Amid threats of an impending strike by the United Auto Workers, Ford is preparing to mobilize its white-collar, salaried employees to take over the shipment of parts in the event its blue-collar unionized employees decide to walk off the job next month.

According to a report in the Detroit Free Press, Ford has begun to meet with salaried employees, such as engineers, to prepare them for filling roles at warehouses and operating forklifts, to make sure dealerships and customers will still be able to obtain necessary parts, if union workers walk off the job.

The newspaper obtained internal company documents detailing the plans, as well as a recording of a Ford manager giving salaried employees an explanation of the plans.

In the audio, the manager says, “We are working hard to reach a new deal. But, like we do for any scenario where customer service could be interrupted, we need to plan for the possibility of a UAW strike. Our customers and dealers are counting on us to ship parts so we can keep Ford vehicles on the road.”

The anonymous manager went on to say, “The continued operation of our Ford customer service depots will make the difference between first responders being able to respond to emergencies or not, utility trucks being able to respond to power outages or not, customers making it to work or not, and customers accessing health care or not. This is our core purpose for the company, giving people the freedom to move. That’s why we are preparing to supply dealer part orders in the event of a strike.”

Fox Business reported that Ford spokesperson Jessica Enoch confirmed the plans to the network, and said, “We have a responsibility to our customers and dealers to ship the parts that keep Ford vehicles on the road – especially to keep first responders and other essential services running.”

Enock went on to say, “Like we would for any scenario where customer service could be interrupted, Ford is planning for the possibility of a work stoppage. Safety and customer service are top priorities for us.”

The UAW has cited an upcoming September 14th deadline as the date that its 150,000 members are prepared to go on strike at Ford, General Motors, and Jeep/Chrysler-owner Stellantis if it cannot reach an agreement on new deals in ongoing contract negotiations. The union said that next week it will hold votes on strike authorization.

As an employer of more hourly UAW workers than any other automaker, Ford issued a statement noting that it looks, “forward to working with the UAW on creative solutions” in the ongoing contract negotiations. However the UAW responded last week, that the clock is still ticking, in the negotiations.