On February 6, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California dismissed a complaint filed by auto manufacturer Stellantis against the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) and UAW Local 230, which sought to prevent the union from filing grievances and taking steps toward striking over Stellantis’s failure to make certain contractually agreed-upon investments in its U.S. facilities and workforce. Stellantis’s complaint alleged that the company was not obligated to make such investments, and that the UAW’s efforts to enforce the parties’ agreement were unlawful.
In dismissing the action—which is one of 12 identical lawsuits filed by Stellantis against the UAW and UAW local unions across the country—the court agreed with the UAW that Stellantis’s claims were unripe, as they rested on “speculative” allegations regarding “a hypothetical and abstract injury that may occur on a future date.” Although the court declined to rule on the merits, it nevertheless observed that the UAW’s actions “appear to be well-within the conduct permitted by the CBA,” and that a contrary ruling “would essentially render [the relevant provisions of the CBA] meaningless and permit [Stellantis] to prevent grievances … or even legitimate strike actions[.]”
The district court’s order is available here.
Along with co-counsel, Altshuler Berzon LLP represents the UAW and its local unions in all 12 actions filed by Stellantis.