Workers at a Clarios vehicle battery plant in Holland, Ohio, began striking Monday morning after voting down a contract proposal, local TV news station 13abc reported. The approximately 400 striking workers are members of UAW Local 12.
Clarios is a leading global producer of low-voltage batteries for a range of vehicles, with 18 plants and more than 5,800 employees in the U.S. The Holland plant, near Toledo, employs about 650 employees and produces 125,000 to 150,000 batteries a week for Ford and General Motors.
“This is really going to hurt their delivery to these companies,” Bruce Baumhower, president of UAW Local 12, told Automotive News.
“Toledo is a key location for Clarios and has been a focus of recent investment as we anticipate our ability to competitively support growth and increased customer demand well into the future,” a company spokesperson said.
Contract negotiations at the plant began in April, with a previous contract expiring April 19. On April 27, UAW-represented employees voted against ratifying a proposed agreement that, according to Clarios, had the support of the bargaining committee. But 13abc reported the proposal was voted down by 98 percent.
Clarios and the union have not been able to reach an agreement on several issues, including overtime pay, Baumhower said. Under the old contract, workers received time-and-a-half pay for anything over eight hours a day, but on the company’s recent proposal, straight pay was extended to 12 hours a day.