Ford has exceeded its commitment to create thousands of hourly jobs by 2015. The company fulfilled its promise to the United Automobile Workers (UAW) to create 12,000 jobs. After announcing an addition of 1,200 new jobs and a second shift at Kansas City Assembly Plant, Ford has provided 14,000 plus jobs since 2011.

“The job growth we have created in U.S. manufacturing is a testament to our strong partnership with the UAW, the unio’s competitiveness, and the growing demand for Ford’s portfolio of cars, utilities and trucks,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president, The Americas. “Adding a second shift to Kansas City Assembly Plant adds more jobs to this community, and it also helps deliver more Transit vehicles to more customers throughout North America.”

The 1,200 new jobs are in addition to the 2,800 jobs added at Kansas City Assembly Plant in 2012 and 2013 to support the 2015 Transit launch and increased production of Ford F-150. Since the 2011 UAW-Ford contract negotiations, Ford has added jobs across its other U.S. manufacturing plants as well, for a total of 14,000 jobs. Facilities wher Ford added jobs include:

3,600 at Louisville Assembly Plant1,800 at Michigan Assembly Plant1,700 at Flat Rock Assembly Plant1,600 at Chicago Assembly Plant600 at Kentucky Truck Plant450 at Cleveland Engine Plant240 at Van Dyke Transmission Plant230 at Chicago Stamping Plant

“I am very pleased we are able to add 1,200 new jobs to Kansas City Assembly Plant, which will strengthen this community and continue our efforts to grow good-paying, middle-class manufacturing jobs,” said Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president, National Ford Department. “This is possible because of the collective bargaining process and the partnership between UAW and Ford.”

In addition to Transit, Kansas City Assembly Plant produces F-150 Regular Cab, SuperCab and SuperCrew pickups. The plant will employ more than 6,000 hourly workers by the end of 2014, on a two-shift pattern for Transit production and three-crew pattern for F-150.

Ford invested $1.1 billion in 2011 to retool and expand the facility for Transit production and to support surging customer demand for F-150. Expansion projects include the addition of a 437,000-square-foot stamping facility and a 78,000-square-foot paint shop.

“Today’s announcement is proof positive that Missouri workers can compete with anyone in the world and further cements Missouri’s position as a leader in next-generation automotive manufacturing,” said Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon. “Surging demand for the vehicles built here in Kansas City is a credit to the hard-working Missourians whose tremendous skills, creativity and work ethic continue to drive our economy forward.”

The investment also supports production of the all-new Ford F-150 in early 2015, after the truck launches at Dearborn Truck Plant later this year.

Ford is also committed to adding jobs to its Canadian facilities, announcing over 1,000 jobs to be created at its Oakville Assembly plant, located in Ontario.

SOURCE Ford