BROOK PARK, Ohio — Hundreds of Ford employees were not at work in Brook Park Monday, following the latest layoffs to hit Northeast Ohio during the ongoing autoworker strike.
“Anxiety is high. Tensions are a little bit high. Some people are definitely dealing better than others are but for the most part we’re getting through it,” Teresa Webb said.
After 23 years with the union, Webb is out of a job. Her two sons are also among the over 370 employees that Ford laid off from Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1.
“We’ve been preparing. We've known this could potentially come whether it came to our plant or not,” she said.
The UAW Local 1250 says the reason for the layoffs is that the Cleveland engine plant in Brook Park feeds vehicle motors to plants in Detroit and Chicago. However, that work has come to a halt, because workers at those Ford plants are currently on the picket lines.
“Well, its unfortunate right? I mean, we’re standing up for what’s right for the working-class people of America,” said Pat Wallace, spokesperson for Local 1250. “It’s very tough. The unknown for our membership is probably the biggest anxiety and frustration.”
Wallace accuses Ford of violating their seniority agreements in these layoffs, because instead of letting go those with the least experience first, they laid off the entire department.
“So, when we got out on ILO—indefinite layoff, they call it—at that point, what happens is they take seniority low to high. Low people go out to layoff, high people continue to work. They blatantly disregarded that,” he said.
An inquiry sent to Ford’s media email had not received a response as of Monday night.
In the meantime, the local UAW office has a growing pantry with food and hygiene products that they initially began collecting in case they're called on to strike. That could still happen. But now the items may also help offer some relief to the hundreds of laid-off workers who only have $500 a week of strike pay to rely on.
“Well, we’re in limbo and a lot of them got kids,” Wallace said. “As the CEOs continue to make $20-30 million dollars, the working class people are getting farther and farther behind.”
Wallace says he’s heard Ford and the UAW are close on their pay negotiations but remain “light years” apart on retirement benefits.
Still, Webb says they aren’t going anywhere. She’s optimistic, even now, that the strike is having a big enough impact on Ford that their demands will be heard.
“We’re getting there. I think we’re on the road to a very good path in negotiations. But time will tell with that,” Webb said.
On Monday, 3News also learned details of GM’s offering to the UAW. It includes a 20% pay increase over the life of the agreement, including a 10% bump in year one. In year two, it includes reinstatement of COLA, or cost of living adjustments. There were no changes to healthcare but it did include additional time off and better retirement benefits.
Previous Reporting:
- Ford lays off 372 workers at Cleveland Engine Plant in Brook Park
- Ohio Jeep workers respond to no additional plants called on during third week of UAW strike
- The auto workers' strike enters its 4th week. The union president urges members to keep up the fight
- 'We just want it to be over': Streetsboro union workers hopeful strike will end soon as UAW holds off on more walkouts