Bernie Sanders, UAW President Shawn Fain to rally in Belvidere on Friday

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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BELVIDERE — Local autoworkers will welcome U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and United Autoworkers President Shawn Fain to the city Friday as they look to keep the pressure on Stellantis to reopen the Belvidere Assembly Plant.

The pair will appear at a rally at 10 a.m. Friday at UAW Local 1268 Union Hall, 1100 W. Chrysler Drive, according to a message released by UAW Local 1268 President Matt Frantzen. The event is open to the public.

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The rally comes after UAW threatened a national strike over the automaker’s decision to delay bringing new operations and a new product to Belvidere. Stellantis responded with multiple lawsuits saying the union violated its contract by threatening to strike.

Stellantis informed the UAW that it would not launch a consolidated Mopar Mega Hub in Belvidere this year, and it will not begin stamping operations for the Belvidere Mega Hub in 2025. It also delayed production of a midsize truck in Belvidere, which was initially slated for 2027.

Stellantis said it remains committed to reopening Belvidere, but does not have a timeline for the project.

Fain last held a rally here in August, when hundreds of workers filled the UAW Hall to call on Stellantis to keep its promises for Belvidere.

The closure of the Belvidere Assembly Plant and negotiations to reopen it also brought President Joe Biden here in November, when workers were then celebrating a tentative contract that paved the way for reopening the local plant.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas