Drivers

Our Kentucky Truck Strike Put Ford on Notice They Must Do Better

October 22, 2023 3 min read

Oct. 20, 2023 – Last week, we sent a strong message to Ford when we struck Kentucky Truck Plant. Our national negotiators had been making serious progress, but then, on Oct. 11, Ford came back with the same economic offer they’d given us two weeks earlier.

As you’ll see in the bargaining update below, there are key areas where Ford needs to go further — and the huge dividend they just gave shareholders shows they can. Because of our Stand Up strikers we have the power to push for the strong contract our members and retirees deserve.

WAGES

At all three companies, as of this week, we have a 23% raise on the table. That’s up from 20% just a few days ago, and up from 9% when they made their first offer. The companies kept saying they hit their limit, and then their limit went up. We think there’s more ground to gain.

WAGE TIERS

At all three companies, we have killed massive wage tiers. This is a major win, and has been a major priority. We believe in equal pay for equal work. At Ford, Sterling Axle and Rawsonville will make production wages. This represents huge raises for those members, and will end the toxic wage tier divide among these members.

WAGE PROGRESSION

We started these negotiations with a ridiculous 8-year progression. At Ford, we got it down to 3 years, where it was in the mid-’90s.

COLA

At Ford, we have won COLA back to where it was in 2009, something we were told was impossible.

PROFIT SHARING

At all three companies, we’ve been able to beat back concessionary profit-sharing proposals. At Ford, we’ve actually enhanced it, and temp workers with 90 days will now be eligible.

TEMPS

We’re fighting to end the abuse of so-called temp workers who make lower wages, have fewer rights, and little security. At Ford, we’ve raised the temp wage to $21 an hour, and won conversion of all current temps with 90 days in.

At all three companies, we’re still negotiating a pathway for future temps to get converted to end the abuse of these members. We’re fighting hard to win language across the Big Three that will make sure that temporary work is just that – temporary.

JOB SECURITY

One of our biggest proposals on job security has been the right to strike over plant closures. They can’t keep closing plants without any consequences. At Ford and Stellantis, we’ve won that right. We will keep our jobs secure with the most powerful weapon we have, the strike threat.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

At all three companies, we’ve won an additional holiday, Juneteenth, and two weeks of paid parental leave, a first for our members at the Big Three.

RETIREMENT

We know we need to fix our broken retirement system at the Big Three. All three companies are now offering a $3 increase to the pension multiplier, and boosting the 401(k), though GM lags behind.

Ford is offering a 9.5% employer contribution to the 401(k). For current retirees, Ford is offering a deeply inadequate $250 annual lump sum payment. We are going to keep fighting to win justice for all our retirees.