Ford has laid off 243 workers at its stamping facility in Chicago Heights due to the strike at the nearby Chicago Assembly Plant. A total of 330 layoffs were announced, affecting both the Chicago Stamping Plant and the Lima Engine Plant in Ohio, which supply parts to the idled assembly plant. These layoffs are a direct consequence of the strike at the Chicago Assembly Plant, as production of parts that would normally be shipped to that plant must be reduced. The layoffs took effect over the weekend, and the workers at the Chicago Stamping Plant are not part of the union call to strike.
The strike at the Chicago Assembly Plant has had a significant impact, as approximately 4,600 members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 551 walked off the job. The plant produces popular vehicles such as the Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and Police Interceptor SUVs. Ford had invested heavily in its Torrence Avenue facility in 2019 to focus on SUV production, and the south suburban stamping plant was upgraded to supply parts for these new models.
The UAW strike has expanded multiple times since it began, with workers from various locations joining the picket line. In response to the strike, Ford has laid off additional non-striking workers at its Michigan Assembly Plant, bringing the total number of employees affected by the strike to 930. The UAW is demanding pay increases, shorter workweeks, and improvements to retiree pensions and health care plans, among other demands, from the Big Three automakers. With over 25,000 UAW members at 43 facilities in 21 states now participating in the strike, the union aims to achieve better conditions for its members in an industry that is experiencing record profits.
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