UAW Strike Expands to Ford's Kentucky Plant, Bringing Total Striking Workers to 33,700

The UAW expanded its strike to Ford's large truck and SUV factory in Louisville, sending 8,700 workers off the job. This brings the total number of striking UAW workers to about 33,700.

The Kentucky plant makes up about one-sixth of Ford's global sales, generating $25 billion annually.

Ford called the strike "grossly irresponsible" and said it had offered a "meaningful" wage increase of 23% over 4 years.

A key issue is future battery factories Ford is building with SK On - the UAW wants commitments those will be union plants, but Ford's CEO has resisted.

The strike is destabilizing the auto industry, with severe ripple effects including thousands of temporary layoffs at suppliers and non-striking UAW members.