Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
After months of the UAW organizing to keep the manufacturer accountable, Stellantis announced last week it will be producing a new mid-sized pickup truck at its shuttered assembly plant in Illinois and building the next-generation Dodge Durango SUV in Detroit.
Stellantis—which owns Chrysler, Jeep, Ram and other brands—closed the Belvidere facility in 2023, then later that year agreed to reopen it as part of an agreement with the UAW. The corporation attempted to walk back that promise in August 2024, prompting the union to launch its Keep the Promise campaign that included demonstrations, grievance filings and other actions.
“This victory is a testament to the power of workers standing together and holding a billion-dollar corporation accountable,” said UAW President Shawn Fain in a press release. “We’ve shown that we will do what it takes to protect the good union jobs that are the lifeblood of places like Belvidere, Detroit, Kokomo, and beyond.”