By Nora Eckert
DETROIT (Reuters) -The United Auto Workers (UAW) union said on Monday it had filed unfair labor practice charges against Chrysler-parent Stellantis for violating the labor contract the parties reached last fall.
The UAW said it filed grievances with the National Labor Relations Board because Stellantis has refused to provide information about its future product plans.
Several local chapters of the union have also filed contract grievances regarding the company’s attempts to move production of the Dodge Durango out of the United States, the union said in a release.
Representatives for Stellantis did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“As a united UAW, we intend to enforce our contract, and to make Stellantis keep the promise,” UAW President Shawn Fain said in a statement.
The UAW leader has targeted Stellantis’ CEO Carlos Tavares, blaming him for what Fain has called “mismanagement” of the automaker as its sales and profits fall.
Fain has highlighted Stellantis’ delays around a planned billion-dollar investment into a new battery plant and factory in Belvidere, Illinois as another sign that it is breaking the promises it made in the labor deal signed last year.
The UAW said in August it was prepared to launch a nationwide strike over this and other issues at Stellantis. Stellantis has previously said it is not in violation of the UAW’s national contract.
It has been one year since the union conducted its first strike against all of the Big Three automakers: Stellantis, Ford Motor and General Motors.
After a six-week walkout, the union won record contracts which included the return of cost-of-living adjustments to protect against inflation, and a 25% general wage increase.
The union also fought for its future as the industry shifts to producing electric vehicles, aiming to secure jobs at future EV manufacturing and battery plants such as the ones in Belvidere.
Since the contracts were reached, Stellantis has laid off some members of its factory workforce to cut costs, drawing ire from union officials.
Fain will address the UAW membership in a livestream Tuesday at 7pm EST, the UAW said.
Stellantis has also fielded criticism in recent weeks from its dealers and shareholders who cited similar concerns about rising inventories and lagging sales.
(Reporting by Utkarsh Shetti in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona and Nick Zieminski)
