UAW Pushes to Unionize Ford's Kentucky EV Battery Plant

A majority of workers at the BlueOval SK facility have signed union cards, highlighting pay and benefit disparities with unionized Ford employees.

The BlueOval SK battery plant in Kentucky, a joint venture between Ford and SK On, is the latest site targeted by the United Auto Workers (UAW) for unionization efforts.
The UAW announced that a 'supermajority' of workers at the facility have signed union authorization cards, a key step toward a formal vote to join the union.
Workers at the nonunion plant currently earn $21 per hour, significantly less than unionized Ford workers who start at $26.32 and can earn over $42 per hour after three years.
The Kentucky facility, a $6 billion project, is set to begin production in 2025, with one plant's start date delayed as Ford assesses electric vehicle demand.
Unionizing battery and EV manufacturing plants has been a priority for the UAW, following recent successes at GM's Ultium Cells facilities in Ohio and Tennessee.