Ford cuts shifts at factories in Kentucky and Michigan, but keeps jobs

Ford Motor Co. is cutting shifts at factories in Kentucky and Michigan, but doesn’t plan on eliminating any jobs, according to a report that comes as General Motors faces widespread criticism for announcing the closure of multiple U.S. plants.

According to Reuters, Ford is shuffling workers to meet rising demand for pickup trucks and large SUVs, which will require finding new positions for 150 workers who have been displaced by the changes.

No new jobs will be added, according to the news agency.

{mosads}Ford will move 500 workers from one Kentucky plant to one that makes its best-selling F-Series pickup trucks as well as several large SUVs.

The company will move 500 jobs from one Michigan plant to another that makes transmissions for popular pickups.

In addition, Ford said 150 workers from a separate Michigan facility will receive job offers at other plants.

A Ford spokeswoman told Reuters the company is “highly confident” that employment will be found for the shuffled workers and that no one will have to leave the company’s payroll.

The United Auto Workers union, which represents hourly workers at Ford, also expressed its optimism, saying in a statement forwarded to The Hill, “after working with Ford, we are confident that all impacted employees will have the opportunity to work at nearby facilities.” 

GM, another major auto producer, received bipartisan criticism earlier this week over its decision to close five North American auto factories, including four in the U.S., and eliminate more than 14,000 jobs.

President Trump suggested Wednesday that he might support new tariffs on auto imports in response to GM’s move.