The article by George Kirby from October 15, 2024, discusses the dire working conditions at the newly opened StarPlus Energy battery plant in Kokomo, Indiana, a joint venture between Stellantis and Samsung SDI. Reports reveal a brutal work environment characterized by abuse, low wages, and unsafe conditions, with the UAW playing a role in recruiting workers into this setting.

The plant has seen workers suffer from heat stroke, multiple fires, and exposure to hazardous lithium-ion batteries known to emit toxic smoke. Workers face long, alternating shift schedules of 36 to 48 hours per week, with complaints about poor facilities like insufficient bathrooms and no drinking water, alongside harsh treatment, particularly towards immigrant workers.

The low wage of $19 per hour is considered inadequate given the conditions. Additionally, the transition to electric vehicle production has led to significant layoffs and plant closures, with the UAW seemingly complicit in pushing workers into these less secure and lower-paying jobs under the guise of a “historic” contract.

The article highlights the economic and health dangers faced by both native and immigrant workers in Kokomo due to these practices.

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2024/10/16/ddsz-o16.html

wsws.org

Stellantis Kokomo Rank-and-File Committee exposes dangers at Stellantis- Samsung SDI battery plant in city

The conditions at the new joint venture battery plant are appalling, with workers subject to low pay, long hours and numerous safety hazards.