Union members at Ultium Cells – a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution – in Lordstown, Ohio voted to ratify a new labor agreement, the United Auto Workers said on Monday.
About 98% of votes cast were in favor of the new deal, which includes a 30% wage increase over three years for many workers, and a USD 3,000 ratification bonus.
As automakers shift to manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs), their battery plants have emerged as a focal point for the union.
UAW expects the Ultium agreement to set a new precedent for upcoming battery facilities in the U.S. and the entire EV industry.
Earlier this month, the UAW reached a tentative contract with Ultium Cells, which manufactures EV batteries for GM. The plant began operations in 2021 with a non-unionized workforce and the workers voted to join the UAW in late 2022.
By October 2027, Ultium production workers will make USD 35 an hour, 112% more than before they joined the UAW.
