10/12/23 - UAW Orders More Strikes

A Ford plant in Kentucky is ordered to go on strike after negotiations fail to make progress.

DETROIT (Reuters) - The United Auto Workers ordered the shut down of a Ford plant in Kentucky that will stop the production of pickup trucks.

The UAW said that 8,700 union members at Ford's Kentucky truck plant went on strike after the union said the automaker refused to move further in contract bargaining.

The assembly lines there build the Ford Super Duty pickup trucks and Lincoln Navigator and For Expedition large SUV's.  This Kentucky truck plant is Ford's most profitable operation and generates $25 billion in annual revenue. 

UAW President Shawn Fain and other UAW officials called a meeting with Ford around 5:30 last night and demanded a new offer. 

Automakers have more than doubled initial wage hike offers, agreed to raise wages along with inflation, and improved pay for temporary workers, but the union wants higher wages still, the abolishment of a two-tier wage system and the expansion of unions to battery plants at all three companies.

The Kentucky walkout is also a warning to General Motors and Chrysler parent Stellantis, whose wage and benefits offers fall short of Ford's, based on summaries the automakers and the UAW have released.

The UAW announced that Shawn Fain will be hosting a Facebook Life again on Friday at 10:00 a.m. to give and update on bargaining.