Ford (NYSE:F) United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 862 union, led by veteran labor leader Todd Dunn in Louisville Kentucky, voted overwhelmingly this week to grant union leaders the right to call a strike if contracts expire before a new deal is in place.
Dunn, who is in his 13th year as President of Local 862, has become one of the most prominent people in the labor movement for the more than 141,000 union members in Kentucky.
"UAW, I think is one of the most respected unions in Louisville...we're always doing something that supports community," said Dunn.
With a 99% 'yes' vote, the workers are choosing to place their support behind their contract negotiators, showing they are willing to take extra steps, if necessary, to get the contract they want.
Roughly 12,000 rank-and-file members at the Louisville assembly plant and Kentucky truck plant began voting Monday at 11:30 a.m., with polls closing at 11:30pm on Tuesday night.
“Ford is proud to build more vehicles in America and employ more UAW-represented hourly workers in America than any other automaker. We look forward to working with the UAW on creative solutions during this time when our dramatically changing industry needs a skilled and competitive workforce more than ever,” Ford said in a statement.
The current labor contract expires in three weeks.
Shares of F are up 0.55% in afternoon trading Wednesday.