United Auto Workers (UAW) announced Saturday that it is expanding its strike to include a major Ford Motor Company truck plant in Kentucky. The news comes as the union and Ford continue their contentious contract negotiations.
The announcement was made by UAW Vice President Rory Gamble, who said that the union will be moving to strike Dearborn Truck Plant in Louisville. This location is the largest truck plant in Ford’s portfolio and produces several of the company’s most iconic vehicles, such as F-150 and Super Duty pickups, as well as the new Bronco SUV.
The strike was originally set to begin on Sunday, October 6, at the Flat Rock, Michigan plant, but since then, the union has decided to expand the strike to the Louisville plant. This latest move puts pressure on Ford to reach a contract agreement with the UAW, as well as increase the chance of a work disruption that could cause production delays.
Gamble said in a statement, “Ford workers have proven their commitment to the products they proudly build. Ford has failed to demonstrate the same commitment to these same workers after their years of hard work and service to our country.”
As of now, UAW has not said when the strike at the Dearborn Truck plant will begin, nor have they offered further details on what Ford’s response has been. However, the union is expected to keep up the pressure on Ford, and is likely to take further steps to force the company into meeting their demands.
It’s unclear what the ultimate outcome of this strike will be, but it certainly has the potential to cause major disruptions in Ford’s production chain, and could even delay the release of some highly anticipated products. All eyes will be on the coming negotiations between the UAW and Ford to see if a contract agreement can be achieved and production will be kept on track.
