UAW strike update: Ford calls strike expansion 'grossly irresponsible' after 8,700 join picket line
DETROIT (FOX 2) - Ford Motor Co. called the UAW's decision to add 8,700 more members to the strike "grossly irresponsible" in a statement.
On Wednesday, the union called on members at the Ford Kentucky Truck Assembly Plant to join the strike.
It was a surprise move, as UAW President Shawn Fain has only added members to the strike during planned press conferences held on Friday. Nearly 34,000 UAW members are now on strike against Big Three automakers.
UAW workers struggle with strike pay, picking up extra jobs amid Big Three stalemate
"It’s been a struggle mentally, financially," he said. "Just trying to make a way every day."
Ford says it has "made an outstanding offer" that was rejected by the union.
"The UAW leadership’s decision to reject this record contract offer – which the UAW has publicly described as the best offer on the table – and strike Kentucky Truck Plant, carries serious consequences for our workforce, suppliers, dealers and commercial customers," the automaker said.
Kentucky Truck Assembly Plant, which makes heavy-duty pickups and large SUVs, is Ford's largest and most profitable plant. It brings in about $25 billion a year.
Workers at Michigan Assembly, Chicago Assembly, and now the Kentucky plant are on strike, and roughly ⅓ of Ford's production has been impacted by the strike.
Ford cautioned that this stoppage has the potential to impact tens of thousands of people.
"In addition to affecting approximately 9,000 direct employees at the plant, this work stoppage will generate painful aftershocks – including putting at risk approximately a dozen additional Ford operations and many more supplier operations that together employ well over 100,000 people," the automaker said in a statement.
Fain is expected to give a strike update at 10 a.m., where he could direct more members to the picket line, depending on the status of negotiations.
Ford statement:
"The decision by the UAW to call a strike at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant is grossly irresponsible but unsurprising given the union leadership’s stated strategy of keeping the Detroit 3 wounded for months through "reputational damage" and "industrial chaos."
"Ford made an outstanding offer that would make a meaningful positive difference in the quality of life for our 57,000 UAW-represented workers, who are already among the best compensated hourly manufacturing workers anywhere in the world. In addition to our offer on pay and benefits, Ford has been bargaining in good faith this week on joint venture battery plants, which are slated to begin production in the coming years.
"The UAW leadership’s decision to reject this record contract offer – which the UAW has publicly described as the best offer on the table – and strike Kentucky Truck Plant, carries serious consequences for our workforce, suppliers, dealers and commercial customers.
"Kentucky Truck is Ford’s largest plant and one of the largest auto factories in America and the world. The vehicles produced at the Louisville-based factory – the F-Series Super Duty, the Ford Expedition and the Lincoln Navigator – generate $25 billion a year in revenue. In addition to affecting approximately 9,000 direct employees at the plant, this work stoppage will generate painful aftershocks – including putting at risk approximately a dozen additional Ford operations and many more supplier operations that together employ well over 100,000 people.
"This decision by the UAW is all the more wrongheaded given that Ford is the only automaker to add UAW jobs since the Great Recession and assemble all of its full-size trucks in America."