LIVONIA (WWJ) – As the UAW strike nears the three-week mark, more autoworkers are being laid off.
Ford officials announced Wednesday 350 workers at the Livonia Transmission Plant and 50 workers at the Sterling Axle Plant in Sterling Heights have been asked to not report to work.
The layoffs will take effect on Thursday, officials said, citing the strike at the Chicago Assembly Plant has “directly impacted some operations at those facilities.”
“Our production system is highly interconnected, which means the UAW’s targeted strike strategy has knock-on effects for facilities that are not directly targeted for a work stoppage,” Ford said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon.
“These are not lock outs. These layoffs are a consequence of the strike at Chicago Assembly Plant, because these two facilities must reduce production of parts that would normally be shipped to Chicago Assembly Plant,” Ford officials said.
Since the strike started in mid-September, about 1,300 Ford workers have been laid off. Meanwhile, General Motors says about 2,200 workers at their plants have been affected by the strike at its Lansing Delta Township and Missouri plants.
In addition, another roughly 2,500 workers at auto supply companies have also been laid off.
In the meantime, sources tell WWJ contract negotiations between the UAW and the automakers have been "active and meaningful." Sources familiar with the talks say union president Shawn Fain is expected to provide an update on the bargaining on Friday.
It's unclear at this point if workers at additional plants or other facilities will be included in the strike, which currently involves about 25,000 workers at five factories and 38 parts distribution centers across the country – 15 of which are in Michigan.
Stay with WWJ for the latest on the talks and other developments connected to the strike. >>> LISTEN LIVE!