CHICAGO (AP) -- Union leaders are thanking Ford Motor Co. for bringing jobs to Chicago -- where the next generation of the Explorer SUV will be built.

The new work means 1,200 jobs at the assembly plant on Chicago's far South Side and a nearby stamping plant.

But Ford and union officials on Tuesday said it's too soon to know how many of those workers would come from layoff lists at other plants and how many new hires might be paid a second-tier wage.

Ford says a state program that offers tax incentives helped make the case for it to build the new Explorer in Chicago.

Gov. Pat Quinn told workers at the plant that companies creating jobs is the way to turn around the economy.