tincup2b

OK so KCAP is going to get the Transit (until further notification). Now which side of the house will it be built on? Will the Escape go away and become the KUGA at LAP? Maybe the Truck goes to KTP and the Escape stays at KCAP and becomes the KUGA or they rename the KUGA the all new Escape and it stays at KCAP. I guess only time will tell. Does anybody have any facts or predictions?

OK. So we can all say nobody knows for sure where the Escape/Kuga is going to be built. We also know that they are saying that both KCAP and LAP will stay open and both plants will get new products. The Transit connect is out since it will be built in Turkey and imported. The Transit is out since OHAP will also stay open and they currently build the Econoline which the Transit is going to replace. With that reasoning KCAP will get the KUGA since it is the replacement for the Escape and LAP will get the other product to be named at a later date. The only one that I can think of that hasn't been assigned a plant is the Mondeo, or have I missed something on the announcement of the Mondeo. Could the Mondeo name be changed to the Taurus or is it a different platform? Anyone out there have any further information or speculation?

I disagree Spring. The rank and file does elect the local officers but the international officers are not elected by the rank and file. They are appointed by the powers to be. Don't start telling me that the convention delegates that are elected by the rank and file have the power to go to the national convention and change the way things are done. We all know that once you get to that level of power there is no getting them out of office unless they retire or turn 65 and are not allowed to run for re-election again. How many people ran against the IUAW president last election? None! How many people do you think will run at next year’s convention when Ol' Ron steps down. I would be surprised if it was more than ONE. I have seen it for the past 6-7 years at the regional level. The people running for office have been pre-selected at the bar while BS-ing the night before the election takes place. Then the ones that have been handpicked run unopposed and win by acclamation. I'm sure it is done more in advance at the IUAW level but it's the same old crap. If this was not the case the White Haired Wonder would not be in the place he is. I know you know which Appointed Rep. I am talking about because from your past posts you feel the same way I do about him. About 90% of the information that comes out of his mouth is inaccurate. We have to go around him and to Frank K. to get more accurate information. It is sad but I do not know one single person that would vote for him but he has a job for life. It's the good ol' boy network at its best. To the IUAW reps that do care and put in more casual time than we care to even think about, My hat is off to you. I wish I could shake everyone of your hands and say "Thank you! Not for doing your jobs but for going above and beyond your job." I appreciate what you do. Unfortunately there are certain people that abuse the job and we at the local level have no way of getting them out of office.

Does LAP have two or three shifts building the Explorer? With 3000 employees repored to work their surely it is 3 shifts. How many people at KTP and what kind of shifts do they have working? I know they used to have three shifts when the Super Duty was selling but I'm not sure what they are currently running. With the launch of the Expedition and Navigator I would think they would be back to three shifts. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Local 249 will be voting Sunday March 8th. They began passing paperwork out today. I saw three different committeemen handing out the so called Hi-light sheet today. The membership is actually taking this better than I thought they would. At least that's the impression I am getting from the people I speak to on the floor.

I agree though if we vote this down they will see which plants supported the new agreement and those that didn't, and play them against each other by threatening to close the ones that voted no, and I have no doubt they will live up to closing those plants just to send a message. Why is it any of the companies business how each local votes. The IUAW should keep that information in house and not allow the company to have the plant by plant votes. It is a national vote and not a local vote. This would stop all of the BS from the company trying to close plants for not voting yes on the modified agreement. Just my opinion though.

It might very well take 2 plants to build the number of F 150's they are going to sell. But what happens when the floorpan changes and the F150-350 all have the same pin-up holes? Looks like they could build them at DTP, KTP and KCAP if they wanted. If they only need two plants and have the availabilty of three plants something will have to give.

I have heard that LAP is in the process of building a new body shop. Can anyone confirm this? If they are building a new body shop is it a seperate building or is it in the existing building. I'm not farmiliar with the LAP layout so any info would help. The rumors are that LAP is going to build the KUGA one minute then the next minute I am hearing that theyb are going to build the Transit Connect and KCAP will build the KUGA. Whichever way it happens I hope both plants stay open.

If the analyst are correct about only selling 8.5 million to 10 million vehicles this year in america we are all going to be screwed. Just a couple of years ago we sold 18 million. GM has already stated that they can NOT even break even unless around 12.5 million vehicles are sold. If the 10 million or less number comes true that tells me that at least one Auto Company is not going to make it through the year and maybe two of tehm. Let's just hope that the analyst are wrong and sales pick up. I'm not sure how this is going to happen with the unemployement rate going up faster each month. Good Luck to all that have decided like myself to ride out the storm with FMC. I hope we don't regret it in the long run.

I know that there are big things projected for the future of KTP but why the sudden need of so many employees? If I'm not mistaken you guys are only running one shift every other week. Prior to the economic downturn you guys ran a 3 shift AWS didn't you? Where did all of those people go? I hope the almost 600 number is correct. If so looks like you might be going back to a 3 shift AWS. Good Luck.

The seventh bullet in the article is asking the company for a detailed plan on how they are going to make the payments, to the UAW, for the VEBA. From what I understand GM is already behind on their payments to the VEBA and they are paying an interest rate of 9% to the UAU until they get caught up. The bad news for the UAW is if GM goes broke it wont matter if the interest rate is 9% or 99%, the UAW will only collect what the bankruptcy court approves. At this point the negotition of the VEBA last contract doesn't look so good. Let's all hope for a major turnaround in the economy.

When is CAP going to start building the 2010 Taurus? I would hope they could move it up to a 2009 1/2 or something. It is a great looking car. Much sportier and more power from what I read. Has anybody seen one yet? I have only seen pictures but it sure looks nice.

Typically we are shut down for about 10-13 days depending on the holiday schedule. This year we will be down for what looks like 27 days. As always this is subject to change at any given time.

"No bad news aimed directly at us"? Did you miss the part about the possibility of getting rid of the jobs bank (JSP)? Here is part of the statement. "The UAW is at the table," he said. "We're at the table every day and we would welcome all the other stakeholders to the table to make some concessions." At the news conference, Gettelfinger fended off a line of questioning about whether the UAW would be willing to give up the "jobs bank" if required by Congress as a condition of the loans. In the "jobs bank," laid-off workers receive 95 percent of their pay and benefits. "We're on the verge of eliminating that provision," he said of the jobs bank. "It's premature for me to answer a speculative question. Let's wait and see ... what they come down with and then we'll make a decision at that point in time." The full article can be found at http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/ticker/ar...28&Symbol=F

Sorry for my ignorance, but where did they go? Everyone must admit that Level did provide a lot of accurate information over the years. I know you're still watching Level, hang in there.

Now that the window for buyouts has closed does anyone have the numbers that signed up at each plant? It would be nice to have it broke down by facility then by production/trades. These are only rough estimates but I heard around 200 at KCAP with approx. 30 of those trades. Of the trades 10 or so are electricians which they will not allow to have the buyout. Were there any electricians at other plants that they are allowing to take the buyouts? I know that this is a very hot topic at KCAP right now. Good luck to all those that opted out of FMC and even better luck for those of us that are staying.

Obama 327 electoral votes!

I'm guessing you are talking about laid off at other facilities. We have nobody laid off at KCAP, skilled or production.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which is governed by The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, not so simply states that an employer can NOT discriminate against a employee based on Sex, Religion, Race Etc... It also states that employers are not required to treat anyone different due to Sex, Religion, Race Etc.... nor does the company have to give special privileges to employees that request them due to their Sex, Religion, Race Etc... I'm not an attorney but I did read the majority of Title VII and didn't see anything requiring the company to give any employee time off to worship. Just my opinion on how Title VII reads. Good Luck.

KCAP down Nov. 17th, Dec. 15th, and Dec. 22nd. These are all on the SUV side and no downtime schedueld for F-150 side of the house. Always scheduled to change!

I understand your concerns over Nov. 16th and Dec. 14th but why the 21st of Dec.? If you are already going to be down the week of Dec. 15th wouldn't that mean you are on layoff the 21st of Dec.? I'm not sure what the actuall laws are concerning working Sundays nor do I attend church on a regular basis, but don't most churches offer more than one mass per week, and if so couldn't you attend one of the other times or days? Sorry if I offended anyone but I think the majority of the people would rather work the dayshift Sunday than the night shift. All I hear from people now is how they hate working 2 days on days and then 2 days on nights. This would allow everyone to work 3 days on days before the layoff. Just my opinion though since I don't have a horse in this race. If the ALCU gives you anything in writing I would be interested where to find it though. Thanks and Godspeed.

Shares for the small truck segment are down 20+ % But the Ranger is only down 4%! Wow just think how well it could have done if they would have put some money in a redesign. Just my opinion I guess. Isn't Twin Cities almsot all Temp workers now. I know that the trades have almost all taken buy outs and come back to work as contractors or transferred to other facilities. I thought that I had heard the same about the production employees as well.

Sign off of your trades classification and take the buyout as a production worker. The only penalty that amounts for much is if you are taking the retirement package and then you will be cut from the 70k to 50k. If you are looking for the 100k or have the time and seniority to take the 140k just sign off. That is unless you really don't want to go. I hear KCPL is still looking for electricians pretty hard. Rumor has it they are even changing the way they test so more people will pass. I hope this is not true because I do NOT want just OK electricians running our local power plants. Good luck with whatever choice you make. It will probably be the biggest choice you have made in some time.

I'm trying to get a report date on our end but have been unable to do so at this point. If I hear something I will let you know. Sorry for the lack of help on the report date.

When did the sign up period Start/End? We at KCAP are still waiting our turn. Any idea when we might get a shot at signing up?