Stellantis strikes tentative deal with UAW bringing new jobs to Illinois

The United Auto Workers (UAW) and Stellantis have reached a tentative agreement to end the auto workers strike, promising new jobs and economic revitalization for Illinois. The development comes after Stellantis idled its Belvidere Assembly Plant eight months ago, which led to 1,200 workers losing their jobs, according to Crain’s.

Per the deal, Stellantis will reopen its Belvidere plant where it will manufacture trucks and build a new battery factory.  The agreement could bring more than 3,000 new jobs to the state of Illinois.

“Through the power of our Stand Up Strike, we have saved Belvidere,” said UAW Vice President Rich Boyer in a statement. “Eight months ago, Stellantis idled Belvidere Assembly Plant, putting 1,200 of our members on the street. From the strength of our strike, we are bringing back those jobs and more.”

Illinois Gov. Pritzker applauded the impact of the agreement, which would more than double the company's recent headcount and see billions of dollars invested. "I'm thrilled with the outcome," Pritzker said in a statement to Crain's. "It's nearly twice the investment and twice the number of jobs that we had expected."

As part of the Stellantis-UAW deal, the Belvidere plant, which was previously dedicated to the production of passenger vehicles, will now be repurposed for truck manufacturing.

The addition of a new battery factory signifies a strong commitment from Stellantis to invest in the development of electric vehicles (EVs). This aligns with current market demands and trends, positioning Illinois as a key player in the rapidly-growing EV sector.