UAW calls on Stellantis workers to approve strike, accuses automaker of contract violations

The United Auto Workers union asked workers at Stellantis to authorise a strike as it accused the French-Italian automaker of failing to honour its contract commitments, UAW President Shawn Fain said in a letter to the union's US chapters.

"We unanimously recommend to the membership that every UAW worker at Stellantis prepare for a fight, and we all get ready to vote YES to authorise a strike at Stellantis," Fain wrote in the letter that the UAW shared in a post on Facebook.

The union's grievances centre on Stellantis' promises on the product and investments made during contract negotiations last fall.

"We reviewed the serious violations of our contract and patterns of illegal behaviour by Stellantis. The evidence is clear that CEO Carlos Tavares is steering Stellantis on a crash course that will cause our members tremendous harm," the letter on Friday added.

Stellantis reiterated that it has performed under its obligation to the UAW as the 2023 deal has directed.

Chrysler-parent Stellantis' North American operations have come under heavy fire from consumers and employees, who claim it hasn't done enough to boost demand.

But among the UAW's top issues are delay in a planned multibillion-dollar investment for a new battery plant and factory in Belvidere, Illinois and a report that Stellantis is planning to shift production of the Dodge Durango SUV out of the United States.

Earlier this month, Fain said several of its local union chapters were preparing for possible strikes.

Tavares has said his focus is to improve Stellantis' US performance and announced that he is prepared to eliminate brands across the world if they are not profitable.