BlueOval SK Workers Pursue Unionization Efforts

Workers at the $6.1 billion BlueOval SK electric vehicle battery plant in Glendale, Kentucky, have initiated a campaign to unionize under the United Auto Workers (UAW), citing low pay and safety concerns. A supermajority of the workforce has signed union authorization cards, seeking better pay and working conditions comparable to UAW members at Ford, who earn significantly more. As construction continues, the plant is expected to create approximately 5,000 jobs and commence production in 2025. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has hailed the project as a 'game changer' for the state's economy and EV industry. The UAW's efforts reflect a broader strategy to expand its influence in the South and among battery factories, building on recent union successes in Ohio and Tennessee. BlueOval SK management expressed a desire to maintain direct relationships with employees amid these unionization efforts.