AVON LAKE, Ohio — The Ford Motor Company confirms it has reached a "tentative agreement" on a new four-year contract with the United Auto Workers union, and the result could be a huge boon for Northeast Ohio.
According to details of the proposal provided by the UAW, the new contract would see Ford invest billions of dollars into its plants across the United States. This would include an estimated $900 million into its Ohio Assembly plant, located on Miller Road in Avon Lake.
Should the contract be finalized, Ford has promised to not only continue production of medium trucks and E-series cutaways and stripped chassis in Lorain County, but also add a whole new product in 2023 along with the new super duty chassis cab beforehand. Of all the facilities listed, only the assembly plant in Wayne, Michigan($1.1 billion) is slated to receive a larger investment.
"We are pleased that Ford, the State of Ohio, Team NEO, the UAW and the City of Avon Lake have built such a positive working relationship," Avon Lake Mayor Greg Zilka said in a statement praising the agreement.
In addition, the contract also calls for an additional $150 million for upgrades at the Cleveland Engine plant in Brook Park. Lima's engine plant will also receive $80 million in upgrades.
"Vice President [Rory] Gamble, his staff and the Ford negotiating team have worked tirelessly to reach an agreement that preserves job security and rewards UAW Ford members for their quality work," UAW President Gary Jones said. "These were long and hard hours, but I feel confident they were able to secure a contract that protects our member’s future."
The UAW-Ford National Council is now set to meet to finalize portions of the agreement. Once that is done, it will go to all Ford UAW employees for a ratification vote.
You can read the entire proposal below: