LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Negotiations continue between the United Auto Workers and the big three auto-makers. For more than a month now, union employees have been on strike, including in Kentucky since Oct. 18.
The strike impact is felt by business partners who rely on parts from Ford, General Motors or Stellantis.
Tony’s Brakes and Alignment Shop Foreman Gary Wilson says they’re experiencing some delays.
“To be honest, I really haven’t — I don’t recall when the last strike was in the industry. You know, this industry. I haven’t seen it affected up until now,” Wilson said.
He explains some cars have to wait for parts to arrive.
“We’ve only got one vehicle here that we’re waiting on some parts for that we’re been waiting for two weeks for,” Wilson said.
He said unlike the supply chain bottleneck during the pandemic that affected virtually all vehicles, this strike focuses on the big three automakers, their make and models, and ancillary vendors.
“The only thing we’re seeing as far as the strike impacting us is availability to get some parts from our local dealers,” Wilson said. “If they don’t have them in stock, then it’s hard to get them because from what the local dealerships are telling us, is that they’re having a hard time getting the parts delivered from their suppliers.”
The ongoing strike resulted in Ford Motor Company laying off over 2,730 employees last week.
Ford said in a statement, “UAW’s targeted strike strategy has knock-on effects for facilities that are not directly targeted for a work stoppage.”
“The drawback to that is the part that we’re waiting for, we can only get from the dealership, from the manufacturer because it’s not available in the aftermarket sector,” Wilson said. “We’re at mercy to the dealership for when they get it in. They get it to us and we can get the car repaired and get it back on the road.”
Wilson’s concern also lies in the impact of the Kentucky Truck Plant on strike.
“The thing that I’m more concerned about is the local plant here. The Ford Truck Plant has just went on strike, so we don’t know if that is going to be a trickle-down effect from them into our business, where it’s going to slow our business because people they’re not they’re not getting their full pay from their job. So they may have to cut corners and not get their car serviced or repaired,” Wilson said.
United Auto Workers went on strike on Sept. 15.
In the Commonwealth, workers at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant went on strike on Oct. 11.
So far, the union workers at the Louisville Assembly Plant and GM’s Bowling Green assembly plant remain on the job.