The United Auto Workers (UAW) union has taken significant steps to intensify its strike against Detroit's Big Three automakers, affecting Ford's largest factory and potentially Jeep maker Stellantis.

In an unexpected move, 8,700 UAW members went on strike Wednesday night at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville.

On Thursday morning, UAW President Shawn Fenn hinted at further actions targeting Stellantis, without specifying the nature of the potential action, saying, Hopefully today's conversation at Stellantis will be more productive than yesterday's at Ford. Will happen. Will happen. Will happen.

Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant is responsible for building heavy-duty F-Series pickup trucks and large Ford and Lincoln SUVs, which represent a large portion of the company's revenue, generating approximately $25 billion annually.

Fenn expressed the union's disappointment, saying that they had waited a long time for Ford to engage in fair contract negotiations. He emphasized that laying off 8,700 workers at this highly profitable plant was intended to send a message to Ford.

This increase comes about four weeks after the UAW launched strikes against General Motors, Ford and Stellantis on September 15, attacking assembly plants at each of these companies.

Ford called this extension of the strike grossly irresponsible and highlighted its strong wage and benefits offers to the union. The company noted that the move jeopardizes about a dozen other Ford facilities as well as parts-supply plants, which collectively employ more than 100,000 people.

According to a Ford official, during a meeting at the company's Dearborn, Michigan headquarters, UAW President Shawn Fenn inquired about the possibility of a new offer from the company. The executive said that although there were discussions about potentially bringing electric vehicle battery plants under the UAW national contract, which would essentially make them unionized, there was no separate economic proposal from the company. Fenn's response was that if that were Ford's best offer, the Kentucky truck plant would be going on strike.

Wayne State University business professor Merrick Masters, an expert on labor issues, suggested that the escalation against Ford was an attempt by Fenn to put more pressure on the company. Although concessions have been made, and wages paid by automakers have increased, they may be reaching their limits in terms of remaining competitive. Masters explained that executives have certain limits that they cannot exceed without affecting their competitiveness with other automakers.