UAW Strikes Pay Off, Securing Deal to Reopen Shuttered Illinois Plant and 1,200 Auto Jobs
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The UAW was able to get Stellantis to reopen an assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois that had closed in February 2022, putting 1,200 workers out of jobs. It will reopen in 2027.
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The plant will initially make EV batteries and serve as a parts depot before restarting vehicle assembly, providing jobs for laid-off workers in the interim.
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The UAW's coordinated strikes at GM, Ford, and Stellantis gave it leverage to demand plant reopenings during recent labor negotiations.
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UAW President Fain and President Biden view the reopening as a major accomplishment amid decades of plant closures by automakers.
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It is rare for a closed auto plant to be revived - most failed reopening attempts occur when automakers are struggling financially.