Over the past several weeks, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union has been in negotiations with Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis as the two sides aim to hammer out a new contract before tonight’s 11:59 pm deadline. However, with new UAW President Shawn Fain at the helm, these discussions have proven to be tough sledding for the Detroit Big Three automakers, though multiple counteroffers have been submitted to this point as each tries to find common ground. That includes Ford, which just submitted its latest counterproposal to the union this week, one that CEO Jim Farley called its “most generous offer in 80 years.” However, we didn’t know the details of that proposal, until now.
“The Ford team continues to put 100 percent of our energy into reaching an agreement with the UAW that rewards our valued employees and allows the company to invest in the future,” Farley said. “If there is a strike, it’s not because Ford didn’t make a great offer. We have and that’s what we can control. In fact, we have put four offers on the table starting August 29th and each one has been increasingly generous. We still have not received any genuine counteroffer. On Tuesday, Bill Ford and I sat down with the union at the main table for a major offer. As we were walking in the room, we learned President Fain would not be attending. Nevertheless, Bill and I laid out a historically generous offer to the UAW Ford bargaining team because we listened to the UAW demands and we care about our employees.”
“The first we learned President Fain received the offer was on Facebook Live this evening,” Farley added. “So again, we are here and ready to reach a deal. We should be working creatively to solve hard problems rather than planning strikes and PR events. Please remember that Ford, more than any other company, has bet on the UAW and treated the UAW with respect. We have been incredibly supportive of the union. We have gone well beyond any contract language in adding jobs and investment. The future of our industry is at stake. Let’s do everything we can to avert a disastrous outcome.”
While Farley didn’t name off specific numbers, he did note that this latest offer includes a “significant” increase in terms of Ford’s wage increase proposals, cost of living adjustments (COLA), a complete elimination of wage tiers, shortening the time it takes to reach the top tier from eight to four years, more retirement contributions, protected health care benefits that rank in the top one percent of all employer-sponsored medical plans, and more time off in the form of five weeks of vacation and 17 paid holidays each year.
Many of these updates meet the UAW’s demands, though Farley noted that its request for a four-day, 32-hour full time work week isn’t viable. The CEO previously said that the automaker is “absolutely ready for a strike” – with salaried workers possibly stepping in if that happens – though such a move could prove quite costly for both the union and the automaker itself. Regardless, the union is prepared to use targeted strikes if no deal is reached by tonight’s deadline.
We’ll have more on these contract negotiations soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for 24/7 Ford news coverage.
Comments
I’m guessing a strike is unavoidable now. I believe Mr. Ford and Mr. Farley’s statements here about acting in good faith. And the UAW would be lunatics to not go light on Ford.
If I was Fain planning targeted strikes: Stellantis- Ram and GC assembly, GM- V8s and V6s, Ford- just Bronco Sport/Maverick components.
Do many people would be a glad to take those jobs with the kind of money they make without a new contract. They have always been more than well paid.
We have a job fair every couple of weeks come on in and build a truck every 50 seconds and ask permission to use the restroom oh and it takes around 30 minutes for someone to respond with 100 degree heat safety equipment so overpaid is not close to true especially when you can’t afford the product you build and the company is making record profits
Agreed..and a 32 hour workweek…here we go again Europhying america…ENOUGH..want to strike..do it..I can wait to buy another vehicle..let the union suffer a bit rather than that foul mouthed Fain win…In fact if the automakers cave, I will buy from a non-union mfg.
Union wife here. My husband wants to work and wants this resolved. Some of these demands are not of the workers themselves so dont blame all union employees. My husband has put in almost 30 years with this company and certainly does not make over $100,000 even with mandatory overtime. Union workers did give up allot years ago when other companies took the government bailout and Ford did not.
Well get a bigger raise then you deserve and now you can afford a four day week. Ford better stand tuff because they won’t be around in another 7 years. Is that what you workers really want? Because no foreign auto manufacturer will come near your area. MacDonalds will be hiring.
I believe it’s time for automotive manufacturers to increase their commitment to robotic automation. Robots operate round the clock, 365 days a year, without requiring breaks, vacations, or weekends off. It’s crucial for labor unions to strike a balance between fair compensation and avoiding excessive demands.
We’ve seen a similar situation unfold in the past, and once the nation grasped the substantial wages earned by automakers, it became evident that they were being generously compensated. Is it truly necessary to earn more than $60 per hour for tasks as basic as tightening a bolt?
In my opinion, the automotive companies have been more than reasonable in their approach, yet the demands for more compensation grow.
Automate and put the UAW out of business.
Over half and that’s being generous of the down time is from your robotic automation so please add more we can always use more breaks
it is easy to point out the good and bad/// but until you have worked in a plant when it is a 90 or hotter outside ,then it is 100 or hotter inside with no relief from the heat except for fans blowing air around you have no idea what it is like I have worked on the production line until I got on skilled trades it was not fun////
until you have worked in a auto plant you have no idea what it is like to work to work in the heat 7 days a week , sometime it would get to be over a 100 in the plant///
Living on pay check yo pay check?
Really? I personally know married couples earning well over $200,00 a year. Of course with some over time .
Go ahead and demand a 40% pay increase and I promise you no one will have a job in 4 years. You really need care about the companies growth and future not just what you can get out of them now.