Feb. 17 (UPI) — The United Auto Workers are threatening strike at Ford’s largest and most profitable plant next week after five months of stalled negotiations.
The UAW on Friday issued a statement that 9,000 UAW Local 862 members could strike on Feb. 23 at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant if local contract issues are not resolved.
The core issues on the table are “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,” the statement read.
According to the UAW, Ford Motor Company failed to reach an agreement with UAW Local 862 more than five months past the contract deadline.
Local contracts differ from UAW national contracts and focus on plant-specific issues at each facility, according to the union.
The UAW in 2023 ratified national contracts in 2023 with Ford, General Motors and Chrysler parent Stellantis.
There are 19 other open local agreements with Ford, including at the Kentucky Truck Plant.