ICYMI: Ohio UAW Members Ratify Historic Agreement with Lordstown Ultium Cells EV Battery Plant

Lordstown, OH — On Monday, June 17th, Ohio United Auto Worker Local 1112 members voted to ratify a new contract with Ultium Cells battery manufacturing plant. Ultium produces electric batteries for GM vehicles, providing thousands of clean energy jobs in the wake of GM’s conventional auto plant closure in 2019. The deal will double workers’ pay, improve benefits and job security, increase health and safety protections, and set a standard for clean energy manufacturing jobs in Ohio. 

“This agreement is a victory for manufacturing workers and their families in Ohio,” said State Rep. Michele Grim. “UAW’s contract with Ultium revitalizes our region’s long auto manufacturing history, ensuring secure, good-paying jobs that will also help decrease pollution and create a healthier environment for all. I’m proud to support this agreement, and hope that all clean energy manufacturers in Ohio follow Lordstown’s example.” 

Since the passage of the federal clean energy plan in 2022, Ohio has received $10.43 billion in investment for clean energy projects, spurring the creation of over 13,000 new jobs in construction and manufacturing of utility-scale solar, battery storage, and other clean energy technologies. UAW’s new contract with Ultium Cells pledges that thousands of these will now be union jobs.

Good-paying, union jobs are at the forefront of the country’s new clean energy boom because the clean energy plan incentivizes companies to create workshop development and apprenticeship programs that help drive up wages. Jobs created by the affordable clean energy plan are unionized at higher rates and have prevailing wage requirements. 

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