The United Auto Workers union surprised Ford with a major escalation of its strike, ordering workers off the job at the company’s largest plant.

A union told 8,700 workers to strike at the Kentucky Truck Plant, which builds Ford’s most important vehicles, including the heavy duty version of the F Series pickup and full-sized SUVs.

UAW President Shawn Fain said, “We have been crystal clear and we have been waiting long enough, but Ford has not gotten the message.” “We need a fair contract at Ford and the other Big Three.” The 8,700 workers shutting down this highly profitable plant will help them understand it if they can’t comprehend it after four weeks.”

According to Ford officials, the UAW has scheduled a negotiation session with Ford for Wednesday evening. He said that the union wanted Ford to make a different offer than what it had previously presented. According to Ford officials, after a brief discussion of only a few minutes, Fain told company officials, “If that’s all you have, you’ve just lost KTP.”.

According to a union source, Fain told Ford officials, “If this is all you have for us, our members’ lives and my handshake are worth more than this.”. Your Kentucky Truck Plant just went out of business.”

The union official did say that Fain told the company he and the union’s top negotiator at Ford would take the offer under advisement, but the offer was still the same one Ford had made to the union weeks earlier, even though Ford had told the union that a new economic offer would be made soon.

Since September 15, the UAW has been striking against not only Ford but also General Motors and Stellantis. It is not the first time the union has expanded its strike to include additional facilities. It is the first time the strike has expanded to additional targets without any public announcement.