Nearly 80 members of Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Dick Durbin, have called on automaker Stellantis to fulfill its investment commitments tied to its contract with the United Auto Workers (UAW).
Stellantis had planned to invest $1.5 billion to reopen its Belvidere, Illinois, assembly plant but delayed the project, sparking a dispute with the UAW. Despite the automaker’s claim that it remains committed to the investment and has not violated the agreement, lawmakers expressed concern in two separate letters sent on Wednesday, citing potential breaches of contractual obligations.
The letters, sent by Democratic members of the House and Senate, highlighted Stellantis’ decision to delay the Illinois plant reopening and other investment shifts. The lawmakers urged Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares to provide a timeline for fulfilling these commitments. Stellantis, which has recently faced criticism from dealers and shareholders due to declining North American sales, is also preparing for the possibility of another nationwide UAW strike—just one year after a six-week strike against Detroit’s Big Three automakers. The UAW’s grievances stem from promises made in contract negotiations last fall, which included reopening the Illinois plant for mid-size truck production by 2027.
Stellantis has responded to these disputes by suing the UAW in federal court, arguing that it is not in breach of the contract and that it has the right to delay investments if market conditions worsen.
However, Democratic lawmakers remain unsatisfied with this explanation, accusing Stellantis of using market conditions as an excuse to break its word. Meanwhile, tensions are escalating as the UAW continues to organize strike votes, with Vice President Kamala Harris also publicly criticizing the automaker for actions she says betray workers’ trust.
