LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant will see its first extended overtime in years leading up to a layoff of up to a year for factory retooling.
Company and union officials told The Courier-Journal that Ford Motor Co.'s production of the 2010 Explorer will employ workers on most Fridays in September and October and two Saturdays in October.
United Auto Workers Local 862 Building Chairman Stephen Stone said the more than 1,000 workers at the plant last earned routine overtime in 2005.
Ford senior sales analyst George Pipas the overtime is not the product of higher demand but rather the need to have some inventory while the company prepares to launch a new product.
Ford is expected to end production of the 2010 Explorer, Explorer Sport Trac and Mercury Mountaineer this fall.
The plant will undergo a $500 million conversion to produce smaller, fuel efficient vehicles and should return to full production by late next year.
