Clarios shifting some production out of Toledo as strike enters fifth week

Vehicle battery manufacturer Clarios is shifting some production out of a striking plant near Toledo, Ohio. More than 400 members of UAW Local 12 have been on strike at the plant since May 8.

Beginning this week, the Ford and General Motors supplier is shifting some production from the Holland, Ohio, plant to a factory in St. Joseph, Mo., according to a representative of the Missouri plant's union local, IUE-CWA Local 86116. Union members there plan to accept the work.

The UAW has been in touch with IUE-CWA Local 86116 "since day one," UAW Region 2B Director David Green told Automotive News. But, according to the representative in Missouri, the UAW has not asked the IUE-CWA to reject the shifted production. The representative said he did not know how much production will be shifted to the St. Joseph plant. Before the strike, the Holland plant was producing 125,000 to 150,000 batteries a week.

The two plants are both sites where former owner Johnson Controls began producing absorbent glass mat batteries in 2012.

According to a union representative for a Clarios plant in Kernersville, N.C., that is not equipped to receive production shifted from Ohio, it would take 30 to 60 days to equip another plant to do so.

"We have brought in team members and are using resources across our manufacturing network to ensure we are fulfilling our customer commitments," said Kris Sherman, Clarios director of communications.

The UAW and Clarios met Monday after two failed agreements and two weeks without a meeting.

The strike began May 8 after workers at the Holland plant voted down a tentative contract agreement at the end of April. They voted down a second tentative agreement May 22. Workers say it did not resolve their concerns about changes to overtime pay and other issues with working conditions.

UAW leadership is not optimistic about Clarios' willingness to compromise.

"It seems to me like they are more intent on breaking our members' solidarity than reaching a fair agreement," Green said.

Green and other UAW representatives said Clarios has sent letters to members encouraging them to return to work. "None of our members have crossed the line. They are staying strong," Green said.

Said Sherman: "We held a meeting today with union representatives to listen to their feedback on the second tentative agreement that was endorsed by the committee, and the members rejected. We remain committed to creating a fair agreement while at the same time operating the plant and delivering quality products to our customers."

The strike is one of two ongoing at auto parts suppliers in the Midwest. About 160 UAW members remain on strike at a Constellium plant in Van Buren Township, Mich. They began striking May 17 over safety and compensation concerns.

Clarios, of Milwaukee, ranks No. 75 on Automotive News' list of the top 100 global parts suppliers, with worldwide parts sales to automakers of $2.5 billion in its fiscal 2021.

Constellium, of Paris, ranks No. 84 on the list, with worldwide sales to automakers of $1.88 billion in 2021.

The AFL-CIO declined to comment.