Local members of the United Auto Workers Sunday narrowly approved concessions in their contract with Ford Motor Company. The two Louisville Ford plants employ about 5,600 people.The concessions were also approved nationally.The concessions include a pay freeze, loss of bonuses, suspension of the Jobs Bank program that pays laid-off workers and a reduction in break time.Ford says the changes are necessary in order to allow the struggling automaker to cut costs and restructure.Last month, national UAW president Ron Gettelfinger urged members to vote for the labor agreement changes.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.