Ford Workers Reject Contract changes

#11

I guess we can assume you have no idea what it would cost to buy a
dealership. LOL

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

Quote:

Mike Hunter wrote:

But, but, but will you be able to afford to buy one on your McDonalds
salary, or will you continue to buy the used cars you buy that someone
else no longer wanted?

LOL. You wish. But I did once a long time ago start out with a job that
was at the social/pay status of McDonnalds, good learning experience.
Today I could buy a franchise if I wanted too.

If you think like a GM or a union slug on the dole, that is all you will
become.

"Canuck57" <Canuck57 (AT) nospam (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:F%kHm.3008$Yy6.1563 (AT) newsfe02 (DOT) iad...
Jim_Higgins wrote:
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.
Story continues below

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.
Solution is pretty easy. Start going offshore and closing plants.

Let the hammer fall on a couple of more militaristic plants to
demonstrate. Shouldn't take too long to ge the point across.

I don't know why they even try to run domestic plants. Makes no sense,
too costly and too much nanny hand holding. I hear Ford Brazil can make
econo vehicle for 1/2 price, tell them to ramp up.

#12

Perhaps but if the do they need a 72 month 26% interest contract, from a
finance company to do so. Wal-Mart pays a lot more than minimum wage
however, generally twice that amount.

"hls" <hls (AT) nospam (DOT) nix> wrote

Quote:

Literally millions of people buy cars and pay for repairs with a salary
from McDonalds,
WalMart, and Taco Bell.

These may not be the people who by Avalanches and Lucernes and suchlike,
but they
are the very bedrock of the American working environment.

#13

As one would suspect, you do not know what you are talking about, again.
The USW were taking cuts since 1985, years or more before the US government
forced the steel companies out of business..

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

Quote:

Mike Hunter wrote:

Perhaps the UAW noticed what happened to the American steel workers.
The USW Union agreed to big wage and benefits cut several times, but the
steel companies still when bankrupt.
Competition from foreign steel companies, that received huge supplements
from their governments and over regulation buy the US government, drove
the US companies into bankruptcy. It made no difference what the Union
did to help the companies stay in business and save American jobs.

That is usually because it s to little too late.

#14

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?

#15

God'sLittleAnus wrote:

Quote:

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?

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.

#16

Mike Hunter wrote:

Quote:

But, but, but, GM still out sells Toyota in the US. Apparently your
opinion is still that of a minority.

Ceasar was the leader in Rome, now where is he? Companies like people
age. GM has plenty of old age rot inside and it is dying. GM is about
the same difficulty as resurecting the dead. May god help them. But
forgive me if I don't hold my breath. Those loans will never be repaid
and any MBA dork knows you don't sink good money into bad.

GM: Tick-Tock.

#17

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

Quote:

If the union causes trouble, fire them all who walk the line.

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

Quote:

If enough go on strike, close the whole plan permanently.

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

#18

"hls" <hls (AT) nospam (DOT) nix> wrote

Quote:

Literally millions of people buy cars and pay for repairs with a salary
from McDonalds,
WalMart, and Taco Bell.

Yeah, too bad they have to work 3 jobs to be able to do so.

#19

"Mike Hunter" <Mikehunt2@lycos,com> wrote in message

Quote:

But, but, but, GM still out sells Toyota in the US. Apparently your
opinion is still that of a minority.

But Toyota has been gaining market share and GM has been losing market share
for years. Just look at the pattern.

#20

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

Quote:

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?