Ford Workers Strike Alongside GM Workers in Kentucky

UAW members employed at GM have been on strike over a week, fighting for an improved wage system and career structure.

It’s always interesting to see the circumstances that bring people together. One might think employees of Ford and GM would be like Montagues and Capulets. However, there’s bound to be something that can bring even the most bitter of enemies together. While it may not be that extreme between these employees, they have put aside any grudges they may have this week.

Louisville based news station WDRB reports that Ford union members took a bus to the Bowling Green-based Corvette assembly plant to join GM’s employees in their picket line. While this is certainly not an end to the legendary Ford versus Chevy beef, it is an excellent representation of humanity fighting for humanity. Regardless of status, employer, and pay, these people are standing together.

The strike began September 15th when over 49,000 General Motors employees walked out of production plants all across the United States.  The strike is an effort to change some pay structures and policies that were created during the recession. The current tiered wage system and GM’s ability to hire new employees at a lower pay rate are just a pair of the issues they are trying to combat. Additionally, they are after improved profit-sharing, as well as long term career growth and permanent positions for temporary workers. Though the strike is coming up on two weeks’ duration, workers show no signs of giving up. They say they will live off of the $250 a week union strike pay for as long as it takes. This is the first strike since a two-day stoppage of production flow at GM in 2007.

Ford states that their employees joining the strike will not hinder regular business at their plants. They give employees the option to support their fellow automotive employees’ fight for what they deserve. Ultimately, we hope the employees of General Motors get their fair pay opportunities. It seems that Ford employees do as well. Regardless of your preference or bias, nobody wants to see fellow people get undercut by a large company.

Photos: WDRB

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Braden Carlson

Braden Carlson is an automotive enthusiast from Boise, Idaho. At 19 he quit his day job to pursue a career in automotive journalism, launching his Youtube channel in his own name. Today you can still find him producing DIY video content, reviews and writing for an amassment of automotive websites. His work is most frequently found on Rennlist, The Mustang Source and Corvette Forum. When not writing or driving, he's likely to be found covered in grease and oil undoubtedly from one of his gratuitous collection of questionable project cars.