There has been a rare move on the part of Ford Motor Company, with its executive chair William Clay Ford Jr calling for an end to acrimonious negotiations between the company and the United Auto Workers (UAW). In a statement released almost simultaneously to both the company and UAW, Ford Jr said “We have an opportunity to create a secure future for both our teams and our customers. To do that, we must work together, so I’m calling on UAW to come to an agreement that is fair to our employees and our company. It’s time we make a deal.”
This statement has come after months of stalled negotiations between the two sides. Talks between the two sides have not produced a labor deal as yet, and the UAW has been on a prolonged strike since September. This has resulted in the shutdown of numerous factories across the US and the temporary layoffs of many of Ford’s workers.
Ford Jr’s statement is a sign that he is personally engaged in the efforts to find a resolution to the negotiations. The importance of Ford Jr’s involvement cannot be downplayed, given that he is just the third Ford family member in over a century to take the role of executive chairman. As such, he brings immense credibility and respect to the negotiation process between Ford and the UAW.
In addition, Ford’s request for the UAW to come to an agreement that is fair to both sides indicates that he is seeking a resolution which satisfies both parties. This is in contrast to previous tactics of “take it or leave it” which have seen the company and UAW estranged for long periods of time in the past. And while significant differences remain between the two sides, Ford Jr calling for a deal shows that he is serious about finding a way to end the strike and the resulting losses for both parties.
Only time will tell if this rare move by Ford and Ford Jr will produce a positive result. However, his call for an agreement does suggest that he has faith in a successful resolution between Ford and the UAW. Hopefully, the aftermath of this statement will finally yield a resolution that benefits both and end this acrimonious talks.