Reopening the Belvidere Assembly Plant and putting thousands of people back to work will send a jolt through the economy of Northern Illinois and mean far more business for Renee Hill’s family-owned Hill Tool Co. of Marengo.
Hill operates the small tool and die shop with her husband, Robert, supplying parts for the machines that build other parts in the automotive industry. Business is already picking up with more investment in electric vehicle manufacturing, Hill said. With plans to produce batteries and build a midsize truck in Belvidere by 2027 even more business is looming over the horizon.
“We don’t work for the Big Three directly, we work for other companies that work for them,” Hill said. “So this is a perfect example of the opposite of trickle down economics.”
Belvidere workers on Thursday voted to ratify the agreement. In addition to the reopening and expansion of the plant, the agreement means raises of 25% over four years, cost of living adjustments, the right to strike over plant closures and $5,000 ratification signing bonuses. Union members across the country are expected to complete their ratification votes by Nov. 19.
As the vote proceeded at the union hall, President Joe Biden rallied with hundreds of United Auto Worker Local 1268 members in Belvidere to celebrate Stellantis’ plans to invest an estimated $4.8 billion as part of a proposed labor agreement.
Biden joined Gov. JB Pritzker, UAW President Shawn Fain and UAW Local 1268 President Matt Frantzen for the rally at the Community Building Complex of Boone County, 111 W. First St. in Belvidere.
UAW workers, civic leaders and elected officials crowded into an area in front of the stage to celebrate a hard won agreement that will not only mean thousands of jobs in the Rockford region and new life for the Belvidere plant, but wage increases that are reverberating across the economy.
“Look folks, these deals are game changers,” Biden said. “Not only for UAW workers, but for all workers in America. Just ask the folks at Toyota, which last week announced they would significantly increase wages. That’s thanks to you. They had no choice because of what you did. It’s a bigger thing than I think even you all realize. You changed the face of the country economically.”
Gov. JB Pritzker said he was honored to celebrate with “the heroes of Belvidere UAW 1268.” He said it was union members across the country that made the reopening of the Belvidere Assembly Plant possible.
“You fought for an agreement that brought it all together for working families,” Pritzker said. “Higher wages, expanded benefits and more new jobs for your children and grandchildren in a growing industry. Belvidere will see thousands of good paying jobs and billions of dollars invested right here in Illinois because when our workers succeed, we all win.”
Belvidere native Ron Byers, now a Roscoe resident and 30-year veteran of the Belvidere Assembly Plant said three generations starting with his father and uncle worked at the plant.
“This thing is life-changing for the community,” Byers said. “What this does is give another boost to this community. It puts the eyes of other manufacturing facilities that’s looking for places to go, right here in the Midwest.”
Jeff Kolkey can be reached at (815) 987-1374, via email at [email protected] and on Twitter @jeffkolkey.
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