In response to a letter from US Senator Sherrod Brown, Ultium Cells says that they "[do] not see a viable legal or practical path" for their workers to include themselves in the General Motors National Agreement with United Auto Workers. 

Despite the absence of this "legal or practical path," Ultium says they remain committed to negotiating a separate union contract with the workers, who overwhelmingly voted to unionize last December.

"We are excited about [the union] and the opportunity it brings to establish a template for competitive agreements in the battery cell supply industry. A flexible, forward thinking collective bargaining agreement will allow Ultium Cells to compete in this evolving industry and also can provide a model for the unionization of other U.S. battery cell manufacturing plants," Ultium said in the letter.

The response follows efforts by the UAW to include Ultium's contract in the General Motors National Agreement after they discovered what they call poor working conditions at Ultium's facility in Lordstown. 

In a June livestream on Facebook, UAW President Shawn Fain said Ultium Cells workers receive 'poverty wages' and face safety concerns on the job.

It is not yet clear whether Ultium will attempt to include themselves in the GM Agreement or negotiate separately, even after Brown's letter was sent last month requesting that Ultium "negotiate in good faith" to include Ultium's union in the GM National Agreement.

Ultium is a joint operation between GM and LG.