Nearly 9,000 Ford workers at Kentucky plant join UAW strike

Roughly 10% of UAW membership initially went on strike, though that figure has since soared to roughly 34,000.

By Ben Whedon

Published: October 11, 2023 9:58pm

Personnel at a Kentucky Ford plant joined an ongoing United Auto Workers strike on Wednesday, the union confirmed.

"The 8,700 UAW members at Ford’s iconic and extremely profitable Kentucky Truck Plant have joined the Stand Up Strike after Ford refuses to make further movement in bargaining. Workers are walking off the job right now. STAND UP!" the UAW stated. "President Shawn Fain and Vice President Browning called on Kentucky members to strike directly after Ford refused to make progress in bargaining."

The UAW began the strike in mid-September, staging targeted strikes at key facilities belonging to the Detroit Three, which includes Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, formerly Chrysler. The 146,000-member union later expanded the strike to other facilities.

Roughly 13,000 workers initially went on strike, though that figure has since soared to roughly 34,000, according to The Hill.

The union initially demanded 36% wage hikes over four years, a 32-hour work week with no reduction in pay, and the restoration of traditional pension plans.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.