The ongoing strike by the United Auto Workers (U.A.W.) union is escalating and could potentially set back the U.S. auto industry in its competition with nonunion foreign rivals, according to William C. Ford Jr., Ford Motor (NYSE:F)'s executive chairman. He made these comments at Ford's Rouge plant on Monday, expressing concerns that the union's demands could provide an advantage to these competitors.
Several plants across Ford, General Motors (NYSE:GM), and Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) have been forced to shut down due to the strike. U.A.W.'s president, Shawn Fain, has described this as a "fight against corporate greed", urging Ford to meet their wage and pension demands.
In an attempt to resolve the matter, Ford has proposed a 20% wage increase over four years. However, the company also stressed the importance of balancing workers' demands with investments in electric vehicles and other technologies.
Despite negotiations that have been ongoing since 1982, the strike has intensified recently. On Monday, an additional 8,700 workers at Ford's Kentucky truck plant joined the protest, further escalating the situation. The outcome of this dispute will undoubtedly have significant implications for the future of the U.S. auto industry.
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