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UAW Threatens Strike At Biggest Ford Plant In U.S.

By Nithya Bose in Business News, posted February 19, 2024

The United Auto Workers has warned of a potential strike at Ford Motor's largest US manufacturing plant if local disputes remain unresolved by next week.

The potential strike could start at midnight on Friday (February 23) at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant.

The site produces Ford Super Duty trucks, Ford Expeditions, and Lincoln Navigator SUVs, representing nearly 9,000 workers.

The tension arises from specific local contract issues distinct from the broader national agreements finalized with Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis in late 2023.

The union says the dispute is over “core issues in Kentucky Truck Plant’s local negotiations are health and safety in the plant, including minimum in-plant nurse staffing levels and ergonomic issues, as well as Ford’s continued attempts to erode the skilled trades at Kentucky Truck Plant.”

There's also an ongoing debate over Ford's attempts to modify the roles of skilled trades at the Kentucky facility.

The decision to target Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant specifically with a strike deadline, despite unresolved agreements at other locations within Ford, GM, and Stellantis, has not been explicitly explained.

Ford said: “Negotiations continue and we look forward to reaching an agreement with UAW Local 862 at Kentucky Truck Plant.”

"Perhaps Ford shouldn't be looking to relocate its factories in search of the lowest-cost labor globally"

Recently, UAW President Shawn Fain criticized Ford CEO Jim Farley's comments on the company's future investment strategies and its consideration of labor costs in light of the evolving automotive market.

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Farley highlighted the UAW's October strike at the Kentucky Truck Plant as a pivotal event that marked a shift in the company's relationship with the union.

Farley said: “We were the first truck plant they shut down ... Clearly our relationship has changed.

“It’s been a watershed moment for the company. Does it have business impact? Yes.”

“As we look at this EV transition and [internal combustion engine] lasting longer and our truck business being more profitable, we have to think carefully about our footprint.”

Fain, known for his combative leadership style, partly responded: "Perhaps Ford shouldn't be looking to relocate its factories in search of the lowest-cost labor globally.

“Instead, it might consider reaffirming its dedication to American workers and seeking out a CEO who prioritizes the future of the nation's automotive industry."

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