Ford to Create 1,200 Jobs at Chicago Plant

Ford Motor Company is set to announce today that it is adding a second shift to its Chicago assembly plant. 1,200 jobs will be created including some union jobs that pay a significantly lower wage. These lower wages are a “second tier” wage and a concession for the United Auto Workers union, where wages have been some of the highest in the world for auto workers. The union’s contract with Ford allows the company to fill jobs left by older workers who leave or retire with new employees earning $14 an hour, half of what current workers receive.

Ford’s Chicago facility builds two large Sedans, the Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS. The second shift will be added to produce a redesigned Ford Explorer SUV later this year.