Auto giant Ford‘s executive chairman called on striking workers Monday to end their month-long stoppage, warning of major economic impact if it continues. Bill Ford‘s remarks in Michigan came days after the president of the US auto workers union said its strike had entered a new stage involving last-minute walkouts.
Nearly 34,000 United Auto Workers (UAW) members are on strike, with numbers increasing since the initial move on September 15 to take down one plant at each of the “Big Three” automakers: Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. On Monday, Bill Ford warned: “The supply base is very fragile, and will start collapsing with an expanded strike.”
He called on UAW workers to “come together to bring an end to this acrimonious round of talks.” Temperatures have risen with the UAW announcing last week an immediate walkout at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville where some of the company’s most profitable models are built.
The Kentucky action came after Ford spoke of sweetening its economic offer “for two weeks,” UAW President Shawn Fain said in a webcast briefing. But when both sides met, Ford offered the same terms as before, he added. On Monday, Ford appealed to workers to band together against competitors like Japanese carmakers Toyota and Honda, as well as Chinese automakers — in asking for an end to the strike.
The industrial action marks the first joint strike at the three major automakers, as workers push for higher wages and other improvements. In particular, these relate to the transition to making electric vehicles.
