Ford Executive Chair Bill Ford gets involved in union contract talks during an uncommon presentation

By TOM KRISHER
AP Auto Writer

DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford is scheduled to make a rare speech about the future of American manufacturing with the company near an impasse with striking autoworkers. The speech near the company’s huge pickup truck plant in the company’s hometown of Dearborn, Michigan, is expected to address the monthlong strike by members of the United Auto Workers union.Last week 8,700 union members walked out at the largest and most profitable Ford plant in the world, the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville.After the walkout, a top company executive said on a conference call with reporters that Ford had reached the limit in how much it was willing to spend to end the strike.Ford announced the speech with a short advisory Monday morning.