Statement of UAW Vice President Gerald Kariem Director of the Ford department on the retirement of Ford’s Gary Johnson

“Over the past year, as Ford and the U.S. auto industry faced unprecedented challenges over the CoronaVirus pandemic, Gary Johnson worked tirelessly with the UAW and our members to address the serious health and safety issues in our workplace with collaboration, honesty and real concern. Although we had differences at the bargaining table, Gary always understood that ultimately UAW members were his family too and it was reflected in the way he approached bargaining. We wish him well in his retirement. And we look forward to working with his successor John Savona as we face the challenges of Covid, a changing industry and the future of UAW members and their families.”