The WSWS Autoworker Newsletter received a letter detailing unsafe working conditions at the Stellantis engine plant in Dundee, Michigan, and alleged collusion between United Auto Workers (UAW) officials and plant management. The letter describes a specific incident involving a machine called the “Roto Matic” which, despite known safety issues, was allegedly kept running to maintain production quotas.
The author claims the Roto Matic repeatedly malfunctioned, causing hazards and near-miss accidents, and was only shut down after a worker was injured. The letter asserts that workers had previously reported these problems to both management and the UAW but were ignored.
The core accusation is that the UAW, instead of advocating for worker safety, actively collaborated with Stellantis to prioritize production targets over employee well-being. The author believes the union prioritized avoiding production halts and potential financial repercussions for the company. The letter portrays the UAW leadership as being in close contact with management, effectively functioning as an extension of the company rather than a representative of the workers. The author sees this situation as indicative of a larger pattern of negligence and complicity within the UAW structure, ultimately jeopardizing the safety of workers at the Dundee engine plant.
find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/04/16/lojj-a16.html