Will UAW work at Ford factories in Tennessee, Kentucky?

Just days after Ford Motor Company announced it would build four new mega-factories and hire nearly 11,000 workers to build electric vehicles and batteries in Tennessee and Kentucky, speculation has already started to swirl around whether the new facilities will be union stores.

Given the company’s long history with the United Auto Workers, Ford, the union and critics weigh on the prospect.

Jim Farley, CEO of Ford Motor Company (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP) (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP via Getty Images) (JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP via Getty Images | Ford Media / Getty Images)

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UAW leadership appears optimistic.

“It is true that a rising tide lifts all boats, and today’s announcement is a tremendous opportunity for working families in Kentucky and Tennessee to have thousands of top jobs in our area. region, ”UAW Region 8 director Mitchell Smith said in a statement. “We look forward to reaching out and connecting with this new workforce in Tennessee and Kentucky and being a partner in training and innovatively creating the gold standard for these future jobs in the EV automotive sector. “

Ray Curry, UAW International President, issued a statement saying, “The UAW looks forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with Ford as consumers make the transition to electric vehicle manufacturing the right way. He added, “We look forward to reaching out and helping to develop this new workforce to build these world-class vehicles and battery components. “

UAW President Ray Curry, right, bangs his fists with Ford CEO Jim Farley. (AP Photo / Mark Humphrey) (AP press room)

Ford and SK Innovation, the automaker’s South Korean partner in the next three battery factories, said in statements earlier this week: the expectation of a continued “strong and mutually beneficial” relationship with the union.

Ford has an agreement with the UAW that the company will remain neutral when the union attempts to organize workers in new factories, and allows the “card check” recruitment system for the union. A store becomes a union if a majority of workers sign cards indicating that they want to join.

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Tennessee and Kentucky both have “right to work” laws prohibiting companies from entering into union agreements that require workers to pay dues, but that doesn’t mean stores can’t be unionized – and also As friendly as Ford and the UAW appear to be, there’s a good possibility that the new factories are UAW stores, according to the National Right to Work Foundation.

A United Auto Workers assembler works on a 2018 Ford F-150 truck being assembled at the Ford Rouge assembly plant in Dearborn, Michigan (AP Photo / Carlos Osorio, File) (PA)

“Unfortunately, there is a long history of collusive deals, including secret promises to sell workers at the bargaining table, cut off by union bosses seeking the company’s help in pushing workers into union ranks.” NRWF President Mark Mix told FOX Business in a statement. Ford and UAW officials should state publicly that no behind-the-scenes organizing deal has been or will be made, and that they will not seek to circumvent the protections of a secret ballot overseen by the NLRB in any attempt to organize at these facilities. “

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Mix noted that there was no guarantee that new stores would be unionized, adding: “In recent years, workers at the Volkswagen Tennessee plant have twice rejected UAW, widespread corruption and hijacking. funds among senior UAW officials almost certainly contributing to worker skepticism. union membership. “

The Associated Press contributed to this report.