LOUISVILLE, MO (Michigan News Source) – Ford’s most profitable plant, Kentucky Truck Plant, located in Louisville, averted a strike after reaching a tentative agreement with the United Auto Workers on Wednesday.

Last week, nearly 9,000 members of the plant pledged to strike if local contracts were not resolved by Friday, February 23.

“We are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract with UAW Local 862 covering Kentucky Truck Plant and 8,700 valued UAW-Ford employees,” spokesperson Jessica Enoch said in a statement, according to the Detroit News.

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She went on to say, “Ford is the No. 1 employer of UAW-represented autoworkers and 2024 is one of our biggest-ever new product launch years in the U.S. — with the all-new Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator launching in Kentucky, the new F-150 and Ranger in Michigan and the new Explorer and Lincoln Aviator in Illinois.”

The core issues in the Kentucky Truck Plant’s local negotiations revolved around “health and safety in the plant, including minimum in-plant nurse staffing levels and ergonomic issues, as well as Ford’s continued attempts to erode the skilled trades at Kentucky Truck Plant,” according to the UAW.

There are some townhall meetings to evaluate the agreements set for the end of the week according to the Detroit News. Tentatively, ratification voting will occur between Feb. 28 to March 1, according to Local 862 President Todd Dunn.

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Ford builds the Ford F-Series Super Duty Trucks, Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator model vehicles at the Kentucky Truck Plant, but CEO Jim Farley weighed in on the company’s approach to the recent strike threats.

“Our reliance on the UAW turned out to be we were the first truck plant to be shut down,” Farley said, according to the Detroit News. “Really our relationship has changed. It’s been a watershed moment for the company. Does this have business impact? Yes.”