LOUISVILLE (WWJ) – The UAW has expanded its strike against the Detroit Three automakers — in a big way.
Union officials confirmed Wednesday evening 8,700 workers at Ford's largest plant, Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville have joined the strike in an unannounced move.
UAW officials say Ford has "refused to make further movement in bargaining" as the strike approaches the four-week mark at midnight Thursday.
Unlike previous expansions of the strike, workers walked off the job Wednesday evening to join the picket lines without the UAW setting a deadline in advance of walk-outs.
Ford has responded to the news, calling the UAW's decision "grossly irresponsible, but unsurprising.
While the latest expansion takes nearly 9,000 more Ford workers out on strike, WWJ AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert says the impact goes beyond the plant where Ford makes its Super Duty pickups, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.
"It's also going to impact component plants at Ford. Also it's going to impact suppliers and others who supply this plant," Gilbert said.
WWJ Auto Analyst John McElroy says he was surprised by Wednesday's announcement, but it "fits right in with the pattern" of what UAW President Shawn Fain is doing.
"If you expect him to do one thing, he's not gonna do that; he's going to do something else," McElroy said live on WWJ Wednesday night. "Even just in the announcement of this, he's showing that he's keeping the Detroit automakers off-guard, off-balance and he is the one who's driving the dynamic of how this strike is going."
McElroy says "this will cause enormous economic pain for Ford" because the Kentucky plant is where the company makes its most profitable vehicles.
This is a developing news story. Stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest updates as they become available. >>> LISTEN LIVE!
