CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago’s United Auto Workers members joined the unions strike against three major automakers.
About 4,000 are employed at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant. Their participation in the labor action brings the total number of striking UAW members to 25,000.
Marissa Martinez, longtime Ford employee, puts air compressors on engines. She said she’ll be on her way to retirement soon enough but would like to leave behind better conditions for the remaining workers.
The plant in Chicago makes Ford Explorers and Explorer Police Interceptors along with the Lincoln Aviator SUV.
The UAW's expansion of its two-week strike also included a General Motors assembly factory in Michigan.
The Southeast Side Ford plant produces the country’s top selling police vehicle, Explorers and Aviators.
“Sadly, despite our willingness to bargain, Ford and GM have refused to make meaningful progress at the table,” Union President Shawn Fain told workers on a video appearance Friday.
The union has vowed to hit automakers harder if it does not receive what it calls substantially improved contract offers as part of an unprecedented, simultaneous labor campaign against all three Detroit automakers. The UAW strike began two weeks ago, on Sept. 15 after the union’s contract with Ford, GM and Stellantis expired. Negotiating points include A pay increase, reinstatement of benefit pensions for new workers as well as elimination of wage tiers.
Workers are expected to begin walking out at noon.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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