Ford Lays Off 600 Workers At Wayne Plant Due To Strike, Automaker Says

WAYNE, MI — Ford Motor Company said the ongoing United Auto Workers strike forced the automaker to temporarily lay off 600 non-striking employees at its assembly plant in Wayne.

Ford Motor Company spokesperson Jessica Enoch said the automaker said the work stoppage in the final assembly and paint sections of the manufacturing complex has "directly impacted the operations in other parts of the facility."

"Our production system is highly interconnected, which means the UAW’s targeted strike strategy will have knock-on effects for facilities that are not directly targeted for a work stoppage," Enoch said. "Approximately 600 employees at Michigan Assembly Plant’s body construction department and south sub-assembly area of integrated stamping were notified not to report to work Sept. 15. This is not a lockout. This layoff is a consequence of the strike at Michigan Assembly Plant’s final assembly and paint departments, because the components built by these 600 employees use materials that must be e-coated for protection. E-coating is completed in the paint department, which is on strike."

More than 12,700 workers, including roughly 3,300 Ford workers, walked off the job in three Midwest plants as the union's contract with the automakers expired without an agreement.

Ford, General Motors and Stellantis offered the union multiple proposals that included a 10 percent wage increase from GM, a 14.5 percent increase from Stellantis and Ford's 9 percent increase and a 6 percent lump sum added after.

The union rejected all offers after initially calling for a 46 percent wage increase and a 32-hour workweek for its members. The union also wants to eliminate the wage tiered system, restore cost of living adjustments, end temporary workers after 90 days and increase multiple retiree benefits.

Negotiations are to resume Saturday, according to UAW President Shawn Fain.