June 5, 2025
Leadership Visit Local 862 and 3047

Yesterday, UAW President Shawn Fain and UAW Region 8 Director Tim Smith walked the shop floor at Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant and Louisville Assembly Plant, Local 862. In the afternoon, they visited the Local 3047 hall, to meet with IPS workers at Metalsa and workers organizing to win a union at BOSK, Ford’s battery joint venture.

Here’s a note from Shawn about his visit:

“I will never forget that it was the membership walking out on strike at Kentucky Truck that was the hammer that won our 2023 contract. That’s where our power as a union comes from. Walking the shop floor on a red shirt Wednesday at KTP and LAP, I could feel that unity and solidarity everywhere I went, from the floor to the shop committee to the leaders on the local e-board.

But even one of the strongest locals in our union can have challenges. I listened to members at both plants concerned about job security and future product commitments. That’s why we’re pushing to fix this country’s broken trade laws—to protect our membership and our power as a union.

Our last stop was meeting with workers fighting for a union at BOSK—the new battery plant in Elizabethtown, KY. They were joined by workers at Metalsa, who build the frames for the Ford F-150, Navigator, and Expedition. BOSK workers work with dangerous chemicals every day and are standing up for more safety on the job. A majority has signed cards to join the UAW, but BOSK is stalling to prevent a vote. It was an honor to spend time hearing directly from them and figuring out ways we could strengthen our common fight. What they’re doing is important for workers everywhere.”