Automotive strike in the US spreads to Ford's truck plant

In a statement from the UAW, it was reported that 8,700 union workers walked off the job without notice, shutting down Ford's "iconic and highly profitable" truck plant in Louisville.

The statement noted that the strike call was made by UAW President Shawn Fain and Vice President Chuck Browning after Ford refused to make further progress in contract negotiations, adding that the "surprise move" marks a new phase in the UAW's "Stand Up" strike.

UAW President Fain, whose views were included in the statement, assessed the situation by saying, "We have been very clear and we have waited very long, but Ford has not gotten the message."

Noting that it is time to reach a fair contract with Ford and other automakers, Fain stated, "If they can't understand that, 8,700 workers shutting down this highly profitable facility will help them understand it four weeks from now."

On the other hand, in a statement released by Ford, the UAW's strike call was described as "grossly irresponsible."

The statement noted that Ford has made an extraordinary offer that would make a meaningful and positive difference in the quality of life for its 57,000 union-represented employees, and added that the strike at the truck plant would have serious consequences for the company's workforce, suppliers, dealers, and commercial customers.

THE AUTOMOTIVE WORKERS' STRIKE

After no agreement was reached by the September 14 expiration date of the current contract in the UAW's negotiations with Ford, GM, and Stellantis regarding a new contract for approximately 150,000 workers, about 13,000 workers had decided to go on strike.

Thus, the automotive workers' strike targeting the 3 major automakers began on September 15, and for the first time in the union's 88-year history, workers from 3 automotive plants went on strike together.

On September 22, the union announced that they would expand the strike against GM and Stellantis due to a lack of progress in new contract negotiations. In this context, it was reported that workers would stop work at 38 more facilities of GM and Stellantis across 20 states.

Last week, the UAW announced that 7,000 more of its members working at Ford Motor and GM would go on strike, and that there would be no new strike at Stellantis because improvements had been made to the contract.

Earlier this week, the union announced that approximately 4,000 of its members had decided to strike at the factories of Mack Trucks, a subsidiary of the Swedish Volvo Group, in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Florida.