Ford Cancels Summer Shutdown At Most Of Its Factories

Ford has canceled its normal summer shutdown at many factories across the United States.

In a letter issued to factory workers late last week, vice president of manufacturing and labor affairs at Ford, John Savona, confirmed that because of the semiconductor shortage, Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant, Michigan Assembly Plant, Flat Rock Assembly Plant, Kentucky Truck Plant, Ohio Assembly Plant, Chicago Assembly Plant, and Kansas City Assembly Plant will not take their usual summer breaks.

“In those locations, employees will need to schedule vacation days via their local vacation scheduling process,” Savona added in the letter. “Individual plants in Powertrain and Stamping will provide specifics around their operating patterns to support the assembly plants.”

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Ford’s announcement came not long after it revealed that the Chicago Assembly Plant, Flat Rock Assembly Plant, and Kansas City Assembly Plant on the Transit side will be shutdown during the week of April 12 due to the ongoing chip shortage.

“We previously announced the Dearborn Truck Plant and Louisville Assembly Plant will also be down the week of April 12. Ohio Assembly Plant will be operating on a reduced schedule,” Savona confirmed. “We understand these schedule disruptions are inconvenient. We also appreciate that this year’s summer schedule may be disappointing to those who look forward to time away during the traditional shutdown weeks.”

Ford plans to operate more U.S. assembly plants throughout more weeks in summer than any other time in more than 15 years.

Speaking with the Detroit Free Press, United Auto Workers (UAW) union spokesman Brian Rothenberg said the union is working with Ford to ensure members aren’t adversely impacted by the production changes.

“The good news in this is that demand is high for UAW made vehicles; however the crisis in the overall industry is causing the companies to make these difficult adjustments,” Rothenburg said. “We continue to work with the companies and local union membership to try to ensure that our members are not adversely impacted.”