canuck

Just read the union quarterly report and it was mentioned that the 3.0L was being phased out in 2012. (Or at least Windsor Aluminum stops making blocks for it then)

I'm sure you're correct on most of this, just one mistake, the 5.0L isn't going to Romeo, it's already gone to Essex Engine (Canada). The machining and the line are being installed as we speak. I think Job1 is scheduled for September. Romeo's got the 6.2L though.

Feds, Ontario to give $2.8B in aid to automakers Package will be 20 per cent of what the U.S. gives: Global News http://www.windsorstar.com/Feds+Ontario+gi...9446/story.html

As a former Windsor employee I can remember well Buzz's 2005 promise of no Ford employee will be out of a job by the contracts end. That came straight from Buzz's mouth, I was there at the ratification meeting. Obviously that was a lie as all the Ontario sites have felt the lay offs. As far as the no two tier wage system, as far as I see, new hires are at 70% for three years, just about to the end of this new contract. I don't see a lot of hope for these guys ever getting to full rate, just another concession for 2011. I'm also alarmed that Windsor hasn't been mentioned, 300 jobs or so are going to Essex (maybe), Essex Aluminum is closing, and the 5.4 from WEP is apparently being phased out for the new BOSS (5.0l whatever), and there aren't any promises of new work mentioned. By 2011 Windsor is going to be a real ghost town.

I'm a Canadian, and still got 26 out of 30, but I will admit there were a few lucky guesses. I guess growing up watching Detroit tv paid off.

I'm not exactly sure what the details on the MOA for Essex Engine are, each agreement is different as it pertains to outsourced janitorial, dock work, declassified trades etc. Oakville may have signed (or has signed) an agreement with completely different stipulations. For example, Windsor signed a "MOA" in '94 to get the Triton program. That is why when you worked on the engine line there, you bid into a cell, and were responsible for all the jobs in that cell, either rotating daily, half day, hourly (whatever). This was a break from the old way, and the way Essex operated which had you bidding on a specific job and did that one job every day, no rotation. My point is that these MOA's, COA's or whatever seem to be plant specific, there may be a basic framework that they are all based upon, but each location seems to hammer out the details on their own. My question would be what Oakville is like with it as compared to the previous operating style.

Ford has nothing to do with Essex Aluminum closing. Nemak owns this plant just like it owns Windsor Aluminum. Nemak is a supplier, just like countless other ford suppliers. The only Ford tie (other than the 7% stake in the company) is that the production workers at these two plants are represented by the CAW Local 200 union, and that employees can and do transfer between these sites, and Windsor Engine. When I was a low seniority protem ford worker (before my big buyout) I was bumped into all the Ford plants at one time or another including both aluminum plants. When Ford sold these two plants to Nemak (Alfa) in 2000 they kept the existing workforce. When Essex Aluminum closes, the remaining production employees will either bump lower seniority employees at WEP or WAP or be laid off. All management are Nemak employees exclusively. The decision to close is just a money issue with Nemak, they can make the same heads at one of their other plants around the world cheaper. Ford doesn't care where they get the heads, they pay the set price, Nemak is moving production to maximize their profit.

As our latest union magazine states, the increase in production of 5.4 (2 valve) and 6.8 (V10) are for the Econoline since they are no longer being made available with the diesel. The LVL is running the bulk of these, running the 5.4 along with the 6.8 on the same line. I'm sure the diesel problem with the superduties hasn't hurt our production needs either, and Saturdays are forecasted in the near future for the TMEP line as well. Only quoting the union here. so believe what you all want.

At WEP (Windsor Engine) we ran around 1000 - 1100 5.4's a shift, we ran 3 shifts up to last November (September?) so that is 3000+ a day, 15000 a week etc. etc.

Man I'm Canadian and I got 75%. I guess I have to stop watching US TV, and more CBC. You guys are brainwashing me!

For what its worth, and I realize this is a CAW (union) promise, but this was in the Windsor Star last Thursday under the "autotalk" section. "Hargrove said Windsor will at least be getting the consolation of a new product. Ford has told the union it will honour its promise made during 2005 labour negotiations to assemble a new engine in Windsor." So again, we in Windsor where promised a new engine project in our 2005 contract, and recently the Canadian pres. of Canada still comented on Windsor being the "crown jewel of engine manufacturing". If we get anything, is anyones guess.

Did you guys read the article? The powerhouse has been there since the 20's, it has been retrofitted several times, including in '93 when it was re-opened. When I toured this powerhouse about 3 weeks ago, the plant manager was pretty proud of all the checks the plant got from feeding power back into the Ontario Hydro grid, when it was needed, so I say again, why is Ford getting rid of an updated powerhouse that has been payed for about a thousand times, to have it replaced by a smaller powerhouse that they will have to pay someone else for the use of their energy? Or are both staying online? I want to know the details of the arrangement, not your opinions on refridgerator models. :fan:

Just read this in the Windsor Star. http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/sto...a4d&k=68474 What the hell is this supposed to mean, a new powerhouse that is going to feed power back into the grid during peak hours, and supply Windsor Ford operations with heat and steam, obviously going to be run by non Ford workers. What about the existing powerhouse that has been there since the 20's, that already supplies Ford with their energy, heat, and compressed air needs. This doesn't make a lot of sense to me, except for the obvious outsourcing savings, (if there are any). Looks like a few more layoffs in 2009 to shut the powerhouse down once and for all. Sweet, Ford Windsor operations were way too much fun with 6000 employees, after all the plant closings it will be soooo much better with 1800. :happy feet: Anyone looking for a cheap house in a couple of years?

Just to add to this, Windsor's lowest seniority have Master #'s between 68200 - 68300's. Everyone who is hired gets a number, including managment, engineers, co-op's etc. :happy feet: (this dancing chili justs cracks me up for some reason)