US auto workers strike at Ford truck plant

In the US, the United Auto Workers Union (UAW) announced that 8,700 of its members went on strike at Ford's truck plant in the state of Kentucky. The UAW statement said that 8,700 unionized workers walked off the job without notice and closed Ford's "iconic and highly profitable" truck plant in Louisville. The statement, which indicated that the strike was called by UAW President Shawn Fain and Vice President Chuck Browning after Ford refused to move forward with contract negotiations, reported that the "surprise move" marked a new phase in the UAW's "Stand Up" strike. UAW President Fain, whose views were included in the statement, said, "We were very clear and waited a long time, but Ford didn't get the message." Noting that it was time to reach a fair contract with Ford and other automakers, Fain said, "If they can't understand that, the closure of this highly profitable plant by 8,700 workers will help them understand that after four weeks." On the other hand, Ford's statement described the UAW's strike call as "extremely irresponsible." It was stated that Ford made an extraordinary offer that would make a significant and positive difference in the quality of life of 57 thousand unionized employees, and that the strike at the truck factory would have serious consequences for the company's workforce, suppliers, dealers and commercial customers. Automotive workers' strike After the UAW's negotiations with Ford, GM and Stellantis regarding a new contract for approximately 150 thousand workers failed to reach an agreement as of September 14, the expiration date of the current contract, approximately 13 thousand workers 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 auto factories went on strike together. The union announced on September 22 that they would expand the strike against GM and Stellantis due to the lack of progress in the new contract negotiations. As part of this, it was announced that workers would stop work at 38 more GM and Stellantis facilities in 20 states. The UAW announced last week that 7,000 more members at Ford Motor and GM would strike, and that there would be no new strikes at Stellantis because contracts had been improved. Earlier this week, the union announced that about 4,000 of its members had decided to strike at Mack Trucks plants in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida, part of the Swedish Volvo Group.