Stellantis cuts supplemental workers at Jeep plants in Detroit, Toledo

Editors’ note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly characterized Stellantis layoffs in January and March as affecting the same plants.

Stellantis has cut more supplemental U.S. manufacturing employees.

The automaker notified 341 affected workers at its Toledo Assembly Complex, which makes Wranglers and Gladiators, on Sunday. Stellantis also has relocated an undisclosed number of supplemental workers from the automaker's Detroit Assembly Complex-Mack, which makes Grand Cherokees.

Supplemental workers, the Stellantis equivalent of temps, largely are used to fill in for absences or when a plant needs more employees for a short time. The company previously laid off 539 U.S. supplemental workers in January.

The Detroit News reported the latest cuts Monday, citing the shop chairman for UAW Local 12. Local 12 officials did not respond to a request for comment from Automotive News.

The cuts come several months after the UAW reached new labor agreements with the Detroit 3 that increase pay for temporary workers while giving them an easier path to full-time status.

"As part of our normal course of business, Stellantis regularly analyzes staffing levels at our manufacturing facilities to ensure they are operating as efficiently as possible," the automaker said in a statement. "Following an operational review, and to ensure compliance with contractual commitments, the company is reducing the number of supplemental employees across much of our U.S. footprint."

Stellantis said the reductions affected fewer employees than it originally anticipated. "This action will help improve the efficiency, productivity and market competitiveness of our facilities as we implement our Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan," the company said.

The cuts relate to notices of impending layoffs that Stellantis filed with state officials in December. The automaker said it was dropping the Detroit and Toledo plants from three shifts to two as it confronted California emissions regulations.

Stellantis said production at the plants was being limited partly because of "the need to manage sales of the vehicles they produce to comply with California emissions regulations that are measured on a state-by-state basis." In June, the company said it was no longer sending gasoline vehicles to dealerships in 14 states that follow the California regulations unless customers had ordered them.

By moving the Detroit plant to two shifts, Stellantis said in December it can "focus its attention on improving the operational performance and throughput at the plant in the event that a change in the regulations or marketplace allows for an increase in volume."

Since then, some supplemental workers in Detroit have gained full-time status and transferred to different locations.