everything he can to get them a good agreement. The UAW is for the members. The leaders work for them. They want the company to come back to talk.

Negotiations are ongoing, and answers on progress vary depending on who you ask. The WSWS often disagrees with the establishment and monitors labor activities. They claim that the "UAW bureaucracy" did not support workers by agreeing to a pro-company contract. It is said that about 75-80 percent of the plant's workforce voted against the contract based on member claims.

People informed WSWS that the new contract is almost the same as the old one, which 98 percent of workers didn't accept on April 27th with the support of UAW.

A proposal was made for a three-year contract with a 3 percent annual wage increase. Workers said it does not match inflation and recent pay cuts. The UAW suggested a $3,500 signing bonus but workers did not seem to like it.

The main problem is the changes in schedule. Before, employees got paid extra for working more than eight hours a day, but now they want to extend it to twelve hours a day. Clarios wants to have staggered shifts that won't have overtime for twelve-hour days.

The UAW limited the scheme to TBS department employees. TBS uses new machinery made by TBS Engineering. It's the future of the firm's battery production lines. Workers believe they'll end up on the new lines soon.

One worker talked to the WSWS. He said nothing changed, except the signing bonus. If they signed, old machinery would be replaced. Everyone would be on the new TBS schedule. It would take six months for the schedule to start. The schedule would start throughout the company. The new guys would have a 12-hour schedule. But the workers don't want new guys to have the 12-hour schedule. They have kids who want jobs at the company. They won't hurt the new guys.

Workers worry that if they agree to this contract, it will set a precedent for other car manufacturers and suppliers. General Motors, Ford Motor Co., and Stellantis are all about to enter into negotiations for their contracts.

A union member from the plant said that the big shot from UAW Region 2-B supported the contract but the regular workers should be the ones to decide. The 2-2-3 schedule will affect new hires and all workers as the company expands. In 2025, the entire plant could be under the TBS department. Some workers think the union leaders are not working for them and don't want the contract to come back. They can see what's happening.

Let's all unite, GM, Ford, and Stellantis. Our fight is mutual. They need us more than we need them. The industry is reliant upon our efforts. It's time to stand strong and declare that we've had enough. We can succeed if we work together.

Daniel J. Macy took a photo for Shutterstock. The photo is featured in a blog section. The photo captures the beauty of nature. Shutterstock is a website for stock photos. The blog section is likely discussing nature photography. Nature photography is a popular genre of photography. Many photographers find beauty in capturing nature.

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