Workers demonstrate in support of strikers at the Ford assembly plant in Louisville, Kentucky, on September 21.STRINGER (Portal)
Ford Motor has become the increased target of the strike called by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union this Wednesday after workers at its largest plant, a very profitable truck factory in Kentucky, supported a sudden general strike. What began in mid-September as a selective strike, the main support of which was President Joe Biden himself, is now playing on the surprise factor, especially when the union defended its gradual strategy at the bargaining table last week and resigned to extend the call for the strike.
In an unforeseen move, the powerful union representing workers in the auto industry announced a strike by 8,700 workers at the Ford truck plant in Kentucky via a social media post Wednesday evening. The plant generates $25 billion in annual sales and produces the most expensive version of the F-Series Super Duty truck, as well as the Lincoln Navigator and the large Ford Expedition sport utility vehicles that are popular in the United States.
The timing chosen by the union represents a break with previous extensions to the strike, which has already lasted 27 days, and which UAW President Shawn Fain announced in briefings on Friday. The union reported in a statement that the strike against the Kentucky plant “was called after Ford refused to take further steps in negotiations.”
This is the UAW’s boldest move since the strike against Ford, General Motors and Stellantis began on September 15th. a historic call with labor, industrial and political implications (Biden’s presence on one of the picket lines was campaign ammunition for Republicans). Ford workers in Kentucky now join 25,000 other UAW members who have already walked away from their jobs at five assembly plants and 38 parts distribution plants – such is the scale of the mobilization. Fain is taking an unprecedented approach to contract negotiations, increasing pressure on automakers by threatening to expand the strike to new plants every week if talks do not progress.
According to sources close to the negotiations, the UAW believes Ford’s latest offer does not represent progress compared to the company’s offer from two weeks ago. In a statement following the strike call, Ford called the union’s decision “seriously irresponsible” and asserted that it had “serious consequences for our workforce, suppliers, dealers and commercial customers.”
Ford shares fell slightly in late trading after the market closed. Due to uncertainty about the negotiations, values have fallen sharply since July.
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