DETROIT – The most up-to-date contract proposal by automaker Stellantis to the United Auto Workers union may result in the closure of 18 U.S. amenities, however it may additionally deliver new investments and repurpose an idled automobile meeting plant in Illinois, sources aware of the discussions instructed CNBC.

The plans would possible have an effect on hundreds of UAW members, shrink the automaker’s North American footprint and create a brand new “modernized” components and distribution community, which firm and union leaders had been at odds over, the sources stated.

A focus of the plan is feasible closures of 10 “Mopar” components and distribution facilities, that are scattered throughout the nation, to consolidate them into bigger “Amazon-like” distribution facilities, stated the sources, who spoke on the situation of anonymity as a result of the talks are non-public and ongoing. The proposal included a possible “Mega Hub” at Belvidere Assembly, which the automaker indefinitely idled in February.

Three sources stated different manufacturing amenities included within the proposal are Tipton Transmission Plant in Indiana; the partially decommissioned Trenton Engine Complex and the already idled Mount Elliott Tool & Die in Michigan; and the idled Belvidere Assembly. Also included had been a Detroit warehouse, workplace house and the automaker’s North American headquarters and know-how middle, a large 500-acre campus in metro Detroit previously used as Chrysler’s world headquarters.

The final piece of the provide involving its North American headquarters comes as firms modify to distant or hybrid work, and try and realign their bodily footprints following the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2021, Stellantis stated it needed to have a majority of its salaried workers work remotely more often than not, together with the then-17,000 workers in North America. Following these plans, the corporate confirmed it was “evaluating how we work to enable our teams to be their most innovative, creative and efficient. That analysis includes potential adjustments to our real estate portfolio.” Stellantis stated the ability would “continue to be our North American headquarters and North America technical center.”

It’s not assured the amenities would shut below a labor deal; nonetheless, Stellantis is required to incorporate potential closures or gross sales of any location the place a UAW member works, an organization supply stated. The Detroit Free Press reported in 2022 that the corporate may lease a portion of the headquarters complicated.

The 18 potential closures had been a part of a Thursday evening proposal by Stellantis to the union, which launched focused strikes towards the Detroit automakers after contracts expired at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday. Negotiations between Stellantis and the UAW reconvened Monday morning.

Stellantis additionally included its proving grounds in Arizona within the proposal, however stated operations would proceed with any sale, two of the sources stated.

The Belvidere, Illinois plant is likely one of the largest factors of rivalry between the automaker and union, which is now on the fourth day of focused strikes at three main meeting vegetation. The union is putting one plant every at Stellantis, General Motors and Ford Motor, however has threatened extra work stoppages will happen, relying how negotiations go.

Reopening the Illinois plant can be a serious win for UAW leaders, however they’ve considerations about employment, uprooting employees and households, together with pay and automation, based on two of the sources.

Specifically, they fear new amenities might not make use of as many union members because the meeting vegetation and present components and distribution facilities, they stated. Mopar jobs additionally pay lower than positions at conventional meeting amenities corresponding to Belvidere, which was producing Jeep Cherokee SUVs up till its idling in February.

Two sources stated the components proposal for Belvidere has been one in all a number of discussions relating to the plant, and the provide may change, based mostly on the talks.

Discussions have additionally taken place about utilizing a part of Belvidere – an almost 5 million-square-foot facility – for electrical automobile battery elements, two sources stated.

Stellantis’ North American Chief Operating Officer Mark Stewart, who’s overseeing the UAW talks, stated the corporate must “modernize” the Mopar amenities. Without disclosing actual particulars, he stated these plans wouldn’t influence employment.

“We need to make investments into Mopar,” Stewart stated throughout a media roundtable Saturday. “In a lot of cases, it … doesn’t make sense to make those investments in the location that they’re in.”

Stewart, with out disclosing particulars of the plan, described the corporate’s proposal for Belvidere as a “very compelling offer.” However, he stated it was contingent upon the union agreeing to a tentative deal earlier than a strike.

“So we will have to revisit all of those items, but very compelling solution for that, which was rejected,” he stated Saturday.

Stellantis’ most up-to-date proposal to the UAW included raises of almost 21% over the course of the contract, together with a direct 10% pay improve, and would finish wage tiers for some employees along with different bonuses and advantages. Benefits within the proposal are in-line with different presents from GM and Ford.

UAW Vice President Rich Boyer has made it clear that the Belvidere plant is a make-or-break challenge. He even inspired a crowd Friday throughout a rally with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to chant “bulls***” on the presents of the Detroit automakers.

“I want the world to hear this: This is about the working class. This is about the haves and have nots, and we’re tired of not having anything,” Boyer, who leads Stellantis negotiations, stated through the rally.

The firm’s present proposal would set up new Mopar amenities in Fishkill, New York and Macon, Georgia; and transfer work from a number of amenities in Michigan to its Trenton North plant, situated southwest of Detroit, based on two sources.

The Mopar amenities that would shut embody Atlanta PDC; Boston PDC; Centerline Warehouse & Packaging; Chicago PDC; Marysville PDC; Milwaukee PDC; New York PDC; Orlando PDC; Sherwood PDC; and Warren PDC.

Mopar is a mix of motor and components, which was shaped almost a century in the past. Stellantis says it has 20 U.S. Mopar components and distribution facilities and greater than 2,000 energetic workers within the unit.

Mopar was an anticipated main development space for Stellantis’ predecessor, Fiat Chrysler, which established a development plan for the staff and amenities. But the websites had been established earlier than Amazon’s main push for mega distribution facilities, which have modified what number of of them do enterprise.

Stellantis’ proposal additionally contains the elimination of wage tiers throughout the Mopar division. Those workers’ pay at the moment ranges from about $17 to greater than $30 an hour. The provide additionally features a moratorium on promoting or spinning off the Mopar operations via the time period of the four-year deal.

“We’re taking it seriously responsibly, and we’re trying to find creative solutions for each of those. We listened, we continue to listen. We continue to bargain in good faith,” Stewart stated. “It really is about a win-win. You know, it’s not about warfare.”