U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) sent a letter to Ford CEO Jim Farley, demanding an explanation behind his company’s abrupt decision to terminate its long-standing labor partnership with Jack Cooper, a Kansas City-based company. Ford’s decision now leaves 400 Kansas City-area employees without a job.
The Senators call out Ford for prematurely ending its contract with Jack Cooper before the deadline and without explanation.
“For over four decades, Jack Cooper has been a reliable partner to Ford, fulfilling all performance standards and playing an important role in Ford’s success. To end such a relationship without a clear and justified cause strikes us as a profound betrayal of American workers, who have buoyed Ford for nearly half a century,” the lawmakers wrote.
“At this point, one must question whether Ford is abandoning its historical commitment to American workers and sacrificing quality and reliability in favor of cost-cutting. . . . The workers at Jack Cooper and their families are still waiting for answers,” the senators concluded.
Full text of the letter is here or below.
February 4, 2025
James Farley, Jr.
P.O Box 6248
Dearborn, MI 48126
Dear Mr. Farley,
We write today in response to Ford’s recent decision to terminate its long-standing contract with a great Kansas City company, Jack Cooper. This abrupt decision threatens the livelihoods of nearly 2000 dedicated union workers and their families, casting a dark shadow over Ford’s claimed commitment to “serving all of our stakeholder groups.”
For over four decades, Jack Cooper has been a reliable partner to Ford, fulfilling all performance standards and playing an important role in Ford’s success. To end such a relationship without a clear and justified cause strikes us as a profound betrayal of American workers, who have buoyed Ford for nearly half a century.
With this decision, Ford has undermined the job security and economic stability of hard-working union members and contradicted the ethos of economic loyalty and family values that the company purports to uphold. At this point, one must question whether Ford is abandoning its historical commitment to American workers and sacrificing quality and reliability in favor of cost-cutting.
To that end, we request, at a minimum, that you confirm Ford Motor Company intends to fulfill its legal obligations with respect to termination costs, pursuant to all applicable laws, resulting from Ford’s termination of its Jack Cooper contract. More importantly, we expect Ford to address this matter with the seriousness it warrants and provide a detailed explanation for its actions, not only to the affected workers but also to their families and communities who are now burdened with uncertainty and hardship. Not providing a substantive explanation for terminating the aforementioned contract adds significant insult to injury. This decision disrupts lives and erodes the community’s trust in what is supposed to be a paradigmatic American company. Yet, the workers at Jack Cooper and their families are still waiting for answers.
We hope that Ford can bring light to this situation and explain its plan for not hanging the Jack Cooper community out to dry. Please do so by responding to this letter, in writing, not later than February 11, 2025, with your explanation for suddenly terminating such a longstanding partnership. We look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Josh Hawley
U.S. Senator
Roger Marshall
U.S. Senator