Ford Deal With UAW Gets First Big Boost

Aaron Cole
by Aaron Cole

United Auto Workers in Wayne, Michigan initially approved their four-year contract with Ford last week, signaling the first major victory for the the tentative deal, Automotive News reported.

Bill Johnson, who is UAW Local 900 president for the facility, told Automotive News that 81 percent of production workers and 83 percent of skilled trades workers approved the contract. Under terms of the contract, Wayne would likely see production of a new pickup for Ford — likely the Ranger — and new SUV, which could be called a Bronco, in exchange for production of two cars going to Mexico.

Under the deal, Ford workers would also see pay raises, a $10,000 signing bonus, annual bonuses and $700 million in plant improvements under terms of the deal.

According to the Detroit News, other Ford plants are approving the deal with Ford, although the margins weren’t as overwhelming as Michigan Assembly in Wayne. Roughly 60 percent of workers at Chicago Stamping approved the deal, according to reports, and 57 percent of workers approved the deal in Woodhaven.

Workers at Sterling Hills Axle Assembly have been the only group to turn down the deal so far, according to the News.

Workers at other plants, including Ford’s truck assembly in Kansas City, are expected to continue voting up until Wednesday.


Aaron Cole
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  • Redapple Redapple on Nov 16, 2015

    Sterling HEIGHTS Right there on Van Dick road.

  • Dwford Dwford on Nov 16, 2015

    Ford has definitely been on a roll. I can't wait to see the new Lincoln Continental. This is going to be the true test of Mark Field's leadership at Ford. He was the one who wanted to save Lincoln. I'm still trying to figure out why the UAW workers need to be bribed to come to work, though. Their wage scale is still so far outside the norm now, even after the givebacks of the last contract.

  • Lorenzo Lorenzo on Nov 16, 2015

    I'm curious about any provisions that differ from the GM contract that the skilled trades rejected. Did the UAW make last minute changes to avoid any problems with Ford?

  • 50merc 50merc on Nov 16, 2015

    It's amazing that almost one in five workers weren't ecstatically happy with the deal. Ford gave away the store.

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