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The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has signaled a potential strike at Ford’s truck plant in Louisville, Kentucky if unresolved contract issues persist.

The union announced that approximately 9,000 workers at the plant would initiate a strike next Friday without progress on specific local contract disputes. The disagreement stems from negotiations with UAW Local 862, which have yet to reach an agreement with Ford, exceeding a contract deadline by over five months. UAW Vice President Chuck Browning sought authorization from UAW President Shawn Fain to establish a strike deadline for the coming Friday.

Central to the union’s grievances are “health and safety in the plant, including minimum in-plant nurse staffing levels and ergonomic issues, as well as Ford’s continued attempts to erode the skilled trades at Kentucky Truck Plant,” as outlined in the union’s press release. According to Ford Chief Financial Officer John Lawler, this potential strike threat looms as Ford recovers from a $1.7 billion profit loss attributed to a previous UAW strike, significantly impacting production and sales.

Ford remains hopeful for a resolution, stating, “Negotiations continue, and we look forward to reaching an agreement with UAW Local 862 at Kentucky Truck Plant.”

Amid these tensions, a political dispute between UAW President Shawn Fain and former President Donald Trump has escalated, particularly after the UAW endorsed President Biden for reelection. Fain criticized Trump, stating, “Donald Trump is a billionaire, and that’s who he represents. If Donald Trump ever worked in an auto plant, he wouldn’t be a UAW member. He’d be a company man trying to squeeze the American worker. Donald Trump stands against everything we stand for as a union.” In response, Trump targeted Fain on Truth Social, accusing him of undermining the auto industry’s domestic interests: “Shawn Fain doesn’t understand this or have a clue. Get rid of this dope & vote for DJT. I will bring the Automobile Industry back to our Country.”

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