LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 20, 2012) – Ford Motor Co.’s Louisville Assembly Plant and United Auto Workers Local 682 have claimed the 19th annual Labor-Management award from the University of Louisville Labor-Management Center.
The award, which honors an area workplace in which labor and management have demonstrated cooperative relations, was presented last night at The Olmsted.
Ford’s managers and employees teamed up to cut costs and develop production efficiencies despite an extended downturn in auto sales, prompting the company to spend more than $600 million to retool the plant to make the 2013 Ford Escape, their award nomination said.
Production of the redesigned Escape is expected to add more than 3,700 new jobs at the plant over the next two years.
Other labor-management actions contributing to the company’s success include:
• A cross-functional team of managers and workers have made continuous improvements in performance and quality aimed at helping Ford stay competitive in the market.
• Management and labor reached an agreement in November to add a new shift at the assembly plan this year to meet customer demand.
• Company and UAW local leaders collaborated to create new hourly positions dedicated to analyzing job safety and ergonomics
Ford opened its Louisville Assembly Plant off Fern Valley Road south of Louisville International Airport in 1955.
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