BlueOval SK CEO: We have not yet sold our first battery. A union vote would be premature | Opinion

We are proud to be part of the Commonwealth. We are proud to provide innovative, well-paying careers for our neighbors. We are proud to forge a new future for us all. We remain focused on our team, their safety, and producing the best American-made electric vehicle battery.

We are BlueOval SK, an independent greenfield startup. We are a brand-new company that looks forward to growing our workforce, starting production, and doing better every day. We are proud of our 50/50 owners, Ford Motor Company and SK On, but we make our own decisions and must succeed or fail on our own – and we are determined to succeed!

We believe the action taken by the United Auto Workers union in demanding an early vote on unionization is premature. We have not started production. We have not sold a battery. We still have hundreds of Kentuckians to hire. They deserve to participate in any vote over whether to give up their voice to the UAW.

What is the UAW’s rush? Hundreds of Kentuckians have chosen to build their careers and provide for their families with us. They’re investing in our future, and we’re investing in theirs. They made their choice to join us without the UAW, and we continue to believe this is the right choice.

BlueOval SK will always fight for our team, even those who haven’t joined us yet. We believe everyone here has the right to talk directly to anyone in the company, and everyone deserves the chance to decide their own future.

-Michael Adams is the CEO of BlueOval SK, a new battery plant in Hardin County.