The Belvidere plant stopped operations last year, and reopening it was a main sticking point in negotiations during a United Auto Workers strike.
UAW workers at GM and Stellantis facilities in Illinois, like the Stellantis parts distribution center, have been on strike for five weeks now and are ready for a deal of their own.
Starting Monday, Ford will lay off another 550 workers because of the ongoing United Auto Workers strike.
The president of the United Auto Workers union met with Mayor Brandon Johnson Saturday at a rally in Chicago.
The president of the United Auto Workers union announced Friday there would not be a strike expansion after Ford promised to include EV battery plants in the master union contact.
UAW members at the Ford assembly plant on the Southeast Side joined in the union's strike on Friday.