Outside of the Stellantis Sterling Heights Assembly Plant on Van Dyke Avenue, nearly 200 United Auto Workers members and leaders rallied Friday, accusing Stellantis of failing to live up to commitments made in last year's collective bargaining agreement.
In the agreement, the UAW and Stellantis, which owns Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Fiat brands, agreed to reopen an assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois, with a timeline of operations beginning in 2024. On Tuesday, Stellantis announced it was not going to meet the initial deadlines, extending the timeline.
Outside of the Stellantis plant Friday — with banners, speakers, signs and organized chants — union members and leaders demanded that Stellantis maintain the original timeline.
Michael Spencer, president of UAW Local 1700, said the rally and rising tensions are about more than just the Belvidere plant — the UAW is frustrated with Stellantis leadership writ large.
UAW feels stiffed by Tavares
"It's not just the Belvidere plant, it's the layoffs at Warren Truck (Assembly Plant)," Spencer said. "It's about the CEO (Carlos Tavares) publicly spanking our facilities across the country."
Spencer said Tavares planned to visit the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant on Friday, but declined to meet with UAW leadership, a move he called "frustrating."
UAW leadership spoke at the rally, echoing Spencer's frustration with Tavares, slamming him for taking a 56% pay increase while the company plans to lay off thousands of factory workers .
Kevin Gotinsky, the director of the UAW's Stellantis Department, told the crowd that he expected to meet with Tavares during his visit, and chastised his leadership of the company so far.
"Carlos Tavares, ever since he has taken over as leader, we have been going in a downward direction," Gotinsky said. "We just want him to step up and do what's right."
A possible strike brewing
The rally comes days after the UAW suggested it might begin a national strike against Stellantis over the stalling in Belvidere.
The initial agreement laid out a timeline for the Belvidere plant with operations on a Mopar hub beginning in 2024, followed by stamping operations in 2025 and ultimately the production of a midsize truck localized to the plant in 2027.
On Tuesday, Stellantis announced plans to delay all three operations at the Belvidere Assembly Plant but said the company remains committed to seeing it through, just on a longer timeline. The UAW, led by union President Shawn Fain, said it would file grievances and considers this a strikable offense.
Amid sliding profits for the company, Stellantis said otherwise in a statement on Tuesday, noting that market conditions make the new plant impossible on the original timeline. Stellantis said the delay does not violate terms of the contract.
Mike Hayes, president of UAW Local 412, said he hopes the rally and grievance process can be enough to make Stellantis change course, but he suggested they might need to do more.
"Nobody wants to strike," Hayes said. "But we are prepared to do what we have to do."
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Breaking news reporter Liam Rappleye can be reached at LRappleye@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Sterling Heights UAW rally demands Stellantis stick to timetable for Belvidere plant
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