UAW Moves to Unionize Ford-SK Battery Plant

Workers at the BlueOval SK electric battery plant in Kentucky have filed for a union election to join the United Auto Workers (UAW), citing safety concerns and inadequate protective equipment as key issues. Union officials claim that a supermajority of employees have signed union authorization cards, despite the company's efforts to hire anti-union consultants. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear supports unionization and hopes companies will remain neutral to allow employees to decide. The plant, a joint venture between Ford and SK On, is expected to open in 2025, aiming to address worker grievances and enhance safety standards. This move is part of the UAW's broader campaign to organize Southern auto factories and EV battery facilities, following recent successes in securing contracts with major automakers. Similar unionization efforts are underway at Amazon's RDU1 warehouse in North Carolina, driven by demands for higher wages and improved working conditions.