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.
Workers at StarPlus Energy in Kokomo, Indiana, are celebrating an organizing victory after a majority of them signed authorization cards to join the UAW.
The electrical vehicle battery joint venture, which is a partnership between Stellantis and Samsung SDI, stayed neutral during the union effort and has voluntarily recognized the UAW as the bargaining representative. The 420 workers at the plant who chose to organize are looking forward to bargaining for a contract with fair wages, quality health care coverage and stability in this rapidly expanding industry.
“This is a big deal for StarPlus workers in Indiana,” said Frank Bush, a worker at StarPlus, in a UAW press release. “We were able to decide our future without intimidation, and now we’re on a path to the good pay and benefits, and respect on the job that other autoworkers in battery are winning.”
“Joining the union is going to help us build a better life,” added Anna Deweese, another StarPlus worker. “We’re not asking for the moon—we just want decent pay, affordable healthcare, and to have protections in an uncertain economy.”