Strike Expands at Ford's Key Kentucky Plant
Ford Says "UAW Demands Different Negotiation Terms Than Before"
Since the 15th of last month, the United Auto Workers (UAW), which has been conducting large-scale strikes against General Motors (GM), Stellantis, and others, announced that it will add more strikers at Ford's key plants. With this, the total number of UAW strikers has exceeded 30,000.
According to CNN and others on the 12th (local time), UAW announced that 8,700 workers at Ford's largest plant, the truck plant located in Louisville, Kentucky, will join the strike.
This plant produces Ford's flagship vehicles such as pickup trucks and large sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
A Ford representative stated that at a private labor-management meeting held on the evening of the 11th, UAW demanded a different negotiation proposal than before, which was not accepted. Ford proposed wage compensation for inflation, wage improvements for temporary workers, and a 23% wage increase by early 2028, but UAW additionally demanded a further increase in wage hikes and the abolition of the two-tier wage system.
Ford criticized UAW's expansion of the strike as a very irresponsible act and pointed out that it is not surprising considering the UAW leadership's statement that they want to "put the Detroit automakers in trouble."
Meanwhile, UAW President Shawn Fain stated in a press release, "Ford said it would make a new offer to the union, but this offer is the same as a few weeks ago," and added, "The union has waited long enough for fair contract negotiations, but Ford has not delivered a message."
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