Dispute Over Local Contract Language Sparks Tension
The United Auto Workers union has issued a warning that nearly 9,000 workers at Ford Motor Co.’s Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville may go on strike on Feb. 23 if a resolution is not reached regarding a local contract dispute.
This potential strike would mark the second time in the past year that UAW workers have halted operations at the factory, which produces heavy-duty F-Series pickup trucks, Ford Excursion, and Lincoln Navigator SUVs – all highly lucrative vehicles for the company.
Key Points of Contention
The union cites a lack of a local contract for five months as the primary issue, emphasizing concerns related to health and safety protocols, nurse staffing levels on-site, ergonomic standards, and the company’s proposed reduction in skilled trades workers.
With 19 other local agreements under negotiation at Ford and additional talks at competitors General Motors and Stellantis, the threat of a strike looms large. Ford CEO Jim Farley recently acknowledged that the relationship between the automaker and the union had shifted significantly following last year’s strike, prompting Ford to rethink its manufacturing strategies.