What GM Doesn’t Want You to Know About EVs | Ft. John Russell

Federal funding for electric vehicle manufacturing was supposed to create thousands of good-paying, union jobs.

But workers at Ultium Cells, which makes electric batteries for GM, reveal a different story. They make just $16.50/hour. One worker told us he's afraid he'll come home in a body bag.

Ultium received $2.5 billion from the government for their electric battery project.

One Ultium worker told us, "They need to stop giving taxpayer dollars to companies that essentially treat their workers like gum on the bottom of a boot.”

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[lohphat]

When a company calls you "family" -- RUN AWAY.

"Family" don't throw members away when it's financially convenient.

[IcyMidnight]

This isn't a problem with electric cars. This is a problem with corporate America, union dodging, and federal funding not coming with enough requirements.

If the government is going to spend money on creating jobs, that money should 90% go to the benefit of workers, not employers.

[michaelhathorus]

Seems less that the promise of electric cars failed, so much so that the promise of "good paying, union, Middle Class jobs. Jobs with dignity." It seems like the typical Union-busting tactics that GM (and other enormous companies) that are a REAL reason that Union membership is rising and why strikes are happening across so many industries.

[Krill_all_health_insuranceCEOs]

Asking big companies to promise to be good boys is ridiculous. We need hard-and-fast iron fist style laws on these bastards. Believe me nothing else will control them. All they care about is greed they will always find a way to to weasel out of every promise or weak regulation. But real laws with zero loopholes and serious penalties including jail time for violations will work.

Just elect me I know what tf to do

[morganfreeman]

It'd be worthwhile to investigate home depot. They fired my coworker so they wouldn't have to pay for his chemotherpy. I've worked in four stores and every single one is operated to suppress worker morale. They'll hire anyone too. Within a year of hiring a fired cop he was promoted to management

[tannermcnabb]

With respect for what you're doing A More Perfect Union, this isn't a failure of electric cars, but another example of corporate BS "profit above people" mentality.

[jeffreylee]

Please look at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. They tried to defeat a grad student union strike with many ruthless tactics. They tried to break the union and failed.

[kalebdaark]

This isn't a "Failed Promise of Electric Cars" story. It's a Failed Promise of Corperate America story.

[HikaruKatayamma]

Ultium IS dedicated to the process. They’re just not dedicated to completing the process. That’s why the employees need to strike.

[thisbymaster]

Taxpayer money should never go to for profit businesses. It should only go to the people.

[Josep_Hernandez_Lujan]

A company calling itself a family is major red flag

[jakthebomb]

This has nothing to do with EVs, this has everything to do with crappy companies being crappy to employees.

[BakuganBrawler]

If they are punishing you for speaking up document it and start talking behind the scenes to build up a case. It’s illegal to retaliate against a whistleblower.

[MMuraseofSandvich]

Remember, businesses only understand one virtue: _wealth._

Do not expect them to treat you well out of the goodness of their hearts, because that has been trained out of them by capitalism. "It's nothing personal, it's just business."

If they treat you well, it's because (a) the government is actively holding businesses accountable, and (b) workers who are treated well have the highest productivity. The largest form of theft in this country is _wage theft, _ whether it's restaurant owners stealing tips, or factories clocking you out then forcing you to work for free.

[RamenNoodle]

Never work for a company that bases itself on being family. Cause they always end up being dysfunctional af

[ball]

I hate the title “The Failed Promise Of Electric Cars” but if you want to attract all the EV haters well done

[marieazrak]

This is my biggest question why is the government investigating people who work?

[andrewrockwell]

Tax payer funds going to industry I can support, but it shouldn't be given to corporations, it should be used by the government to employee workers directly.

[johnsteiner]

I once had heard a rumor that at Salt Lake Community College there were adjunct teachers planning on forming a union, but never heard more. If something like that took off there is hope that a union for college employed tutors might have a shot.

[phxsisko]

It's cute when people think the President walking around their plant will actually mean a fucking thing to them. These people don't care about workers, just the owners and their concerns.