Striking workers shut down Ford’s largest plant in the US

An unprecedented strike continues: the UAW (United Auto Workers) union has suspended work at a Ford plant in Kentucky, where about 8.7 thousand people work, Reuters reports. The shutdown was a response to the automaker’s refusal to meet the growing demands of the strikers. Ford says it is “at the limit” and cannot spend more on salaries and benefits.

Super Duty pickups and Lincoln Navigator SUVs roll off the assembly line at Ford’s Kentucky plant. A long downtime will break supply chains, Ford warns, noting that component suppliers have already begun to lay off staff due to reduced purchases. It will cost Ford itself $150 million a week, analysts estimate.

The automaker noted that it has already made every effort to reach a compromise with the workers. More generous offers will hurt business.

The UAW believes that Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, which have significantly increased executive salaries over the past four years, can easily afford to increase worker salaries beyond the proposed 20-23 percent. They also demand an expansion of benefits, a shorter work week and the elimination of salary hazing: now, in order to achieve the maximum rate, a plant employee must work in one place for eight years.

The UAW is threatening to involve the General Motors plant in Arlington, Texas, where the Cadillac Escalade, Cherolet Suburban and other SUVs are made, in the strike. Another target could be GM’s heavy-duty truck assembly site in Michigan.

The union strike started on September 15. At the first stage, 13 thousand workers took part in the strike; at the end of September, 18.5 thousand were already on strike, and now about 34 thousand.

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