mobile-menu-icon
GM Authority

Ford Executive Chair Bill Ford Urges UAW Strike To End

Ford Executive Chair Bill Ford has called on the UAW to end the ongoing labor strike and make progress towards a new labor agreement, making his first public statements on the matter since the strike began. Bill Ford’s comments follow an announcement last week that the UAW was expanding its strike to include Ford’s Kentucky truck plant, considered one of the company’s most important production facilities. The UAW called for an initial round of walkouts last month following the expiration of the previous labor contract on September 15th. The union is currently striking at all three of the Big Detroit automakers – Ford, GM, and Stellantis.

Bill Ford delivering a speech earlier this year.

Bill Ford delivering a speech earlier this year

Bill Ford delivered his comments Monday in a speech at Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant and Rouge Electric Vehicle Center. The Rouge facility employs nearly 9,000 workers and produces the Ford F-150 pickup truck, the Ford F-150 Raptor, and the Ford F-150 Lightning.

Bill Ford opened his speech by taking a look back at Ford’s history and the UAW, highlighting several of the company’s key moments, from World War I to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Automobile plants like The Rouge have created countless well-paying manufacturing jobs and a thriving middle class,” Bill Ford said.

“A strong manufacturing base is critical to our national security,” he added.

Bill Ford went on to address the ongoing UAW strike, saying that negotiations “should not be Ford versus the UAW. It should be Ford and the UAW versus Toyota, Honda, Tesla, and all the Chinese companies that want to enter our home market.”

“Toyota, Honda, Tesla, and the others are loving this strike, because they know the longer it goes on, the better it is for them,” Bill Ford said, adding that without proper investments into the company’s future, “[Ford] will lose to the competition. America will lose, many jobs will be lost, so will future investments. We’ll lose factories like the one we’re in here today, and communities will suffer greatly.”

Bill Ford went on to say that Ford has added many UAW jobs in the last 15 years, and that it employs more UAW workers than any other automaker. “Ford is the strongest partner the UAW has ever known,” Bill Ford said. Bill added that last week’s strike at the Kentucky Truck plant has harmed tens of thousands of Americans, including workers, suppliers, and dealers, as well as associated communities. The UAW has expanded its strike against Ford multiple times since September.

“I call on my great UAW colleagues, some of whom I’ve known for decades, many are close personal friends – we need to come together to bring an end to this acrimonious round of talks,” Bill Ford said.

Subscribe to GM Authority for more 2023 GM UAW news, UAW news, GM business news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

Subscribe to GM Authority

For around-the-clock GM news coverage

We'll send you one email per day with the latest GM news. It's totally free.

Comments

  1. He does raise some valid points about competition, but Fain will have none of it. I think that the Big 3 should withdraw their latest offers and offer something less attractive. Take it or leave it. There is no rainbow around this corner, unfortunately.

    Reply
    1. I would do the same thing. I would set up a countdown board. On that board, I would put a 23% Raise (Ford’s top offer), a $5000 signing bonus, and a ticker showing up-to-the-minute company losses.

      As the loss numbers tick up in real time, the 23% raise and $5000 bonus will decrease proportionately. The longer the union wants to grandstand, the lower the benefits will be…they would be smart to come up with a tentative agreement before all that is left is a $10 Burger King gift card.

      Reply
      1. Wow, timmy, you got it all figured out. Now run on downstairs and get your breakfast. Your mommy is calling. Good luck getting your gold star at school today.

        Reply
  2. If the union does not back down I could see the Ford family selling out to a foreign firm and they would keep the trucks and close down American production.

    Fords stock prices are bad and the family could live on well and not have to deal with the headaches of running the company.

    Bill more excited about the lions finally doing well.

    Reply
  3. Ford can end the strike tonight if he actually wants to. Push your misfits aside, sit down with Fain and get it done. It’s the big three’s fault the UAW went out on strike. There’s no reason you couldn’t have been working on this contract all summer. Management is as dumb now as they’ve ever been. Mary, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and earn your 29 million. Maybe you’re waiting for Michael Moore to make you a star too!

    Reply
  4. Lock them all out. Force the union to support them with the strike fund. Once the strike fund is down to its last million dollars, I bet the UAW won’t be so quick to turn down 20% raises.

    In addition to what Ford said, this is not just a strike against the Big 3…it is a strike against all of the customers that bought the crappy cars that the union makes. Those folks who buy the cars that keep the factories running need those cars to run the kids to school, run their small business, go to work, etc. Volunteer firefighters need them to respond to medical and fire runs. Now those vehicles will sit helplessly in a service department because the dealerships and mechanics can’t get parts for them. Screw the UAW. I am ashamed that the truck I bought earlier this year was made in the USA by the UAW…I come from a UAW family and it will be my last union-built vehicle.

    Reply
  5. The big 3 had all summer to make offers to the UAW. They all knew the September 14 deadline. They all did nothing. They offered nothing….In 2008-2009 during the automotive industry crisis workers gave up pensions, paid vacation weeks, paid time off days and $10-$12 per HOUR of pay. They did all this as they were promised it all back when the companies were making billions in profits again. Guess what? They are making billions in profits again, so it’s time to pony up! So, NO Tim, 20% ain’t enough! Not even close.

    Reply
  6. This is from the man who ran the family business into the ground.

    Reply
  7. LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HURT BY THEM BEING ON STRIKE.OTHER PEOPLE ARE DEPENDING ON THE BIG THREE TO BUY THEIR GOODS.I WOULD LIKE TO WORK FOUR DAYS AND GET PAID FOR FIVE.WHAT FANTASY WORLD ARE THEY LIVING IN.I TRY TO FIGHT INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR A 2.5% RAISE AND CANT GET IT IMAGINE IF I WANTED 40% THEY NEED TO GET A GRIP.

    Reply
  8. Ah let the strike continue. I am looking at a new Toyota. Fain wants hostages and he will end up with nothing. I’m sure I’m not the only one leaving American made vehicles because of the union babies not getting their way. Hunger shall be their next worry when nothing is left to feed their greed.

    Reply
  9. Let the strike continue and stop buying GM, Ford and Stellantis vehicles. It is the only way to get rid of the cancer known as the UAW!!!!!

    Reply
  10. Thanks for the article!

    Reply

Leave a comment

Cancel