LOUISVILLE, Ky. — 8,700 United Auto Worker union members walked off the job at the Kentucky Truck Plant Wednesday night. This is the latest expansion of the union’s strike, which began last month.

During a call with reporters Thursday afternoon, Ford leaders explained the strike at the Louisville plant will be felt at other Ford facilities, and by businesses who rely on their vehicles.

“We have 13 facilities that are either upstream or downstream of Kentucky Truck. We anticipate at nine of those plants in the coming weeks, we’ll have as many as 4,600 people affected by the strike,” Bryce Currie, vice president of Americas Manufacturing at Ford Blue, said.

Leaders with the company also made their thoughts on this decision by UAW clear.

“We know UAW leadership set out to wound Ford for months, but this goes way beyond just hitting Ford’s profits,” Kumar Galhotra, Ford Blue president, said.

According to Ford, the Kentucky Truck Plant accounts for 16% of the company’s profits. Last year, it accounted for $25 million in revenue.

Outside the plant, union workers are present at each of the facility’s entrances, operating in four-hour shifts, 24 hours a day.

“So today we are standing out on strike because the company does not want to give us a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay,” David Firkins, UAW Local 862 bargaining representative, said. “This company is going to understand that we are out here for a reason and we’re out here to take back what they owe us. They had a chance to give it to us. Now we’re going to take it.”

Workers on the picket line say they are hopeful adding this location to the strike will mean a quick resolution between the UAW and the big three automakers.

The union is calling for significant improvements to their current contract. It includes raises, the end of tiered wages for factory jobs, pensions for new hires, and the inclusion of union workers at a number of proposed battery production facilities in the country.