Ford Motor has averted a potential strike at its Dearborn Tool and Die plant after reaching a tentative agreement with the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 600 on Wednesday evening. The deal affects approximately 500 union members and addresses several key issues, including job security, wage parity for skilled trades, and a process for securing additional die work at the plant.
The agreement comes more than a year after the initial negotiation deadline, following extended talks between Ford and UAW representatives. According to UAW leadership, the deal eliminates wage disparities among skilled trades workers and strengthens job security in areas such as 3D printing technology. UAW Vice President Chuck Browning praised the members at the Rouge Complex, where the plant is located, for standing together to achieve this outcome. “They stuck together and showed Ford that they were willing to stand up if necessary to win what they deserve,” Browning said.
A ratification vote will take place in the coming days to finalize the agreement, with further details to be shared with UAW members. Ford spokesperson Jess Enoch expressed the company’s satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “We are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement on a new local labor contract covering Dearborn Tool & Die employees at Ford’s Rouge complex, home of the gas, hybrid, and electric Ford F-150.”
While this agreement affects only the Dearborn Tool and Die unit, Ford’s investment in the plant—$15 million in 2023—demonstrates the automaker’s commitment to its U.S. manufacturing operations. This local agreement is separate from the broader national contract negotiations between the UAW and automakers, which focus on plant-specific issues.
The deal also comes at a crucial time, as the UAW has threatened to strike Stellantis NV due to concerns over delays in launching new products at its idled Jeep Cherokee plant in Belvidere, Illinois. The broader landscape of labor negotiations remains tense as automakers and unions work through their respective issues across the industry.
