objectsinmirror

OR!!!..... the existing tool and die makers will be doing more of everyone elses job...I.E. design, shipping and recieving, hi-lo driving, welding, machine repair, tinning, pipefitting, cleaner, sweeper, crib attendant, ...even plunging toilets...Let me let you all in on one of the best keept secrets ....The tool and die plant is where you wanna be if you're skilled...if you have a chance to go there ...DO it!! Ask anyone that's from there or who worked there at one time...As far as tool and die........we will do MORE with LESS....that's what has been pounded in our heads for 5 years now,,,T&D plant was the experiment for all that is happening now...believe it...

Well, in the past 5-6 years we have gone thru roughly the same cycle here. Work like crazy....then hit the wall...the interesting thing is, we always get busy on things that are slated to come out in the next year or so. Then the launch...then all's quiet. this year's cycle was a little deeper this time as far as lack of work, but I believe ford has plans..plans for sort of a "businees central" within a certain radius of the rouge..much like toyota, they'll hold their corporate offices here and keep a genuine manufacturing base here in Michigan...They can outsource all they want, but when it gets down to nuts and bolts...They need a strong presence in north america....corporate can't wait to run around and pat eachother on the back to celebrate the "second coming" of Ford Motor in N. America. otherwise Ford would have folded up tent long ago...

Just got called back from tlo...I hear we will be loaded thru the summer...Now some of that work may be farmed out, but we usually keep just enough for the people there to handle it. My guess is we will have F100 dies and some new focus things to work on...maybe flex...I work on the FRONT side of things....new product is coming...I would say after the general presidential election in Nov. , things will let loose....hang in there y'all...

I don't know why this suprizes me but.... http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080512/twl...rd-7f5ebb3.html

It's exactly this type of "bad hype" that compounds the problem...(if there IS a problem)... 15 seconds ago, I heard on the news that some stores are limiting the amount of rice you can buy...WHY? because some people are hoarding...much like the hype of Y2k, once this goes past a certain point, people HOARD..when the lights went out on the east coast a few years back, I lost faith in humanity to a degree. 24 hours of sheer madness...this "reporter" from The Street dot com, lives a life according to what the stock market does or doesn't do...I wonder if HE packed up on rice...maybe that's where some of his money is invested...personally, I can do without rice (as food) ...grow what you want to grow, buy what you want...but if you hoard things to get "ahead of the game"...then it seems to me you'll be eating rice for a loooong time!...

There you go...This is VERY close to what I got about a week ago...Trades are getting hammered because trades, at least in the last few years, have been reluctant to fight any change of rules because of downsizing...The fight starts on the floor people, this is how it's done...trades are getting fed up and tired of being the "example" or guinnea pig for how the company will operate...Our C.E.O. did the same thing at Boeing...beat up the trades and the rest will fall in line. And yes, labor relations hate the hourly employees, especially trades, because trades know WAY more about the building they're in than these 2 year degreed bozos in the front office ever will....OIM

absolutely Eagle...you would not get far there if you were a deadbeat...I still keep in touch with some from that local and when I tell them about union "business" here, they can't believe it...local 155 has suffered through this latest downturn too, but I'll bet....no I KNOW.. they're still in the fight...There are some good people running at local 600, real good...just stay away from "most" of the incumbants...OIM..

Yes, and where was this MOB when we needed them for answers or direction...after the election, you won't see many of them on the floor at all. "There's a meetng each month" they'll say...I was on commtiee outside of ford years ago (UAW local 155), and I can tell you, we wouldn't dream of not being around at contract time...we'd get our heads handed to us at the meeting, you can bet on that....I've been at the rouge now for 14 yrs. and it's always been the same...a mob before the election...then disappear. Wait until the "dirty pool" part starts...gang up on the "new guy or gal running" ...I was going to run for commitee this time, but I simply don't have the energy for that type of nonsense. There is one that is running for bargaining, that I completely trust and admire. He'll be on the shop floor...bet on it...His name is M. Boyk...good man...gave the "establishment" a scare last time he ran...this time I think he's a shoe in...good for him (and us).

hehehe! Really, I'm hearing something else though...I don't want to say until someone verifies somehow...suposedly has to do with production...anyone??

I'm hearing from someone at DTP that there is some kind of labor "unrest"... anyone know? anyone hear?

I believe this is just a matter of "first things first" ... place the flowback production ...then place the flowback trades...then move people seniority wise production...then move people senority wise trades...then look at salary and adjust from there...I think it's all been figured already. It's just a matter of "who takes what where" before movement to the next step...(my opinion only)

I'm located between both buildings (been at Tool and die for 13 years} The parking for either frame or engine couldn't be easier...off I-94 shaeffer exit, into the plant at gate 10. Before you reach the guard shack. there is parking on either the left side or the right side. Frame >> bear right and go to the farthest southeast corner and enter through that gate...walk around the end of tool and die to frame...Engine is easy...park on the left or right and enter through the main guard shack gate...engine is the first building on the left (after entering the gate) directly across from it's "twin" building>>>Tool and die!!

There is no disincentive for me...a few weeks before the layoff, the Union and the company were wrangling over what to do with the surplus people, while we hit this "slump" period between the last program and the next (which is due in May/June). The Company is "right sizing" to to match sales...there's no way around that. I'm middleish in senority...I want to work every day (M-F please) If I, and others didn't take a TLO, they would have laid off from the bottom up...to GEN,JSP or on the street. The older, more senior employees would still be there no matter what...because of senority, there's no way around that either. I would bet there isn't many 30 plusers in GEN or JSP "Riding out" the storm here...They're in the plants cozying up to the coffee pot or working thier A** off with body parts that don't do what they used to do, some thumbing thier nose at a buyout of 100 plus grand...let them carry the load for a while...maybe that's the way to get 'em bought off...During this buyout period, tensions will get high...I'll stay home and let it pass, thank you...

I am skilled and on voluntary TLO...with 60 some others...Those "left" are working overtime..it's called have your cake and eat it too...(on both sides)

The skilled workforce in this company (and this country) is it's life blood. There are projections of a serious skilled trade shortage in North America come 2011. The company Knows this and needs to retain as many in the "target senority or age" range that fit into thier production scheme. Now the 30+ year people are just not in the plans. There has never been a better time to retire. (I know, health care worries and such), but still. Ford only works it's skilled overtime when it's a must. Due dates are VERY important to the company's bottom line and skilled is the most valuable when it comes to new products. Everyone likes overtime, UNTIL...it's forced on them....12 hours 7 days...DO MORE WITH LESS!! That's what they've been saying from the start of this mess.

I don't know that I would be anywhere near this thing. I watched the video from the discovery channel. The "tank" is very small and light, yes, but it must be pressurized to 4300 PSI!! What if the tank ruptures...holy cow, we don't even pump nitro units up that high to run dies (1000 PSI maybe). Also, they never say how much coal driven electricity it would take to run the compressors...good story cap, but they can go ahead and try them over there for a while...looks like a shoe bomb to me...lol

Well, I should have said "proclaim sustainability" but I think Ford will show strong global profits and possibly become more sustainable in the U.S. after Chrysler falls and leaves a big Detroit hole to fill. As for Mulally I don't think he'll quit before he "wins" but I see them patting themselves on the back like crazy when it does happen (profitability). Because I think Mulally is only at Ford for the turaround, much like Lopez was there for G.M. in the 80's- early 90's. then POOF off to volkswagon he went. Insider trading shows Edsel to be the highest active trader. I'm not sure what that would mean, but Edsel was just a wild guess (joke). anyway this is fun. Chelsea I love your post LOLOL...

I read this last week and it brought to mind a few things. Remember the YUGO,a yugoslovian attemp at the same thing... my friend had one...it was like a chevette made out of cardboard...he went through two exhaust systems in 8 months...they stopped making them shortly before one blew off the Mackinaw Bridge! Then I also thought about the last thing I bought (and ever will) at Walmart...a brinkman grill...this piece of junk lasted only one season until all the screws holding it together rusted and it started to fall apart...made in China...junk...I had a DVD player made in China, it was real inexpensive....it lasted 3 movies...then died. My dad always said "they only have to get you once to be rich"...boy was he right...

I belieive Ford will proclaim profitabilty by late June of this year. Buyouts of course are coming...I believe they will be targeted this time 'round. Most all ACH and other transfers will be completed mid May. Mullaly announces DEC. 2008 that he will be leaving the company and Edsel II takes the helm. Mullaly finally lives his life long dream of flying in orbit around Earth. Union talk of strike in late August on grounds of poor working conditions/unfair outsourcing. Union caves...strike diverted. O.K. there's a start...what do YOU predict!!

Be careful giving out your global ID to anyone..There is alot of info on that ID card that you may not want to inadvertantly give out...Also it is "possible" that while the phone company is authenticating your employment, that Ford will get the SIM number to your phone, making it trackable...I know this sounds a little far out on the fringe, but it certainly is possible. I would just go and get a phone on my own, it can't be that much more expensive (if any).

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.** **(author unknown) I would say though... MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!!

BUMP!! (hehehe)

What about this one?

you forgot this one!

Thank you. We don't normally get this much snow (not in the last few years anyway) I live 42 miles away from the shop and one year I decided to make the trek to work on a day like today...It took me 2 hours to get to work. I didn't get stuck once on the way there, but as soon as I got into the Ford parking lot I got stuck...tried everything to get out...didn't work...so I just left it where it was and went in. 94 Ford probe, good in the snow...bad in the ford parking lot...lol.