Thu. Nov 14th, 2024

Community members call out Blue Oval City, make public demands for fair wages and long-term benefits

By Tarvarious Haywood

MASON, Tenn. (WMC) – A coalition of faith, labor, and community members near Blue Oval City is taking their demands public after they say they were ignored by Ford.

They say they want an agreement with Ford to ensure long-term benefits, among other things, from Ford’s electric plant in Haywood County.

Blue Oval Good Neighbors are tired of being ignored by Ford privately and it’s now time to call them out publicly on Juneteenth.

Friday, a press conference was held and it’s no coincidence that it was held on Juneteenth, they say they don’t want history repeating itself.

“I would like for them to have some feeling as to where we are, but I am not sure that will happen but just know where we are and what we think about and how we can help them,” said Faye Knight, Tipton County Landowner.

The coalition comprised mostly of black, community, faith, and labor leaders expressed their concerns with the development of Blue Oval City.

“It’s not the corporate executives that will make the plant run. It’s the workers and the community,” said Benny Overton, United Auto Workers Member.

The coalition said back in April of 2024 they invited Blue Oval Officials to negotiate a legally binding agreement, which they say the company has yet to acknowledge.

They say they want things like secured union jobs for West Tennessee residents, environmental protections, and affordable housing guaranteed to people especially the black people who live in the area.

“There is a collective responsibility here to make sure that the communities here today, the black folks here today, are able to protect the legacy here today they have worked so hard to build and pass the baton of wealth and progress to the next generation,” said Eloise Thompson, resident of Mason, TN.

To secure the coalition’s demands, members say, is by an official agreement with Blue Oval City. In this case, it’s a CBA or a Community Benefits Agreement.

“Community leaders say a CBA would make sure everyone is heard and everyone benefits from the impacts Blue Oval City will have on the area. We understand the power of a contract,” said Overton, “but a CBA, Community Benefits agreement, allows for them to be not only a good neighbor today but for generations to come.”

“This is our town, our county, our home and we have to protect our homes, so we got to keep fighting,” said Rachel Wilson, a community member.

Blue Oval City officials tell me they are meeting with the community.

Ford said they have plans to develop local talent through its BlueOval Learning initiative. Ford also says its Equitable Growth Advisory Council meets with community members and leaders around Blue Oval City often to talk about ways to support the community.

Ford also says they spent more than a thousand hours listening to community input and learning about local priorities.

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