Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) Introduces the Union Auto Workers Job Protection Act to Ensure that Federal Contracts for Vehicles Deal Workers In

September 26, 2023
Press Release

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) introduced the Union Auto Workers Job Protection Act which requires bids for federal government vehicle contracts to put workers first. This legislation would require that federal contract bidders disclose the location where they want to build government vehicles, prevailing wages at factories, and any OSHA or National Labor Relations Act Violations. If a contract awardee wishes to move vehicle production to a different location, they must seek written permission from the relevant executive agency and provide same day notification to impacted labor unions. 

“Unions built the middle class and when companies bid for and win federal vehicle production projects because of their skilled union workforce, we must make sure it’s the union workers who won the contract that get the work. When the USPS bid for new trucks, the winning bidder unexpectedly moved production away from a union facility, this bill prevents that type of bait-and-switch,” said Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI). “The Union Auto Workers Job Protection Act will make sure that federal contracts identify where vehicles are made and what these facilities pay making it easier to ensure taxpayer dollars support the types of manufacturing jobs that underpin the middle class.” 

The bill is endorsed by the UAW, the Natural Resources Defense Council and co-sponsored by Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI), Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Rep. Don Norcross (D-NJ), Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Rep.  Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. Chris DeLuzio (D-PA), Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA), Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL), Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Rep. Val Hoyle (D-OR), Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA), Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN), Rep. Sheila Cherfilus McCormick (D-FL), Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-KY)

“Auto workers are the backbone of our economy, and our country is better off when our workers are better off,” said Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI). “This legislation will help guarantee that investments in government vehicles are supporting good-paying jobs and union labor.” 

“Congress can and should do all we can to protect the union way of life and the solid jobs that ought to power the American economy,” said Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA). “I'm proud to co-sponsor Rep. Stevens’ Union Auto Workers Job Protection Act to make sure we don't see garbage outsourcing of auto industry jobs in this moment of bold federal investment.”

"The bill puts the focus back where it belongs—on the hardworking men and women who keep Michigan's auto industry moving,” said Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI), “It stands as a testament to our commitment to fair wages and safe work environments."

“The USPS Next Generation Postal Vehicle was awarded to Oshkosh Defense due to the long-standing hard work ethic of our UAW members in Oshkosh,” said Bob Lynk, UAW Local 578 President. “The Company has done the surrounding communities a disservice by not producing it where the dedication to the product is 2nd to none.  The number of workers at our plants in Oshkosh has dwindled over the last decade plus.  This is unacceptable.  The Company knows the right thing to do, that is: Build it in Oshkosh.  Build it Union.  Build it now!” 

“Federal contracts should be supporting high quality jobs along with clean energy,” said Marc Boom, director of federal affairs at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “This measure is critical to help support a successful transition to clean technologies.” 

Background:

In 2021 the United States Postal Service awarded Oshkosh Defense the Postal Service Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV) contract—a multibillion dollar deal to build between 50,000 and 165,000 vehicles over ten years. Oshkosh Defense has a long successful history of manufacturing vehicles with a highly skilled, unionized workforce in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. As such, it was expected these vehicles would be built by union labor in the Dairy State. Unfortunately, Oshkosh announced that it will build a new facility many states over and 800 miles away from Oshkosh to manufacture vehicles under the contract, making the work inaccessible to these skilled union workers. Clearly, more must be done to prevent such bait and switch tactics in the future. 

Specifically, the Union Auto Workers Job Protection Act will: 

  • Require bids to build motor vehicles for executive agencies to:
    • Identify the plant(s) in which motor vehicles will be made or assembled;
    • Outline the average, minimum, and maximum hourly wage at each relevant plant;
    • Provide the number of temporary non-permanent workers employed at each relevant plant; and
    • Disclose any National Labor Relations Act or Occupation Safety and Health Administration violations at each relevant plant.
  • Stipulate that vehicle assembly plant location and specific assembly activities at each plant be identified in contracts to assemble vehicles for executive agencies.
  • Codify that if a contract awardee wishes to move vehicle production to a different location, they must:
    • Seek written permission from the relevant executive agency;
    • Provide same day notification to impacted labor unions when awardees seek this permission;
    • Outline the average, minimum, and maximum hourly wage at the proposed plant;
    • Provide the number of temporary non-permanent workers employed the proposed plant;
    • Disclose any National Labor Relations Act or Occupation Safety and Health Administration violations at the proposed plant.

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