Home » US business news • US Employment News » UAW launches strike at Ford’s largest plant in Kentucky

UAW launches strike at Ford’s largest plant in Kentucky

By Nithya Bose in US business news, posted October 12, 2023

The United Auto Workers union has begun a strike at Ford's pickup truck plant in Kentucky.

This marks a significant escalation in their ongoing labor action that has persisted for nearly four weeks, and affects the automaker's largest factory.

Approximately 8,700 Louisville, Kentucky plant workers walked off the job at 6:30 p.m.

They’re responsible for manufacturing Super Duty pickup trucks, Ford Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator SUVs.

This represents the UAW's most substantial strike action against any of the "Big Three" Detroit automakers, including Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis.

The Ford Kentucky Truck Plant is known for producing some of the company's highest revenue-generating vehicles, contributing approximately $25 billion annually.

The UAW's President, Shawn Fain, stated, “It’s time for a fair contract at Ford and the rest of the Big Three.

“If they can’t understand that after four weeks, the 8,700 workers shutting down this extremely profitable plant will help them understand it.”

Ford said: “The decision by the UAW to call a strike at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant is grossly irresponsible but unsurprising given the union leadership’s stated strategy.”

The automaker noted the potential consequences of a work stoppage at the Kentucky factory.

It warns of significant impacts on the company, its employees, and the supply chain, which could result in layoffs at other facilities.

This strike has further compounded the ongoing labor disputes in the automotive industry.

Over 33,000 of the Detroit automakers' 146,000 unionized workers in the US participated in strikes.

They work across six assembly plants and numerous parts distribution centers.

The workers demand pay raises, retirement benefits, and the status of nearly a dozen future battery factories.

These plants are currently under development by these automakers.

The industrial action has been ongoing since July.

The union's push to unionize these battery factories is of particular concern.

The shift toward electric vehicles in the industry raises fears of potential job losses.

UAW leaders had previously secured a commitment from GM to include future battery production under the master bargaining agreement.

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The move is aimed at enhancing job security for workers and they expected similar agreements with Stellantis and Ford.

Ford said it had been “bargaining in good faith” regarding the battery plant issue and reiterated that it had made an "outstanding offer."

This offer included a 23 percent general wage increase and the reinstatement of cost-of-living adjustments as well as covering an expedited transition of temporary workers to full-time status.

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Ford currently has four battery plants under construction in the US.

Those include three through a joint venture with SK On, a Korean battery manufacturer, and one in Marshall, Michigan, utilizing technology from a Chinese company.

The company temporarily halted the production at the Marshall facility last month.

It's to assess its impact on labor costs amid ongoing union negotiations.

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