WHAS11 coverage

WHAS11 News—New contract developments today from workers at Ford's Louisville assembly plant.

Amid poor sales and high gas prices, the United Auto Workers Local 862 president says this is good news.

It has been rough lately for Ford workers. This week alone the Kentucky Truck Plant announced it was shutting down for a month and cutting shifts.

There's an uncertain future for the Fern Valley Road plant, but today a vote of confidence from the assembly plant workers.

After eight months of negotiations between the UAW and Ford workers at the Explorer plant, a contract was approved last night . 73 percent of the workers voted in favor of the contract.  The contract defines job classifications and work rules within the plant and the plant was desperate from some good news.

“Once again the UAW members at the assembly plant stood up and stood tall. In doing that they sent a message to the Ford Motor Company and the community to do what they care about by voting the local agreement and voting for the community as well. Hopefully ensure jobs for them, their suppliers and the Louisville assembly plant as well,” Jeff Donohue, UAW representative, said.

This summer the entire night shift at the assembly plant will be laid off due the continuing slide of Ford Explorer sales.

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(WHAS11) - Ford announced Thursday, they’re cutting shifts at the Kentucky Truck Plant on Chamberlain Lane starting May 12. More cuts and a temporary plant shutdown is planned for the summer.

Not only will the plan affect thousands of employees, but it will also affect the local economy. The official economic term is “the multiplier effect,” you bring money into an area, and the local businesses boom. You take money out and there’s potential for the businesses to bomb.

“Quite naturally, when there’s an economic change like that, it’s going to affect whomever,” Nai, Owner, Nai’s First Impressions.

It’s the topic of discussion at Nai’s barbershop on Murphy Lane. Ford’s cutting shifts, affecting 3500 workers, who in turn, likely won’t spend as much money in the surrounding businesses.

“I’ve depended on Ford, you know... Ford’s paid a lot of my bills. I’m not gonna say that they do not. As a business owner, I have other marketing plans I can use to stay afloat,” Nai said.

Nai’s shop has been at this location for 11 years and says the family atmosphere appeals to Ford employees who stop by for a fade and bring their kids in for a cut. And being the sympathetic ear only a barber can be, Nai has listened to plenty of Ford workers vent.

Ss Ford adjusts to the economy, Nai’s and other local businesses adjust to Ford.

“It’s one reason why I might move. That’s an option. You know... Ford closes, you gotta go,” he said. “It’s going to affect a lot of people, you know. God willin’ I’m hopin’ it don’t go that route. But we’ll see.”

WHAS11has learned workers affected by those shift cuts will take home 80 percent of their pay while they’re on leave. Whether they’ll spend that money at businesses close to the truck plant, remains to be seen.