No Surprise as UAW Strikes at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant

In an unannounced move, 8700 UAW members walked off the job today at 6:30 pm ET, shutting down Ford Motor’s (NYSE: F) Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville. The strike was called by UAW President Shawn Fain and Vice President Chuck Browning after Ford refused to make further movement in bargaining. Previous strike expansions occurred at a deadline set in advance by the union. The move comes one day before the four-week mark since contracts expired at Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis. Local 862 members at Kentucky Truck make Ford Super Duty pickups as well as the Ford Expedition and the Lincoln Navigator SUVs. President Fain will host a Facebook Live at 10 am on, yes, Friday the 13th of October to provide bargaining updates and take further action if needed.

“We have been crystal clear, and we have waited long enough, but Ford has not gotten the message,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “It’s time for a fair contract at Ford and the rest of the Big Three. If they can’t understand that after four weeks, the 8700 workers shutting down this extremely profitable plant will help them understand it.”

“The UAW leadership’s decision to reject this record contract offer -which the UAW has publicly described as the best offer on the table – and strike Kentucky Truck Plant, carries serious consequences for our workforce, suppliers, dealers and commercial customers.,” Ford said in a statement.

Kentucky Truck is Ford’s largest plant and one of the largest auto factories in America and globally. It is Ford’s most profitable plant in the U.S. by industry estimates. Other Ford plants with striking UAW members are in Lansing, MI and Chicago, IL.