Ford Lays Off 600 Workers at Plant Targeted by UAW Strike Ford Motor announced Friday it was laying off about 600 workers at its Michigan assembly plant.
The United Auto Workers is striking at the plant, but UAW President Shawn Fain instructed only workers in the paint shop and final assembly to strike.
Ford and the UAW didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. But it doesn’t make much sense for Ford to keep the plant, which manufactures Ford Rangers and Broncos, running if cars can’t be painted or completed.
The contracts between the UAW and Ford (ticker: F), General Motors (GM), and Chrysler parent Stellantis (STLA) expired late Thursday without a new agreement.
The UAW launched a partial strike at three sites: Ford’s assembly plant in Wayne, Mich.; a GM facility in Wentzville, Mo.; and a Stellantis assembly complex in Toledo, Ohio. The union’s decision to target certain facilities for strikes is a new strategy, along with targeting at once all three auto makers with roots in Detroit.
Baird analyst Luke Junk wrote in a Thursday report the initial scope of the strike was more limited than expected. He thought the UAW would likely target engine and transmission plants that could have effectively shut down all North American operations.
“The situation could worsen from here,” added Junk. ..............
https://www.marketwatch.com/articles/auto-workers-strike-ford-layoffs-f88f9fdb?mod=mw_latestnews
