keeptrukin

Guess that means 5000 workers with 50% over 15 years and another 25% at 10 years will be flooding into other plants like they have been here. All I know is the paper we wipe our rears with says RIGHT TO FOLLOW PRODUCT. So no one is safe when it comes to plant closings. I hope for all our sakes something is in the pipe for all who rode this stinking boat down!! Nobody wants to relocate but I know people in KCAP who are on their 2nd transfer at 40k so it wouldnt shock me to see us go. But hey show me the money! To all stop the in fighting and realize we are all in this together! No one plant is better or safer or more liked in the eyes of the company!

Call me a fool but what is the difference in what we have been doing? The last few contracts have went beyond the expiration date yet we still worked as if an agreement had been made. Not being able to strike does not stop our right to approve changes. The Gov. has played this card with railroads,postal workers yadayadayada. Do not vote in fear, vote in what is best! Yes if Ford goes so do we but understanding that we can still navigate our future is something that everyone must remember. Oh well enough of my rant!!

Attached is a well written "Letter to the Editor" from Elkins Fordland in the Pittsburgh Region: Editor: As I watch the coverage of the fate of the U.S. auto industry, one alarming and frustrating fact hits me right between the eyes. The fate of our nation's economic survival is in the hands of some congressmen who are completely out of touch and act without knowledge of an industry that affects almost every person in our nation. The same lack of knowledge is shared with many journalists whom are irresponsible when influencing the opinion of millions of viewers. Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama has doomed the industry, calling it a dinosaur. No Mr. Shelby, you are the dinosaur, with ideas stuck in the '70s, '80s and '90s. You and the uninformed journalist and senators that hold onto myths that are not relevant in today's world. When you say that the Big Three build vehicles nobody wants to buy, you must have overlooked that GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the U.S. and Ford outsold Honda by 850,000 and Nissan by 1.2 million in the U.S. GM was the world's No. 1 automaker beating Toyota by 3,000 units. When you claim inferior quality comes from the Big Three, did you realize that Chevy makes the Malibu and Ford makes the Fusion that were both rated over the Camry and Accord by J.D. Power independent survey on initial quality? Did you bother to read the Consumer Report that rated Ford on par with good Japanese automakers. Did you realize Big Three's gas guzzlers include the 33 mpg Malibu that beats the Accord. And for '09 Ford introduces the Hybrid Fusion whose 39 mpg is the best midsize, beating the Camry Hybrid. Ford's Focus beats the Corolla and Chevy's Cobalt beats the Civic. When you ask how many times are we going to bail them out you must be referring to 1980. The only Big Three bailout was Chrysler, who paid back $1 billion, plus interest. GM and Ford have never received government aid. When you criticize the Big Three for building so many pickups, surely you've noticed the attempts Toyota and Nissan have made spending billions to try to get a piece of that pie. Perhaps it bothers you that for 31 straight years Ford's F-Series has been the best selling vehicle. Ford and GM have dominated this market and when you see the new '09 F-150 you'll agree this won't change soon. Did you realize that both GM and Ford offer more hybrid models than Nissan or Honda. Between 2005 and 2007, Ford alone has invested more than $22 billion in research and development of technologies such as Eco Boost, flex fuel, clean diesel, hybrids, plug in hybrids and hydrogen cars. It's 2008 and the quality of the vehicles coming out of Detroit are once again the best in the world. Perhaps Sen. Shelby isn't really that blind. Maybe he realizes the quality shift to American. Maybe it's the fact that his state of Alabama has given so much to land factories from Honda, Hyundai and Mercedes Benz that he is more concerned about their continued growth than he is about the people of our country. Sen. Shelby's disdain for "government subsidies" is very hypocritical. In the early '90s he was the driving force behind a $253 million incentive package to Mercedes. Plus, Alabama agreed to purchase 2,500 vehicles from Mercedes. While the bridge loan the Big Three is requesting will be paid back, Alabama's $180,000-plus per job was pure incentive. Sen. Shelby, not only are you out of touch, you are a self-serving hypocrite, who is prepared to ruin our nation because of lack of knowledge and lack of due diligence in making your opinions and decisions. After 9/11, the Detroit Three and Harley Davidson gave $40 million-plus emergency vehicles to the recovery efforts. What was given to the 9/11 relief effort by the Asian and European Auto Manufactures? $0 Nada. Zip! We live in a world of free trade, world economy and we have not been able to produce products as cost efficiently. While the governments of other auto producing nations subsidize their automakers, our government may be ready to force its demise. While our automakers have paid union wages, benefits and legacy debt, our Asian competitors employ cheap labor. We are at an extreme disadvantage in production cost. Although many UAW concessions begin in 2010, many lawmakers think it's not enough. Some point the blame to corporate management. I would like to speak of Ford Motor Co. The company has streamlined by reducing our workforce by 51,000 since 2005, closing 17 plants and cutting expenses. Product and future product is excellent and the company is focused on one Ford. This is a company poised for success. Ford product quality and corporate management have improved light years since the nightmare of Jacques Nasser. Thank you Alan Mulally and the best auto company management team in the business. The financial collapse caused by the secondary mortgage fiasco and the greed of Wall Street has led to a $700 billion bailout of the industry that created the problem. AIG spent nearly $1 million on three company excursions to lavish resorts and hunting destinations. Paulson is saying no to $250 billion foreclosure relief and the whole thing is a mess. So when the Big Three ask for 4 percent of that of the $700 billion, $25 billion to save the country's largest industry, there is obviously oppositions. But does it make sense to reward the culprits of the problem with $700 billion unconditionally, and ignore the victims? As a Ford dealer, I feel our portion of the $25 billion will never be touched and is not necessary. Ford currently has $29 billion of liquidity. However, the effect of a bankruptcy by GM will hurt the suppliers we all do business with. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy by any manufacture would cost retirees their health care and retirements. Chances are GM would recover from Chapter 11 with a better business plan with much less expense. So who foots the bill if GM or all three go Chapter 11? All that extra health care, unemployment, loss of tax base and some forgiven debt goes back to the taxpayer, us. With no chance of repayment, this would be much worse than a loan with the intent of repayment. So while it is debatable whether a loan or Chapter 11 is better for the Big Three, a $25 billion loan is definitely better for the taxpayers and the economy of our country. So I'll end where I began on the quality of the products of Detroit. Before you, Mr. or Ms. Journalist continue to misinform the American public and turn them against one of the great industries that helped build this nation, I must ask you one question. Before you, Mr. or Madam Congressman vote to end health care and retirement benefits for 1 million retirees, eliminate 2.5 million of our nation's jobs, lose the technology that will lead us in the future and create an economic disaster including hundreds of billions of tax dollars lost, I ask this question not in the rhetorical sense. I ask it in the sincere, literal way. Can you tell me, have you driven a Ford lately? Jim Jackson Elkins

Just dont see the need to Shit on the floor as you walk out the door!

Joined the HATOR club? Take your education and shove it up your ass for being so inconsiderate to those you leave behind! Usually I would say good luck but to you asshole I say get the f--k out! I hope your next job you dont stab those in the back so quickly! I just hope your as big of idiot as you seem and sold all of your stock so I can say I picked your stock up dirt cheap! 4 years may not be enough I would strive for 6 like Tommy Boy!

SEPERATION HOTLINE # 313-322-7795 EDOPP AND FEDOPP # 248-932-2490 Hope this helps also I believe you still get what you have vested when you get to retirement age. Call the number and find out for sure.

Sadly, instead of the deadbeats leaving we will lose alot of good workers and a few deadbeats! But imawhosure you are the man! CARRY ON MY MAN CARRY ON!!!!!

Passenger is going to 9 or 9.5 for the month of Nov then back to 8 in Dec. That all I have heard. Then we launch the 08 in Jan so overtime might start back then? Not for sure.

So lets say thanksgiving vacation you get paid 38 hrs plus 8 hrs holiday for friday?

1. What happens to your friday hollidays? 2. Do you get paid 10 hrs for a holliday? 3. Do you get more vacation and personal time becuse it was based on 8 hrs?

You get 100,00 minus what ford has paid you. So if ford has given you 27,000 plus 5,000 for school they take that from the 100,000 and you get the remaining amount in a lump sum check. Thats what I understand.

We have alot of 77 guys and gals I think around 500. I believe most of them will go because alot of them are getting their thirty years in by the end of sign ups. We had 450 take buy outs the last sign up but they brought in about the same number from stl. Company says we are 250 heavy right now. My guess would be 500-750 will take buyouts but thats a guess. A whole buncha thinkin goin on around this plant! Hope that helps good luck!

Amen brother!!! Raised union myself with a great uncle that was beat to death by company thugs in the 30's! Luckily he told my grandmother to stay home that night or I might not be here. UNITED!!!

I only have 12 yrs but for you to say some stupid crap like this makes me want to jump ship!! You are truly stupid to what people have given up! Lives were lost for you to have what you have and you respond by saying SCREW YOU OLD GUYS I WANT YOU TO PAY AS MUCH AS THEY CAN! WTF you only think of today and not of your long term future! One day you hope to be the OLD GUY and some low time punk will be saying the same crap to you and I bet you'll go nuts! I believe that in a union time is suppose to mean something. If you don't like it leave it! Don't take it out on other members because your scared! Sickening what some people in this union believe!!!!!!!!

At KCAP the people that signed up were given a day usually the fist day of a month and I know for a fact they were able to back out. This buyout maybe different so my advice is go to your meetings to find out the fine print!