Posted on 03/18/2021 11:08:01 AM PDT by gattaca
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union said that Ford Motor Co.’s plan to build a new vehicle in Mexico instead of Ohio might be a violation of the auto manufacturer’s contractual commitments.
“We 100 percent reject the company’s decision to put corporate greed and more potential profits over American jobs and the future of our members. We expect the company to honor its contractual commitments to this membership and when it fails to do so we will take action,” UAW Vice President Gerald Kariem said. “We are intensely exploring our options at this time,” he added.
In the letter, Kariem said Ford in 2019 committed $900 million for a plant in Avon Lake, Ohio (OHAP), and would include a next-generation Ford model to be added to the production lines in 2023. That would have secured “employment well into the foreseeable future” for auto workers but he blasted Ford for not “honor[ing] its promise.”
“Ford management expects us to just hang our heads and accept the decision,” Kariem wrote in a letter, which was dated March 12. “But let me be clear, we are making a different choice.”
Ford plant manager Jason Moore issued a letter to Avon Lake workers after UAW’s letter and said the conditions surrounding the expansion at the Ohio plant had changed. The 2019 agreement included a “reference to a $900 million investment and a new product for OHAP,” the letter stated. Moore said that the firm is investing in the plant and will increase Super Duty truck production there.
“While conditions upon which the 2019 Administrative Letter were based have changed, the Company is investing in the plant and increasing production of Super Duty trucks at OHAP,” Moore wrote.
Reuters reported that in November, Ford said it intended to produce another electric vehicle model in Cuautitlan, Mexico, as well as the Mustang Mach-E.
And Ford spokesperson Kelli Felker did not say whether Ford would keep its agreement to invest in the Ohio plant.
“We are always looking at our options,” Felker told the Detroit Free Press. “We still plan to invest $6 billion and create and retain 8,500 jobs in America during the course of this four-year contract,” she said. “We are invested in [the] Ohio Assembly Plant and our dedicated workforce there.”
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) criticized Ford’s decision.
“In 2019, Ford made a commitment to invest $900 million at its Avon Lake, OH plant – NOW, it’s reportedly moving the entire project to … Mexico,” he wrote on Twitter this week. “This is unacceptable. At today’s Senate Finance Committee hearing, I called on Ford to keep its promise to Ohio workers.”
General Motors in 2019 stopped production of the Chevrolet Cruze at a factory in Lordstown, Ohio, which impacted hundreds of jobs in the area.
President Joe Biden, whom the UAW endorsed for president in 2020, has reportedly sought to focus on American car manufacturing as part of his plan to create new car industry jobs.
The Epoch Times has contacted Ford for comment. It’s not clear what vehicle Ford is planning to manufacture in Mexico.
Learn to code you lefty supporting dunces.
Yep, something big changed since Ford made it original decision regarding the expansion of the Avon Lake, OH plant. Donald Trump is not president and longer.
So, does this mean even the UAW misses Trump?
I researched and found it all OVER the internet.
We may get President Trump back sooner than expected !
Yep, manufacturing gone, jobs gone, taxes raised, economy inflated, uncontrolled illegal alien mess, censorship all over the media, but hey, they got rid of Trump, right?
Mexicans are getting the jobs we send to Mexico. Other Central Americans are the folks we’re getting. Mexico doesn’t want them.
No sweat. File bankruptcy.
Dodge and Ford transmissions are awful.
We had a 4 year pro America First president.
Now were right back to millions entering our country illegally, talk of war, gas prices through the roof....
No wonder those in D.C. have encircled themselves with razor wire, armed troops and tall fences...
Exactly
Gee, I hope that the parade of companies leaving the U.S. don’t impact Biden’s projections of increased tax revenue....../S
Michigan voted and certified Biden as victor. There were ample warnings this would happen.
Just wait until Biden gets his “Tax Increases for the Rich” passed. Kiss US-based manufacturing good-bye (again) after 4 years of growth.
Ha Ha!
Lessee, who did the UAW back in the last election???
And did you hear, its NOT 400K like Biden “Promised” now its been reduced to 200K..hey, gotta pay for all those illegals who are crossing the border for the freebies they have been promised as long as they vote Democrat
Union leaders definitely support Biden. I am not sure about non-government union members however. Are there any studies on that?
How is that going to happen??
Oh but I’m sure Biden will stop it. Trump did so we know it’s a function a president can accomplish.
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