Out of the Big Three Detroit automakers, Ford may find itself most vulnerable to a strike as contract talks with the UAW begin.
This is because Ford, which did not take federal bailout money, will not have binding arbitration or the right to ban strikes, unlike Chrysler or GM, which earned those concessions from workers during their 2009 bankruptcies. Ford workers actually went against union wishes when they decided against the strike ban and binding arbitration.
This doesn't mean the workers will strike, it just means that there's more risk should talks go off track. Add in the fact that Ford has been more profitable than the other two Detroit automakers, and that could spell trouble, since Ford workers may want more from a deal than workers who are employed by GM or Chrysler.
Again, all this really means is that the negotiations between Ford and the UAW will be conducted without a safety net. We'll see what that means in the long run.
[Automotive News]
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