Ford calls on auto workers to “stop the strike”

Ford President Bill Ford warned of the impact of the month-long auto workers’ strike on the U.S. economy and called on the United Automobile Workers Union (UAW) to “stop the strike.” “.

In his speech at the Rouge plant in Michigan, Ford said they were “at a turning point” as the UAW strike continued, and that choosing the right path was not just a question of Ford’s future and competitive ability, but also of the future of the American automotive industry.

Stating that union leaders declared themselves “enemies” in negotiations, Ford emphasized that he would never view his employees as “enemies.”

Ford said they know how important the UAW is to the company’s success and have offered a contract that will make unionized employees among the highest-paid manufacturing workers in the world.

Despite this, Ford recalled that last week the union went a little further and decided to strike at the company’s truck factory in Kentucky, stating that the closure of the factory in question would harm tens of thousands of Americans, between workers, suppliers and distributors, and He warned that if the strike continues, it would have a major impact on the American economy.

Ford stated that this could stop now and called on his UAW colleagues: “We need to come together to end these tough negotiations. “I continue to believe in a bright future that we can build together.” saying.

AUTOMOTIVE WORKER STRIKE

Approximately 13,000 workers decided to strike after UAW negotiations with Ford, GM and Stellantis over the new contract for approximately 150,000 workers did not reach an agreement as of September 14, the end date of the current contract.

Thus, the auto workers’ strike targeting the three major automakers began on September 15 and, for the first time in the union’s 88-year history, workers at three auto factories went on strike together.

The union announced on September 22 that it would extend 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 working at 38 more GM and Stellantis facilities in 20 states.

The UAW announced on September 29 that 7,000 more members working at Ford and GM would go on strike and that there would be no new strike at Stellantis because contract improvements were made.

The union announced last week that approximately 4,000 of its members went on strike at the factories of Mack Trucks, a subsidiary of the Swedish Volvo group, in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida, as well as 8,700 of its members at the Ford truck factory in Kentucky. (AA)