Dakota Kid

Yup, that's what I was told too. Everybody, active employees and retirees. Looks like those the choose a package based on heatlth care benies will be screwed. The $140k is looking better right now. One of my co-workers took the $140k and I thought he was nuts cuz he had health issues. Now he looks like the wise one. Time to close this chapter book.

At Twin Cities, many employees are taking a Commericial Drivers License course. If your ETC can work it out with a local school, your ETAP money will cover it. Ours is running $4400.00. If you land the right job, you could make decent money. UAW members have good luck getting placed, at least here in Minnesota. Have your ETC contact ours for more info. The school we're using, TCE, (Transportation Center for Excellance, Inc.) (www.tcetruckdrivingschool.com) has employers, recruiters etc. They also work with the teamsters. Graduation from the course will prepare you for a CDL Class "A" license with air brake certification. Don't know if I'll ever use it, but it looks good on a resume and gets another 4 grand out of Ford. Hope this helps.

Well, I think TCAP'er is right. Outside of a UAW shop, that UAW Journeyman's card is better used to pick your teeth, at least in the Northern part of the U.S. Now it might be a different story down south in a "Right to Work" states. Is there anything wrong with getting that Appendix F card, none at all. Many Skill Tradespersons worked hard within Ford/UAW to obtain that card. Will another union recognize it? Probably. They'll say, "Why isn't that nice, NEXT!" I've carried a state license for 20 yrs. I also applied for my Appendix F card in June after 18yrs at Ford. I haven't heard a word yet. Don't have room in my wallet now anyway. It's full of buyout $$$.

Ya, there are alot of UAW folks that can't grow into retirement that were let go and several 60 yr old with 30+ yrs still working. We just liked our jobs too. Money pays the house payments where your's is probably paid for. Money pays college tuition where your kids may be grown and gone. Yes the packages are an extra but at 48 yrs old and 23 yrs seniority, going back to school or starting all over isn't so easy. I'll be O.K. , I prepared but several of my friends didn't and are out the door while we have several bros with 40+ yrs still working. I guess we just flush the solidarity thing altogether? After all, what good is money anyway? Make sure you have everything in order so your family can at least enjoy your retirement.

Well, I'm only the son of an accountant but I can add 2+2 and get 3. Dad always told me a good bean counter can make the numbers tell whatever story you want them to tell. So to answer your question with another, and I hate it when my kids do this to me. One of the largest companies in the world is going bandrupt but......... multi-million dollar bonas to Alan Mulally Hire gun slinger Mark Fields pay off Jack Nasser Pay off the Firestone mess to get out of the publics eye invest billions in China invest billions in Mexico buy truck plant in Brazil ( $2 billion) invest a couple billion in diesel plant in India buy out thousands of UAW and salaried workers, then hire them back temporarily Are they going bankrupt? Or relocating? OK they're loosing money but it's a tough pill to swollow when this other stuff is going down too.

Cutting? Concessions? What is the fair market price for skilled trades in India, Brazil and Mexico? If the UAW can get a new contract in 07 and secure fair benifits, great, but for who? http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4445401.html Mulally is in position to keep the blood off the Ford Families' hands. While Alan is cutting, Billy's abuying, everywhere except North America. It's union busting and corporate greed. There's a line forming for the big bucks, but don't look for it. We're not invited.

FoMoCo is loosing money, so they say. Yet we hear the stories about misuse of corporate jets. The buyout packages are thrown at us then the company turns around and hires us back or hires replacement workers that will run quality into the ground. Skills Trades are coming back to their job only now employed by an outside contractor, for basically the same pay. But don't you suppose that contractor is going to make money? So really it is costing Ford more for skilled trades than before. After it's all said and done, there's still money to invest billions in Mexico, a couple billion in a diesel plant in India and now billions to buy a truck plant in Brazil. It's not about downsizing to match market demand, it's not cost and don't think it's healthcare. It's about breaking the unions. It's about cheap labor. It's about corporate greed. If Ford would sell a million or so more vehicals per year, provided they had products the public wanted, they probably wouldn't be on this slippery slope. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4445401.html I thought this article by George Will was interesting. Do you suppose the bigs shots read these articles? This is an example of several similiar articles we've all read. If the general population sees this, why does there seem to be so much arrogance by Ford leadership, not to heed some of this advice? I'm just a little worker bee that's been around long enough to see the problem, know how it should work but probably don't know exactly how to accomplish this turn-around. But then again the company wouldn't listen anyway, so I'll just keep making wax. http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/opini...cle_1395871.php Good Luck to those that didn't take the money when they had the chance.

As the end quickly approaches, I would like to use this forum to thank past and present members that have I believe have positively led this local.. Thanks to Tom A. for his time as SKilled Trades Rep and Barginer Thank you Mike Fr. for your time as Barginer, Skilled Trades Rep and Chairman. Your committment and leadership wasn't appreciated as much as it should have. :slap: Thanks to Jay C. for turning the apprenticeship program around and becoming one of the top JAC Reps in the company. :shades: Thanks to Lynn H. for his committment to the Health and Safety of all the employees of Twin Cities Assembly. Thank you to Denny and Brenda D. for all of their volunteer efforts. You could always be counted on. The union and FSLC will miss folks like you. Thank you "Cubby" for you efforts in establishing education programs and facilities for the education of our membership. Thanks to the membership of UAW Local 879 for making Minnesota proud. We made the best product for nearly 20 years, often with old or salvaged equipment. Before that we proudly built F-Series and long before that we were building armored tanks for our troops in WWII. We should be proud of what we have done at TCAP since Ford came to Mn in the early 1900's. When the final day comes for each of us, let's walk out with our head held high. Should we feel anger, yes, frustration, yes. We'll survive, but will Ford Motor Company?

Very well said. I have been critical of Ford's marketing for years. Especially the "Life in Drive" program a few months back. But this last one has to be their most successful one, so successful they underestimated how effective it would be. At TCAP nearly 90% of the hourly folks signed up for a package. I talked to a manager yesterday and she said they actually only expected a couple hundred to sign-up at TCAP. I said you've got to be kinding! We're closing, you told us there isn't a bright future, you might or might not get a transfer. Don't gamble with your future, buy a Little Ceasers franchise, move on. I asked the HR manager how does he expect to run in Jan. He didn't care, his job was to get as many people out the door as possible. Now the company is in a tail spin because the hourly workers finally did what we were told! The replacement workers they have brought in so far aren't going to make it, let alone produce a quality product. How do you replace hundreds of skilled production workers and 200 skilled tradespersons? Can all of this be done? Probably, but not in time to save their pencil necks. Am I bitter, a little. I am very thankful for what the UAW and Ford negotiated for me. I gave them 8 hours work in return for 8 hours pay. I'm just dissappointed to see the end come around this way because of mismanagement and the company's arrogance. Could the UAW have helped their own cause. Over the years, probably yes. But ultimately it is the keeper of the keys that says yes or no. Enuff ranting and whinning. Thank you again to the leadership of UAW Local 879. Mr. Eagle and his troops have done their best and a bad situation.

I was told, Ford has positioned themselves that if enough people signup for the buyouts at TCAP, the company can discontinue the Ranger as early as Jan 07 rather than risk quality going in the tank with replacement workers. Some of the bosses actually realize they can't replace us or retrain McDonald's employees to build trucks in a matter of days. I've seen some of the temps they've brought in and most won't last a week on the line. It's a shame to see it go down this way. Hold your head high, we did our best. Good Luck to all the UAW bros and sisters.

You are exactly right. The TCAP union leadership, believe it or not have been working on this for a while. The company and international union were the ones slow to the table. Hats off to the Local 879 Bldg Chair and his committee for trying to do what's best for the membership and surprisingly this makes better business sense too. I've been told that quality went down the toilet in the 80's when they tried line speed reductions. All of this just drags out an already slow death. TCAP knows the what the last chapter of the book says, let's skip the details and get some closure so folks can move on, sooner than later. Company wide buyouts so everyone gets a piece of the pie, 1 yr senority and up.

You're right on jshep, bout the name calling. I know several that are in their late 40's, with 30 yrs. I understand that they may not want to retire. Where emotions will run high is those senior folks that are basically debt free, nearly 40 yrs or whatever and are sitting for the big bucks. Yes they have every right to the money too. This may not be an issue if the company wide buyouts are thrown out there. But if a plant gets a specific number of packages, say 500, that may be enough for the employees with 28 yrs or more seniority. Our younger bros and sis that are 40 something and 9 yrs senority could miss out on a package, a pension and they're at an age where it's more difficult to start a new career. I can understand their frustration if they're number 501. Company wide buyouts will solve many of these problems. Bring'm on.............. lets git-r-done :happy feet:

http://www.businessweek.com/print/autos/co...0809_022914.htm Hot off the press, Check out slide #16, Highest Ranked, Most Dependable Midsized pickup truck, Ford Ranger. Ranger and Grand Marquis are the only Ford/Mercs that made the list. Even after the plant closing anouncement, the hourly workers are still putting out a great product. Hats off to UAW Local 879! I hope the boys in Detroit are second guessing themselves yet? Maybe shutting down US plants isn't the answer? Should Bill get newer advisors, or just listen better? I read this articles somewhere on this site and thought it'd fit here too. http://www.forbes.com/2006/08/07/costs-det...lint_print.html

I'm not at all confused and have my story straight, it's my experience, my family's experience. I don't need to read stats or the stickers on the windows. Been at Ford nearly 20yrs. and drove Fords before that. What have I got to gain by making stuff up? Just passin the talk around the coffee shop. Maybe if you're driving from Starbuck's to the mall you"ll have a different experience, but I won't call you a liar. Are Ford trucks sales up right now? I haven't checked lately.