BAY VIEW, Wis. — United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 75 voted in favor of a new contract agreement between the union and Stellantis.
Local 75 represents workers at the Stellantis facility in Bay View. 53 percent of members approved of the new agreement, according to union leadership.
Local chapters across the country will vote over the next several days. Results should be turned in to the international UAW by Nov. 19.
While the Milwaukee chapter voted on Thursday, President Joe Biden visited Belvidere, Illinois to showcase the auto plant.
"These deals are game changers. Not only for UAW workers but for all workers in America. Just ask the folks at Toyota, which last week announced that it would significantly increase the wages for their workers. They had no choice because of what you did. You helped everybody," President Biden said.
- RELATED NEWS: Biden to travel to Belvidere, Illinois on Thursday to reopen Stellantis assembly plant
Part of the new contract between UAW and Stellantis involves closing down the Milwaukee facility. It's the last remnant of the big three automakers left in the city.
A mega hub will open in Belvidere, Illinois to consolidate the Milwaukee, Chicago, and a Michigan facility.
"It's the bittersweet part of it all, right? The contract is pretty good. And people recognize that part of it," said Peter Raith, who is part of Local 75 leadership, prior to the vote. "But when your facility is on the chopping block, it's hard to vote in favor of an agreement when you know that your future is in question."
Prior to the vote, he told TMJ4 he believed the union, both locally and as a whole, would vote in favor of the new contract.
"To get those raises is a big deal for the salary group and to have the job security even if it means not here in Milwaukee," Raith said.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
