Ford has announced layoffs at its Chicago stamping facility and Ohio plant in response to the ongoing strike at the Chicago Assembly Plant. The company has laid off 243 workers at the Chicago facility and 87 workers at the Ohio plant due to reduced production of parts that would normally be shipped to the assembly plant.
The layoffs for the Chicago workers took effect on Saturday, while the Ohio workers were laid off on Monday. The strike at the Chicago Assembly Plant began on Friday and has already affected thousands of workers, leading to the idling of the plant.
The Chicago Assembly Plant is responsible for producing popular Ford vehicles such as the Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and Police Interceptor SUVs. The strike, called for by the United Auto Workers (UAW) on September 15, has been in response to the union’s demands for pay increases, shorter workweeks, and improvements to pensions and healthcare plans for retirees.
The UAW represents over 146,000 members and has expanded the strike twice since it began, with additional workers joining in from parts and distribution centers. As a result, Ford has now laid off a total of 930 employees due to the “knock-on effects” of the strike.
The ongoing strike has caused disruptions in the automotive industry, impacting both workers and the production of vehicles. It remains to be seen how long the strike will last and what resolution will be reached between the UAW and the automakers.
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