Dear Friend,

I wanted to update you about some great news for our District. 

This past weekend, the United Auto Workers (UAW) reached a tentative agreement with Stellantis, one of the Big Three domestic auto manufacturers, to end their strike that began over six weeks ago. As part of the agreement, Stellantis will reopen the iconic Belvidere Assembly Plant that they idled last February - a major victory for the workers who were displaced by the plant’s idling and who are ready to get back to work.

In the months since the plant was idled, I’ve made it a top priority to work alongside Governor Pritzker, state and local officials, and our federal partners to secure a bright future for Belvidere, and I am proud that the tentative deal between the UAW and Stellantis does just that.

This is a cause for celebration for Belvidere and the generations of workers who made their careers at the Assembly Plant. Under the Governor's leadership, powerful state incentives have been assembled to help close the deal; local officials made sure that the site would accommodate Stellantis' ambitious future plans for Belvidere; and the federal incentives for EV and battery production from Congress and the Biden Administration will continue to be essential in ensuring the economic future of the Assembly Plant for generations to come.

This milestone would not have been achieved without the incredible support for the Belvidere Plant from UAW workers throughout the country — the truest expression of the meaning of "union solidarity.”

This is a big win for Illinois and the environment, and it means that the iconic Belvidere Assembly Plant should remain the beating heart of the entire community, and that the workers who’ve been displaced since the idling can finally return to work with a bright future.

Sincerely,

Bill Foster
Member of Congress