Padilla, Colleagues Warn Non-Unionized Automakers Not to Interfere in UAW Unionization Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) Jan. 4 led 28 of their colleagues in urging 13 non-unionized automakers not to illegally block United Auto Workers’ or UAW unionization efforts at their manufacturing plants. After the ratification of historic agreements between UAW and the big three automakers in Detroit, thousands of non-union autoworkers are publicly organizing to join the UAW.

The Senators wrote to the chief executive officers of Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Mercedes, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo. 

“We are concerned by reporting at numerous automakers that management has acted illegally to block unionization efforts,” wrote the Senators. “These retaliatory actions are hostile to workers’ rights and must not be repeated if further organizing efforts are made by these companies’ workers. We therefore urge you all to commit to implementation of a neutrality agreement at your manufacturing plants.”

“Your commitment to neutrality would ensure that management does not pressure workers into voting against unionization or delaying the election process. We believe a neutrality agreement is the bare minimum standard manufacturers should meet in respecting workers’ rights, especially as companies receive and benefit from federal funds related to the electric vehicle transition,” continued the Senators.

UAW President Shawn Fain applauded the Senators’ efforts saying, “Every autoworker in this country deserves their fair share of the auto industry’s record profits, whether at the Big Three or the Non-Union Thirteen. We applaud these US Senators for standing with workers who are standing up for economic justice on the job. It’s time for the auto companies to stop breaking the law and take their boot off the neck of the American autoworker, whether they’re at Volkswagen, Toyota, Tesla, or any other corporation doing business in this country.”

In addition to Senators Padilla, Butler, Peters, Stabenow, and Brown, the letter was signed by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Details: Full text of the letter is available here.