Ford Workers Reject Contract changes
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/31/ford-workers-reject-contr_n_341181.html

DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. workers have overwhelmingly rejected contract
changes that would have allowed the automaker to cut labor costs,
leaving Ford at a disadvantage to its Detroit rivals as it continues its
struggle to return to profitability.

The United Auto Workers union had given local unions until Monday to
complete voting. But a person briefed on the voting said Saturday that
the contract changes have been rejected by large margins. The person
asked not to be named because the UAW hasn't announced the results yet.

The UAW and Ford agreed to the contract changes several weeks ago, but
Ford workers needed to ratify them. Ford has 41,000 UAW-represented workers.

Two large union locals in Kentucky and Ford's home city of Dearborn
rejected the contract Friday, sealing its fate. Those unions together
represent 13,000 Ford workers. Exact tallies weren't available, but at
least 12 UAW locals representing about 27,500 workers so far have vetoed
the deal, many overwhelmingly. Only about four locals with a total of
7,000 members favored the pact.

Ford sought the deal to bring its labor costs in line with Detroit
rivals Chrysler Group LLC and General Motors Co., both of which won
concessions from the union as they headed into bankruptcy protection
earlier this year. Under pattern bargaining, the three automakers
usually match pay, benefits and other contract provisions.

But workers weren't convinced they should make more concessions, since
Ford avoided bankruptcy and is considered healthier than its rivals. At
least two Wall Street analysts are predicting that Ford could report a
profit Monday when it announces third-quarter earnings.

Rocky Comito, president of UAW Local 862 in Louisville, said Friday that
workers felt they were being asked to sacrifice more than the company's
executives. Ford CEO Alan Mulally made $17.7 million last year, although
that was down 22 percent from the year before.

"Some want to see management give more at the upper level," Comito said.
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Ford was offering workers a $1,000 bonus if they ratified the contract.
But the contract also would have frozen entry-level pay, changed some
work rules and limited workers' ability to strike.

A message seeking comment was left Saturday for the UAW. UAW President
Ron Gettelfinger said Friday that there wouldn't be a revote if the
contract changes failed.

"If it fails, there would be no reason to go back to the bargaining
table," Gettelfinger said at a community event in Detroit. "We have a
democratic process in place. People have a right to express themselves.
We recognize there's a lot of misinformation about it out there, but
that is what it is."

Factory-level union leaders have known for several days that the deal
would be defeated, said one Detroit-area official who asked not to be
identified because the voting is not completed.

The union did a poor job of explaining the need to preserve jobs and
keep Ford competitive with GM and Chrysler, the official said.

He doesn't believe members will approve any more changes until the 2011
contract, which will leave Ford at a disadvantage and has the potential
to knock the company from its position as the strongest financially of
the Detroit Three.

"Our goal should be to keep Ford Motor Co. going in the right
direction," he said.

Gary Chaison, a professor of labor relations at Clark University in
Worcester, Mass., said the vote was a slap to UAW leadership. It's
extremely rare for union members to oppose the union's recommended vote.

Chaison said the vote damages the reputation of UAW Vice President Bob
King, the chief Ford negotiator, who has been mentioned as a successor
to Gettelfinger when the union elects a new president in 2010.

"The sign of a good leader is that you can agree to something and then
sell it to the membership," Chaison said.

Chaison said Ford asked for too much too soon after workers already
agreed to concessions earlier this year. He also said Ford lacked
credibility because its financial situation wasn't as dire as GM's or
Chrysler's.

"They made such a strong case about not going to bankruptcy court and
turning the corner, so they couldn't go to the workers and say, 'We need
this to turn the corner,'" he said.

The no votes came even as Ford reached a similar cost-cutting agreement
with the Canadian Auto Workers union Friday. The CAW has agreed to cuts
in benefits in exchange for product guarantees, but that agreement must
be ratified by Canadian workers.

In addition to the plants in Louisville and Dearborn, workers at
factories in Chicago; Claycomo, Mo.; and Livonia, Plymouth, Sterling
Heights, Flat Rock, Ypsilanti Township, Mich., rejected the deal. Locals
in Wayne, Mich.; Cleveland; Indianapolis and St. Paul, Minn., voted in
favor.

On Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:35:45 -0700, Jim_Higgins
<gordian238 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote Re Ford Workers Reject Contract
changes:

I guess that won't be true much longer.
--
I filter all messages from google groups.

Caesar Romano wrote:
Then there is Ford outsourcing production.

Greedy UAW workers shoot themselves selves in their fetid feet!

Would someone please inform these uneducated, low-skilled buffoons
that the days of union strikes are over?

God'sLittleAnus wrote:

While Ford is better off than GM, they too are on the knife's edge. 8:1
debt to equity, big debt payments, competition getting stiffer, expenses
out the wazoo, low sales to historical averags...

Ford can't afford a mistep. If the union causes trouble, fire them all
who walk the line. If enough go on strike, close the whole plan
permanently. Make an example of one, say Deerborn. Put it to them
straight, here is the new rate, take it or leave it.

In news:u24Im.4636$Yy6.580 (AT) newsfe02 (DOT) iad Canuck57 <Canuck57 (AT) nospam (DOT) com>
wrote:

Firing somone who's involved in a legal strike is a violation of US
labor law.

And Ford would go out of business even faster than it's doing now.

The fact that the current administration is bought and paid for by big
labor wouldn't help Ford's cause much either.

--
Bert Hyman St. Paul, MN bert (AT) iphouse (DOT) com

The Ford/UAW contract has not expired, there is a re-opening clause that
allows either side to request early talks, before the contract expires to
AVOID a strike, dummy

What makes you believe the assembly line is filled with uneducated,
low-skilled workers?

"God'sLittleAnus" <perryneheum (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote

Once again you prove you have no idea what you are talking about! US labor
law does not allow striking union workers to be fired, if the contract has
expired. The Union is still recognized, under labor law, as the bargaining
agent for the workers. In any event ALL UAW contracts have a no strike
clause in effect during the term of the contract, dummy.

That is what got the Air Traffic Control Worker fired by President Reagan,
they went on strike in violation of their ongoing contract.

If the Union members vote to not accept the terms of a new contract they
continue to work under the terms of the old contract, if management agrees,
for a specified time or until the contract is replaced.

My techs were members of the Machinists Union and the ONLY power granted in
any union, under any contract, under US labor law is the power to force
management to abide by the contract it signed with the Union, period


"Canuck57" <Canuck57 (AT) nospam (DOT) com> wrote

Mike Hunter wrote:
Simple. Tell them the day the contract is over, it is over. No
severance needed. Minimum to get rid of the losers. Start making the
replacements offshore.

Or move Ford USA into a holding company, declare Ford USA subsiduary
bankrupt, close the doors and the parent Ford World lives on.

But, but, but how does your opinion square what the fact that industry
statistics show that GM vehicles are 20% to 30% LESS expensive to drive
home, than Jap vehicles of the same size, when similarly equipped, dummy?
LOL


"Canuck57" <Canuck57 (AT) nospam (DOT) com> wrote