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UAW workers at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant threaten to strike

February 16, 2024

Approximately 9,000 United Auto Workers (UAW) members at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant said they will strike on Friday, Feb. 23, if local contract issues are not resolved.

The union said Ford has failed to reach a “local agreement” with UAW Local 862 more than five months beyond the contract deadline.

UAW held a national “stand-up” strike starting Sept. 15. The labor action targeted specific plants at all three Detroit-area automakers. Tentative agreements were reached in late October and the contracts were ratified in November.

The union noted that members also negotiate “local agreements around plant-specific issues at each facility.”

“UAW vice president Chuck Browning has requested authorization from UAW President (Shawn) Fain to set a strike deadline at Kentucky Truck Plant for 12:01 a.m., Friday, Feb. 23,” the union said in a statement on Friday.

Located in Louisville, Ky., the plant produces the Ford F-250–F-550 Super Duty Trucks, Ford Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator, according to Ford’s website.

Issues cited included “health and safety in the plant, including minimum in-plant nurse staffing levels and ergonomic issues, as well as Ford’s continued attempts to erode the skilled trades at Kentucky Truck Plant.”

In addition to the Kentucky Truck Plant, there are 19 other open local agreements across Ford, as well as several open local agreements at GM and Stellantis, UAW said.

A request for comment from Ford was not returned by time of publication.

Ethan Bernard

Ethan Bernard is managing editor for Steel Market Update. He previously worked for American Metal Market as a copy editor in the New York office for two years, starting in 2008. Later, he copy edited AMM’s monthly magazine on a freelance basis from 2015 until 2017. With experience in financial copywriting and textbook publishing, he holds a BA in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and an MFA. in Creative Writing from New York University. He can be reached at ethan@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7871.