Thousands of UAW members could go out on strike in Kentucky next week if Ford doesn’t agree to key demands by workers.

The Detroit Free Press reports:

“The UAW is threatening to call a labor strike next week at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville if local contract issues aren’t resolved, according to a union news release issued Friday.

The plant builds the highly profitable Super Duty trucks. This same plant was shut down for part of the 2023 strike that targeted the Detroit Three during contract negotiations.

The UAW threat to strike comes within 24 hours of Ford CEO Jim Farley discussing with industry analysts how disruption of truck production during the 2023 strike was a “watershed moment” that changed the relationship that Ford felt it had built with the union. He noted that Ford was the only Detroit Three automaker that didn’t build its most profitable trucks outside the U.S.

Nearly 9,000 UAW members would be affected if a strike is called, the UAW said.

‘After Ford Motor Company has failed to reach a local agreement with UAW Local 862 at Kentucky Truck Plant more than five months past the contract deadline, UAW Vice President Chuck Browning has requested authorization from UAW President (Shawn) Fain to set a strike deadline at Kentucky Truck Plant for 12:01 a.m., Friday, February 23rd,’ the news release said. ‘The core issues in Kentucky Truck Plant’s local negotiations are health and safety in the plant, including minimum in-plant nurse staffing levels and ergonomic issues, as well as Ford’s continued attempts to erode the skilled trades at Kentucky Truck Plant.'”

For the rest of the story, visit the Detroit Free Press here.