Ford says union concerns resolved at Kansas City plant; union voting on strike authorization

Ford: union concerns resolved at Kansas City plant

CLAYCOMO, Mo. — Ford Motor Co. said Saturday union concerns over working conditions at its assembly plant in Kansas City have been resolved. But a union officer said members were moving ahead with a planned strike authorization vote.

Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans said officials from the automaker and United Auto Workers Local 249 reached an agreement late Friday on issues related to the workload at the plant.

Union leaders have said problems developed in October when Ford added a third shift, including staggered schedules. The union says the changes resulted in increased, uncompensated work since the company did not hire workers. Other union issues concern safety. The plant makes the Ford F-150 pickup and the Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner SUV.

“At this point, no further action is necessary,” Evans said. “The issues are resolved.”

But the union was still carrying out a strike authorization vote scheduled to end late Saturday, according to Toni McCauley, financial secretary for the union.