Auto supply chain workers have voted to unionize at Ground Effects, the UAW said late yesterday in a second UAW union organizing victory in two days. Workers at Ground Effects have been organizing since last year. “They began their campaign to form a union due to low pay, overwork, forced overtime, management abuse, and favoritism.,” the UAW said in a release. Workers at Ground Effects won a majority in a National Labor Relations Board election to form a union with the UAW. Ground Effects produces spray-on truck bedliners, in addition to other aftermarket parts.*
“Ground Effects workers just showed what courage and determination can do,” said UAW Region 1D Director Steve Dawes. “These workers stood together and stood strong against the underhanded anti-union tactics coming from the boss and their hired guns. Now, Ground Effects workers will have the right to sit with management as equals and negotiate a contract that gives them the dignity and respect they deserve.”***
The people eligible to vote were all full-time and regular part time production and maintenance employees employed by the Ground Effects LLC or out of its facility located at 3435 Van Slyke Road, Flint, Michigan. [We note that a sit-down strike in Flint made the nascent UAW a major force in labor representation because it became the exclusive union at General Motors in 1937 – AutoCrat] This included all General Laborers, Quality Assurance employees, Backup Quality Assurance employees, Quality Assurance CRD employees, Spray Booth Operators, Backup Spray Booth Operators, Yard Porters, Bedliner Repair employees, Tool Crib Attendants, Yard Leads, Backup Yard Leads, Accessory Installers, Production Team Leads, Maintenance Leaders, Janitors, Backup Janitors, Material Handlers, Maintenance Techs, and Shipping and Receiving employees; who were employed by Ground Effects during the payroll period ending February 28, 2026.
*AutoInformed on
**About the UAW
The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) says it is one of the largest and most diverse unions in North America, with members in virtually every sector of the economy. UAW-represented workplaces range from multinational corporations, small manufacturers and state and local governments to colleges and universities, hospitals, and private non-profit organizations. The UAW has almost 400,000 active members and more than 580,000 retired members in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
***About Ground Effects
“From modest beginnings in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Ground Effects (GFX) has grown from an aftermarket manufacturer of tubular products in 1986 to a leading producer of OEM-level automotive accessories with nearly 40 locations worldwide. Utilizing a team of over 3,000 associates, GFX now produces complex decorative and functional assemblies with installation services outside many of the North American assembly plants for General Motors, Ford Motor Co., Stellantis, Toyota, and others. The level of expertise has expanded to include spray-on bed liners and full vehicle up-fitting for applications that include fleet and police vehicles,” says Ground Effects on a social media page.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Ground Effects Workers – Yet Another UAW Supply Chain Win
Auto supply chain workers have voted to unionize at Ground Effects, the UAW said late yesterday in a second UAW union organizing victory in two days. Workers at Ground Effects have been organizing since last year. “They began their campaign to form a union due to low pay, overwork, forced overtime, management abuse, and favoritism.,” the UAW said in a release. Workers at Ground Effects won a majority in a National Labor Relations Board election to form a union with the UAW. Ground Effects produces spray-on truck bedliners, in addition to other aftermarket parts.*
“Ground Effects workers just showed what courage and determination can do,” said UAW Region 1D Director Steve Dawes. “These workers stood together and stood strong against the underhanded anti-union tactics coming from the boss and their hired guns. Now, Ground Effects workers will have the right to sit with management as equals and negotiate a contract that gives them the dignity and respect they deserve.”***
The people eligible to vote were all full-time and regular part time production and maintenance employees employed by the Ground Effects LLC or out of its facility located at 3435 Van Slyke Road, Flint, Michigan. [We note that a sit-down strike in Flint made the nascent UAW a major force in labor representation because it became the exclusive union at General Motors in 1937 – AutoCrat] This included all General Laborers, Quality Assurance employees, Backup Quality Assurance employees, Quality Assurance CRD employees, Spray Booth Operators, Backup Spray Booth Operators, Yard Porters, Bedliner Repair employees, Tool Crib Attendants, Yard Leads, Backup Yard Leads, Accessory Installers, Production Team Leads, Maintenance Leaders, Janitors, Backup Janitors, Material Handlers, Maintenance Techs, and Shipping and Receiving employees; who were employed by Ground Effects during the payroll period ending February 28, 2026.
*AutoInformed on
**About the UAW
The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) says it is one of the largest and most diverse unions in North America, with members in virtually every sector of the economy. UAW-represented workplaces range from multinational corporations, small manufacturers and state and local governments to colleges and universities, hospitals, and private non-profit organizations. The UAW has almost 400,000 active members and more than 580,000 retired members in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
***About Ground Effects
“From modest beginnings in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Ground Effects (GFX) has grown from an aftermarket manufacturer of tubular products in 1986 to a leading producer of OEM-level automotive accessories with nearly 40 locations worldwide. Utilizing a team of over 3,000 associates, GFX now produces complex decorative and functional assemblies with installation services outside many of the North American assembly plants for General Motors, Ford Motor Co., Stellantis, Toyota, and others. The level of expertise has expanded to include spray-on bed liners and full vehicle up-fitting for applications that include fleet and police vehicles,” says Ground Effects on a social media page.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.