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Stellantis is planning indefinite layoffs of union-represented workers "across its footprint" and is cutting seasonal supplemental employees as well.
The total number of workers who will be affected was unclear as of Tuesday.
"This affects many of our U.S. manufacturing facilities, but we are not providing specific details," Stellantis spokeswoman Ann Marie Fortunate said.
Recent social media posts indicate workers at numerous plants have either been told of cuts or are bracing for them.
The company provided statements highlighting market conditions and vehicle affordability as the reasoning behind the layoffs.
"Stellantis is in full execution mode focused on both protecting the company from the continued intense external market conditions and, at the same time, offering customers vehicles they can afford," according to a statement about the layoffs provided by Fortunate. "As such, we are continuing to take the necessary actions to improve operations across our facilities; this includes ongoing assessments of our manufacturing processes to improve efficiency. While that effort continues, the company will be implementing indefinite layoffs of represented employees across its footprint."
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The other statement noted that "seasonal supplemental employees hired to support production by covering for increased vacation usage during the summer months will be separated from the company effective Oct. 1, in accordance with the 2023 UAW collective bargaining agreement."
The Free Press reached out to the company last week to ask about potential supplemental cuts and again on Tuesday after a letter from UAW Local 1700 leadership was posted on Facebook saying that 177 supplemental workers were being terminated and 14 full-time union workers would be laid off indefinitely as of Thursday at Sterling Heights Assembly Plant, where the Ram 1500 pickup is built.
The letter noted that affected workers learned of the job cuts via phone call.
Local 1700 Vice President Eric Watters said the company's actions leave many questions to be answered.
"We're trying to understand their method of operation. We don't know the game plan," he said, noting the plant's history of producing award-winning products. "We're looking for answers ourselves."
Stellantis, which owns the Jeep, Ram, Chrysler, Dodge and Fiat brands, has lately been trading jabs with the UAW. The union says the company isn't living up to its investment commitments in the contract that was negotiated last year, which the company disputes.
