Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company, pronounces at a press conference that Ford can be partnering with the worlds largest battery company, a China-based company called Contemporary Amperex Technology, to create an electric-vehicle battery plant in Marshall, Michigan, on February 13, 2023 in Romulus, Michigan.
Bill Pugliano | Getty Images
DEARBORN, Mich. – Ford Motor Executive Chairman Bill Ford on Monday warned that an ongoing strike by the United Auto Employees threatens the longer term livelihood of the corporate in addition to the American automotive industry.
Ford, who has been a a part of UAW negotiations since 1982, pleaded with union members and leaders to work with the corporate, as an alternative of against it, to reach a tentative deal to “end to this acrimonious round of talks.”
Such comments by the great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford are uncharacteristic during contract talks with UAW.
“We’re at a crossroads,” Ford said during a press conference at the corporate’s massive Rouge Complex in metro Detroit. “Selecting the precise path just isn’t nearly Ford’s future and our ability to compete. That is concerning the way forward for the American automobile industry.”
Ford, ahead of speaking on stage, told reporters he wanted to “elevate” the conversation concerning the contract negotiations. Ford said he didn’t want to get personal in his remarks because “it doesn’t matter” at this point.
“The UAW’s leaders have called us the enemy in these negotiations. But I won’t ever consider our employees as enemies. This mustn’t be Ford versus the UAW,” Ford said. “It must be Ford and the UAW vs. Toyota and Honda, Tesla, and all of the Chinese corporations that want to enter our home.”
Breaking with the long-standing tradition of the “handshake ceremony” with the auto executives of the Big Three auto makers to open contract talks, United Auto Employees president Shawn Fain as an alternative speaks with and does “members’ handshakes” with Stellantis staff on the Stellantis Sterling Heights Assembly Plant on July 12, 2023 in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The UAW opens auto contract negotiations with Stellantis today, Ford on July 14, and General Motors on July 18. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
Bill Pugliano | Getty Images News | Getty Images
UAW didn’t immediately respond for a request for comment after Ford’s comments.
Ford’s comments come after a week of contentious talks between the corporate and UAW, including the union unexpectedly announcing a strike Wednesday night at the corporate’s highly profitable Kentucky Truck plant.
Greater than 19,000 of Ford’s 57,000 UAW members are currently impacted by the strike, including greater than 16,600 striking staff. One other roughly 2,480 employees have been laid off as a results of the work stoppage.
Ford last week said it was “on the limit” of what it will probably offer UAW by way of economic concessions.
Ford’s most up-to-date proposal included 23% to 26% wage increases depending on classification; retention of platinum health care advantages; ratification bonuses; reinstatement of cost-of-living; and other advantages.
Overall, only about 34,000 U.S. automakers with the businesses – or roughly 23% of UAW members covered by the expired contracts with the Detroit automakers – are currently on strike.
The UAW has been progressively increasing the strikes because the work stoppages began after the perimeters failed to reach tentative agreements by Sept 14.
UAW President Shawn Fain last week said the union has entered a “recent phase” of the targeted strikes through which it might not pre-announce the work stoppages, because it had been.