UAW President Blasts 'False Rumors' Of Ford Deal

DEARBORN (WWJ) -- UAW President Bob King says there's no deal with Ford — period.

After rumors of a deal began circulating around Ford plants, King took the unprecedented step of using a union hotline, set up for members to specifically deny that a deal had been reached.

"Despite false rumors and intentional misinformation, we have not reached an agreement," said King.

UAW Vice President Jimmy Settles, the union's lead negotiator with Ford, used the union's Facebook page to criticize media outlets that, he said, had been reporting those rumors.  He called that "unprofessional and irresponsible."

King said that premature reports of a deal could damage the negotiating process.

"These false rumors are irresponsible and unfair to our members," he said.  "They are intentionally creating false expectations."

Union negotiators have spent all week talking with Ford negotiators trying to pattern the deal reached nearly two weeks ago at General Motors.   Heading into this week's talks, UAW bargainers hinted that the talks may be close to a conclusion.  But they have set no deadline.

"Vice President Settles and I and the whole negotiating team have been in very intense discussions to try to reach a fair agreement for our membership," said King.

While the General Motors deal was ratified by a margin of nearly two to one, analysts have said that Ford would have to "sweeten the pot" if they expected ratification.

There had also been reports that talks were focusing on adding new jobs in the United States.

Neither Ford, nor the UAW would comment on what's being discussed in the negotiations.

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