As the months-long acrimonious labor negotiations between Ford Motor Company and its workers’ union reach a boiling point, Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. has made a rare, public plea for the United Auto Workers union to make a deal.
The negotiations have become increasingly fractured in recent weeks, and both sides have now threatened to bring the core issues to a strike. UAW President Rory Gamble has taken a hard line in defense of his members’ interests, stating “We are not going to be intimidated and we are not going to be bullied.”
In an apparent attempt at bridge-building, Ford took to the stage at a recent UAW event to voice his hope that the negotiations will yield a positive outcome in short order. In an impassioned speech, he argued “What we’re talking about here is not merely a contract — it’s about a shared future for the automobile industry, for middle-class families and for our nation.” He went on to directly appeal to the union, urging them to “make a deal — and make it now.”
It is not clear what effect the call had on negotiations, but it did seem to show a willingness on Ford’s part to reach a resolution and a desire to take an active role in the talks.
Given the stark divide between the sides, and the long-term implications of a drawn-out legal battle, it would be in everyone’s best interest to see a swift resolution. Whether tensions can be cooled to achieve that, or if the talks will end in a strike, remains to be seen.
As the months-long acrimonious labor negotiations between Ford Motor Company and its workers’ union reach a boiling point, Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. has made a rare, public plea for the United Auto Workers union to make a deal.
The negotiations have become increasingly fractured in recent weeks, and both sides have now threatened to bring the core issues to a strike. UAW President Rory Gamble has taken a hard line in defense of his members’ interests, stating “We are not going to be intimidated and we are not going to be bullied.”
In an apparent attempt at bridge-building, Ford took to the stage at a recent UAW event to voice his hope that the negotiations will yield a positive outcome in short order. In an impassioned speech, he argued “What we’re talking about here is not merely a contract — it’s about a shared future for the automobile industry, for middle-class families and for our nation.” He went on to directly appeal to the union, urging them to “make a deal — and make it now.”
It is not clear what effect the call had on negotiations, but it did seem to show a willingness on Ford’s part to reach a resolution and a desire to take an active role in the talks.
Given the stark divide between the sides, and the long-term implications of a drawn-out legal battle, it would be in everyone’s best interest to see a swift resolution. Whether tensions can be cooled to achieve that, or if the talks will end in a strike, remains to be seen.
