Ford workers at a plant near Kansas city have authorized a strike. The president of the local said that only 18 workers out of more than 3,000 voted against the strike. The workers were among the first Ford workers to cast ballots, though all Ford workers represented by the United Auto Workers will vote on strikes by September 2. The President of the UAW, Bob King, has said that the strike votes are part of the negotiating process and he doesn't expect any strikes to take place. Contracts between the UAW and Ford expire on September 14.
See "Ford workers at factory near Kansas City vote to let union leaders call a strike", The Washington Post, August 28, 2011