Roughly 400 workers at the Clarios battery plant in Ohio, who are responsible for the production of 12-volt batteries for a range of vehicles manufactured by Detroit-based automakers GM and Ford, have been on strike as of May 8th following a contract proposal that was recently shot down.
According to a report by Automotive News, these workers are members of the UAW Local 12. The Ohio plant currently employs approximately 650 employees, and produces up to 150,000 batteries a week.
“This is really going to hurt their delivery to these companies,” president of UAW Local 12 Bruce Baumhower was quoted as saying.
For background, contract negotiations began back in April 2023, as the previous contract expired April on 19th. A few days later, UAW employees voted against a proposed agreement that allegedly had the support of the bargaining committee. However, reports say that the proposal was voted down by 98 percent.
The Clarios battery plant and the union have been unable to reach an agreement on several issues, notable among them overtime pay. As outlined in the now-expired contract, workers received time-and-a-half for work over eight hours a day. However, the company’s recent proposal had straight pay extended to 12 hours a day, which means that workers would have to work an extra four hours a day to reach overtime pay.
Baumhower went on to claim that the workers do not want to be on strike, but the pay cuts resulting from altering overtime payment are too aggressive to overlook.
It’s worth noting that this is the first strike at the plant, which first opened in 1982. In addition, Baumhower claims that negotiations have been increasingly more difficult in recent years.
“We’ve implemented a contingency plan that allows for limited operations at our facility and will continue to evaluate how to best support our customers,” a Clarios spokesperson was quoted as saying.
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Comments
Isn’t it against the law to not pay overtime past 8 hours/day? Or is it only required after 40 hours/week?
Depends on the state. Some maybe. Doesn’t look like Ohio is. Nor many so called “Right to work” (for less) states.
anywhere that you have a bargaining unit, they do not have to follow laws. Their negotiations supercede law.
For those that are confused.. a company could force 3-12 hour days, then send you home and run 2 more crews 3/12s giving them 18 shifts of work in 6 days with no ivertime and no full time employees.
The union bargaining committee that put this crazy proposal on the table for members to approve should all be fired . straight time for 12 hours before overtime pay start. Fire them now.
I agree, brother
The bargaining committee did not agree with the proposal. They had to bring something back before the company tried to get an impasse. They knew we would vote it down. The company wants to go to a 3-2-2 schedule which we do not want.
This whole thing is just asininely stupid. First of all, If the company doesn’t want to pay workers overtime, then don’t have or allow shifts longer than 8 hours. Secondly, when the company proposed to have straight-pay for 12-hour shifts, how did this even get passed the UAW bargaining committee and put to a vote? This should have been an outright NO.
It sounds like Clarios altered the work day (and schedule) where employees work similar to a nurse’s schedule of 12 hour shifts over three days. They have to pay overtime. I don’t see it as a matter of not paying overtime, it’s changing the working hours. I don’t know for certain.
The bargaining committee did not agree with the proposal. They had to bring something back before the company tried to get an impasse. They knew we would vote it down. The company wants to go to a 3-2-2 schedule which we do not want.
Cut Mary’s compensation and we will talk.
I would think that the bargaining committee had to present this to the members to maintain “bargaining in good faith”. Corporations have continued to try to take away overtime in any form.
Typical GM..They Make Billions and Record Profits but don’t want to share it with the UAW workers who made it for them..Meanwhile Mary Bara.makes $40 Million in total Compensation and then Closes Plants and Lay’s off Workers…This years round of contract negotiations with The.”BIG THREE”..is going to be a Fight…
this battery plant is not a GM plant.
I’m confused by your statement. What does Mary Bara have to do with Clarios? Did I miss something?
Cut the over time and everyone will cry foul, just get new work force. It’s coming to an end some day anyways. Dave B. It’s a supplier not GM read the article
And they’re not cutting our worked OT. We will be scheduled into 12 hours days and not getting paid time and a half till we reach 40 hours and no double time until we reach 60. That’s what we are protesting.
I like how new UAW president FAIN says GM the enemy , well then quit working for them they don’t owe u anything.
It’s not just a gm thing. It’s a UAW thing.
Current clarios employee here! We work hard long hours everyday with lead and manufacturing an extremely hazardous and heavy product in order for GM to even have jobs. If getting a new work force was so easy we wouldn’t be currently working as many hours as we already do every week. It’s a revolving door because of the long hours, the 120 degree summers slaving over 850 degree molds and lead pots while wearing head to toe ppe and we are not paid for donning and doffing. We are required to use our break time to wash up and get suited back up to return to work and be on the floor ready to work the second our break is over. We work 4 hours over and then scheduled back in 4 hours early the next day multiple times a week. Most people are on a 19-2 schedule working 12 hours and those double backs (over then early). If people are going to take the pay cut that the company is trying to slickly push into the contract they won’t be able to get a new work force to stay in business. The work is hard and hazardous and anyone will be able to make that little bit of money just going to McDonald’s to work. Either the company can make it worth keeping the loyal and skilled employees they have now or face not having a sustainable business in the near future. Without us they have nothing. And I’m sure everyone on here feels the same about the companies you all work for too.