Bill Ford, the Executive Chair of Ford Motor Company, addressed the United Auto Workers (UAW) union at the Rouge Visitor Center in Dearborn, Michigan. He called on his UAW colleagues to accept the automaker’s deal and put an end to the ongoing dispute. Ford’s remarks were in response to UAW President Shawn Fain’s complaints about Ford’s proposal.

In his speech, Ford emphasized the negative impact of the UAW expanding the strike to the Kentucky Truck Plant. He stated that shutting down the plant immediately harms thousands of workers, suppliers, dealers, and the communities relying on those local economies.

Ford highlighted that the company has offered a contract that goes above and beyond the requirements of the previous UAW agreement. He claimed that the proposed deal would make Ford’s manufacturing workers the highest-paid in the world.

On the other hand, UAW President Fain stated that Ford had presented the union with the same offer as two weeks prior, which the UAW found unacceptable and rejected. This rejection led to the expansion of the strike to the Kentucky Truck Plant.

The Kentucky plant is Ford’s largest factory, generating $25 million in revenue annually. It produces the F-Series Super Duty, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator and employs 8,700 UAW members.

During his speech, Fain criticized Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, and urged him to use the company’s resources to meet the union’s demands. Fain pointed out the compensation gap between a top executive like Farley and workers.

For reference, Bill Ford’s annual income was $17.3 million in 2022 and $18.7 million in 2021, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Fain also mentioned that the union plans to be more aggressive in the future by providing short notice before expanding the strike to additional factories.