July 30, 2025
40th Anniversary of Saturn coming to Spring Hill!
By Brian Costantino Local 1853

Today marks the 40th anniversary of Saturn coming to Spring Hill, TN marking the birth of UAW Local 1853! The announcement was made by Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander and UAW VP Don Ephlin (which the main road in front of the plant was named). The company attracted many from around the country to come work in Spring Hill, evolving the town that sprawls two counties into what it is today. The Saturn facility was built on what used to be a 2100-acre horse farm. And some of that acreage is still preserved to this day. Haynes Haven which sits by Highway 31 is still rightfully taken care of and a lot of land is still used for farming. From 1990 till 2009, the Saturn brand thrived, until GM faced bankruptcy and had to discontinue a few of their brands.

What also makes the Saturn facility so unique is that it was basically two plants in one. 10 years after the first Saturn rolled off the assembly line. They broke ground and built an engine manufacturing plant. Which still runs at full capacity to this day, supplying engines for different vehicles across the country for General Motors.

There is rich history here and even more so the rich diversity that is reflected in the workforce and the surrounding natural habitats. We are proud of that history. It is what has built us into what we are today – a proud local union that is always ready to stand up for what is right. And we are also a strong workforce that is able to adapt into whatever the auto industry demands.

So today, we honor the past while looking ahead into the future. We will continue to build the best vehicles in the world, and Saturn laid that foundation. Please enjoy this photograph collection of “Past Meets Present.”

Special shoutout to Local 1853 Retirees – Jack, Joe, and Todd for supplying some of these older photographs!