The O.A.C Opinionator

Brother, until the Freestar is retired, we will continue to have manpower issues. Are there not 500 or so jobs related directly to the Freestar? It's simple, you need 3 shifts to get everyone including those who are on layoff and those 500 Freestar jobs to make this go away. The manpower is sitting in plant! They don't care what the Union thinks! Not even us on the line! Ford won't be hiring any time soon, they don't need too! :shrug:

There are 5000 dealers in N.A. Do the math..... 10 vehicles per dealer= 50,000 units. I keep hearing that they only require about 2500 people on 2 shifts for the Edge/MKX. Anyone with 98' seniority and less will be gone. I'm just being realistic, I want to keep my job but I don't control that. :shrug:

They will stop making trannys in November. it's coming sooner than you think.......LAYOFFS!

From what I was told, there is no order. There was a recent article in the Detroit news and last weeks Globe and mail that Ford will stop producing the Freestar in April 2007. What it also said was that the Sterling Heights plant in Michigan that produces the tranny (not sure exactly what part or the whole thing) will stop production in November 2006. So, it may be sooner rather than later. The same plant will be producing the new tranny or part for a "new" model starting in January 2008. I wonder if that could be the Fairlane? :shrug:

That was making the rounds last week. I was told that we won't be working two shifts period until August. In the "Ford" world anything is possible. :blah:

Carducci told me that there are an additional 4 BLACK OUT weeks between now and shutdown. August is when we go to full production. :mellow:

Has the "FORD" only parking started yet? :blink:

The Union has negotiated these "consessions" the way I see it, with a loaded gun pointed at our heads! Why don't we give FOMOCO what they NEED not WHAT they want to operate OAC at full capacity? If things don't work out THEN point the same gun at there heads! Give me the product, Give me the investment, I HAVE THE POWER! Look at GM Oshawa they had the same thing rammed down there throats a couple of weeks ago. WHAT CHOICE DO WE HAVE? DO WE STILL SAVE OUR JOBS? THINK!?!? :shrug:

Sorry guys! If your NOT there it dosen't count as a YES or No. That's what I meant. :rolleyes:

Great meeting! Many people had good concerns and questions but I don't know if they got the answers they were all looking for. As far as the Tuesday meeting goes, make the effort to attend because your vote will be important to any future product we possibly get in addition to mkX and Edge. The ones who don't will NOT be counted as an automatic YES. One concern that l have with this vote is what happens after the Freestar is discountinued in the first quarter of 07' and the replacement dosen't come until the first quarter of 08' which will be the Fairlane and the Lincoln version? One word.......LAYOFFS!

The RAV4 is built in Japan at the moment. It will be built in Woodstock, Ontario when that plant is ready for production in 08'. I agree, nobody cares what vehicle is being given away as long as they have a chance to win! LOL!

If they know something, why dosen't someone just tell us whether it be from the Union or Ford? I herad the 2 weeks in December and the 2nd and 3rd weeks in January for the B shift, but 3 months......WOW!