Aaron Vance Discusses NLRB’s Ruling to Unionize BlueOval SK Workers for Courier Journal

Labor and employment associate Aaron Vance spoke with the Courier Journal about the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) landmark decision that unionized workers at the BlueOval SK Battery Park in Kentucky.

The decision comes more than a year after workers filed for unionization in January 2025 and about one month after the company announced layoffs affecting 1,500 workers, as Ford Motor Co. prepares to take sole ownership of the plant.

Vance stated that despite BlueOval SK's shuttering, the union election outcome could still hold for future workers at the plant, even in the event of the facility shifting to a new company.

“Depending on the nature of the transaction, depending on how that all plays out, someone can essentially buy a bargaining obligation," he said. "It happens all the time across the country that someone wants to buy a business, that business has unionized employees ... they step into the place, they get the unionized workforce.”

The article also noted that BlueOval SK has until January 26 to appeal the regional NLRB decision. If the company appeals, the case would go before the NLRB board, which now includes two new members nominated by President Donald Trump.

Vance said that an appeal to the NLRB could bring the case into greater significance for U.S. labor law in terms of rolling back pro-union precedents set under prior administrations.

“This could be a case that becomes one of the first big changes that the second Trump board might be able to effectuate,” Vance added.