Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford announced at a press conference that Ford will cooperate with China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd., the world’s largest battery company, to build an electric vehicle battery factory in Marshall, Michigan. Held on February 13, 2023 in Romulus, MI.
Bill Pugliano | Getty Images
Dearborn, MI – Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford warned on Monday that the ongoing strike by the United Auto Workers threatens the future livelihood of the company and the U.S. auto industry.
Ford, who has been involved in UAW negotiations since 1982, implored union members and leaders to work with the company, rather than against it, to reach a preliminary agreement “to end this acrimonious round of negotiations.”
It is unusual for the great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford to make such comments during contract negotiations with the UAW.
“We are at a crossroads,” Ford said at a news conference at the company’s massive Rouge Complex in metro Detroit. “Choosing the right path isn’t just about Ford’s future and our ability to compete. It’s about the future of the American auto industry.”
Ford told reporters before taking the stage to speak that he wanted to “elevate” the conversation about contract negotiations. Ford said he didn’t want to get personal in his remarks because “it doesn’t matter” at this time.
“The leaders of the UAW have called us the enemy in these negotiations. But I will never view our employees as the enemy. This should not be Ford vs. UAW,” Ford said. “It should be Ford and the UAW versus Toyota, Honda, Tesla and all the Chinese companies that want to come into our homeland.”
UAW President Shawn Fain broke with a long-standing tradition of having a “handshake ceremony” with auto executives from the three major automakers to kick off contract negotiations and instead spoke to Stellantis workers and conducted “Member Handshake” Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan on July 12, 2023. The UAW will begin auto contract negotiations with Stellantis today, July 14 and July 18 with Ford and General Motors. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
Bill Pugliano | Getty Images News | Getty Images
The UAW did not immediately respond to a request for comment following Ford’s comments.
Ford’s comments come after a week of contentious negotiations with the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, which unexpectedly announced a strike Wednesday night at the company’s lucrative Kentucky truck plant.
More than 19,000 of the 57,000 members of the Ford Automobile Workers Union are currently affected by the strike, including more than 16,600 striking workers. About 2,480 employees were also laid off due to the shutdown.
Ford said last week it was “stretched to the limit” in terms of economic concessions it could offer the United Auto Workers union.
Ford’s recent proposals include wage increases of 23% to 26% depending on category; retention of Platinum health care benefits; approval bonuses; restoration of living expenses; and other benefits.
Overall, only about 34,000 U.S. automakers, or about 23% of UAW members covered by expired contracts with Detroit automakers, are currently on strike.
The UAW has been gradually intensifying the strike since the shutdown began after the two sides failed to reach a tentative agreement on Sept. 14.
UAW President Shawn Fain said last week that the union had entered a “new phase” of targeted strikes and would no longer pre-announce work stoppages as it had in the past.
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