In the first day of the United Auto Workers’ targeted strike of three Detroit automaker plants, the effects began rippling through the production chain — including a temporary layoff of some 600 workers at Ford Motor Co.’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne.
The UAW at midnight Friday launched a strike that, for the first time in the union’s history, targeted all three Detroit automakers at once. The so-called “Stand-Up Strike” initially targeted General Motors Co.’s Wentzville Assembly Plant in Missouri, Stellantis NV’s Jeep plant in Toledo and just the final assembly and paint shop parts of Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant. Some 12,7000 workers walked off the job as the union’s contract with the automakers expired with no tentative agreements, including approximately 3,300 Ford workers. Negotiations are to resume Saturday, according to UAW President Shawn Fain.
Ford said Friday that the work stoppage in the final assembly and paint sections of the manufacturing complex has “directly impacted the operations in other parts of the facility,” according to a statement from company spokesperson Jessica Enoch.
“Our production system is highly interconnected, which means the UAW’s targeted strike strategy will have knock-on effects for facilities that are not directly targeted for a work stoppage,” she said. “Approximately 600 employees at Michigan Assembly Plant’s body construction department and south sub-assembly area of integrated stamping were notified not to report to work Sept. 15. This is not a lockout. This layoff is a consequence of the strike at Michigan Assembly Plant’s final assembly and paint departments, because the components built by these 600 employees use materials that must be e-coated for protection. E-coating is completed in the paint department, which is on strike.”
The laid-off workers aren’t eligible for unemployment or supplemental pay, Enoch said.
Workers at MAP assemble Ford’s Bronco SUV and Ranger midsize pickup truck.
Meanwhile, the strike at GM’s Wentzville plant will cause a parts shortage at its Fairfax Assembly plant that could cause that plant to shut down next week, according to an employee notice that The Detroit News obtained Friday afternoon.
Wentzville provides stamped parts to the Kansas City, Kansas, plant where the Chevrolet Malibu sedan and Cadillac XT4 SUV is produced.
“Due to the strike’s impact on Wentzville operations, we anticipate running out of parts for Fairfax as soon as early next week,” GM wrote in the employee communication. “The parts situation is fluid, and we are actively managing the situation.”
jgrzelewski@detroitnews.com
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