FANTASTICFORD

I agree, we are ignorant to the facts of what is really going on!

Jeff, the transferred worked great for me because I moved to Mi to work at DTP and now at LAP. I'm very grateful for the move I made to keep my union job. I got your point and I agree with you..getting out of the union is not the answer. I use the example of people that took buyouts because they were in the union at one time and now many have to deal with non union companies. Although I disagree with certain things that happened in our last contract, we still came out better by having a union.

Jeff, it is funny! People are happy about cut wages and benefits in order to attract out of state business, really? You don't have to go far to ask the questions to friends and family members that took buyouts. Ask them how are they doing on their non union JOBS compared to what they had at Ford? Ask the educated ones too! I transferred from VA a RTW state in order to keep my job. I knew I was not going to find any non union job compare or anywhere near to what I have with Ford. I totally disagree with 2nd tiers and voted against it. How many times have you guys received phone calls from people asking, how can they get back with Ford? Everyone I've talked to that worked at NAP said they would come back for $15 hour because it's better then what they are making now! I have educated friends and family members that makes a very good income but my benefits as a whole are better than theirs.

Yes!

Hughes, you are right. I wonder how many buyout people read the fine print. Ex-Ford employees can come back if they received a degree, It doesn't have to be something related to Ford. I work with three people at LAP that took the education buyouts, got their degrees and came back, two from MI and one here in Louisville. They never worked in their fields/majors and wished they never took the buyout...one is trying to get into management. Jay22, if you can not find a good paying job in Mi, move to another state. Don't let not having a job with Ford keep you from pursuing another career path. I wish you the best, God Bless you..

I use to be very positive about the union but now I wonder about the future! Not so much for myself but the new employees.

I don't understand why you republican voters don't like Bob King. He's right on point with the way the GOPs act by given everything away to the rich. You think about your dignity when it comes to voting for politicians? you must have low standards about yourself.

The Michigan truck people I worked with at DTP were asked if they wanted to return. The lady I worked across from as well as others told management no. These are Passed opportunities posted in the five years I was there, Chicago, LAP, KTP, Lima and Michigan Assembly etc.

Excellent post!

Oh, I forgot, please save your money and God Bless all of us on the next contract.

Not everyone...don't forget, the company took care of management after we sold one another out for a few $. They told us, plant closings and buyouts were supposed to take care all cuts and downsizing. I bet they sleep good at night while laughing at us!! Hmmm, tough times, plants are running 3 shifts, working 11-12 hours 7 days a week and we can't build Ford vehicles fast enough. All I'm saying is people are purchasing cars and trucks in these tough times.

Great post! Welcome to the new way forward that doesn't includes the union workers.

I replied to the post he wrote about 2 tier employees labor cost.. The permanent labor cost eliminated by the voting union members!

We know the goal of a successful business is to increase productivity by having low Labor Costs. In Ford case, the majority members were brainwashed into voting yes to take from the 2 tier employees and Ford gave raises and all benefits back to management...The costs been moved from the bottom to the top. If you read the business news, you would also know cheap labor doesn't always benefit companies " you get what you pay for".

You still believe the Labor cost lie? funny!!

It is beyond mines too!! I am totally clueless on the majority members that voted yes on the contract, why are they sooo mad about the ruling? This is absolutely crazy, I can't stop laughing! Please save your money...

The posts here are of the .001% of the people at DTP, hmmm misfits, Really? You're kidding me, right? That's the biggest lie I've ever read on this forum! Louie, I think it's great that your experiences at the Rouge and DTP been good but I've seen and heard about so much wrong day in and day out...not everybody has had the same as you. I transferred to LAP, the people are wonderful, I like the plant and living in Louisville, Go UK!

The members I talked to said they are going to have both names removed...I'm going to put a Ford patch over it.

Mark Fields should take a buyout, I'm sure Ford can hire a college grad to do his job for a lot less!

@Ford Online mentioned in this news article, the second shift will start in may. KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Ford Motor Company today confirmed Kansas City Assembly Plant workers will build its full-size Transit van – Europe’s best-selling commercial vehicle – when the new product joins its North American lineup in 2013. This is another example of the company’s One Ford strategy to serve customers with world-class vehicles and leverage global assets, including common platforms, and brings new jobs to greater Kansas City. The company is investing $1.1 billion – $700 million more than was previously announced – in a new body shop, new tooling in the Final Assembly Area, an upgraded paint shop and an all-new integrated stamping plant, which will be located on an adjacent property in Liberty, Mo. A portion of the investment also will be used in the future to support next-generation F-150 pickup production at the plant. “Our plans for transforming Kansas City Assembly and constructing a new integrated stamping plant to support Transit production demonstrate just how committed Ford is to our employees, the city of Liberty and the broader Claycomo community,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “More importantly, this shows that Ford is truly committed to investing in the U.S. and doing our part to support U.S. manufacturing, which is critical to our country’s ability to compete.” Ford is investing $16 billion in its U.S. operations – including $6.2 billion in U.S. plants – to design, engineer and produce more new and upgraded vehicles and components by 2015. The company also is adding 12,000 hourly jobs at its U.S. manufacturing facilities – including 1,600 in Kansas City. The current SUV line at the Kansas City facility, which will be idled for re-tooling after the current Escape model is phased out in April, will re-open in 2013. During re-tooling, the plant will continue to build F-150 trucks. The company also plans to increase F-150 production at the facility, which will build the trucks on two shifts instead of one beginning in May. This will bring approximately 800 additional employees to the Kansas City Assembly truck line, for a total of approximately 1,700 workers. When this increase takes effect, Ford will build the nation’s best-selling vehicle on five shifts – two in Kansas City and three in Dearborn – allowing the company to better meet increasing customer demand. F-Series, America’s best-selling truck for 34 straight years, is experiencing a year-to-date total sales increase of 8 percent. The F-150 equipped with a V6 engine remains extremely popular. The fuel-efficient EcoBoost V6 accounted for 42 percent of F-150 sales in September, while the 3.7-liter comprised 15 percent. This is the fifth consecutive month that V6s have outsold V8s in the F-Series. “Our ‘Built Ford Tough’ F-150 just keeps getting better and better, and this capacity increase at Kansas City will help us satisfy customers who don’t want to wait to own one,” Fields said. “Our new F-150 engine choices include the innovative EcoBoost with best-in-class power, performance, capability and fuel economy our truck customers truly want and value.” Kansas City Assembly Plant is Ford’s fourth North American facility to be re-tooled to produce new vehicles that are part of the company’s balanced product portfolio of cars, utilities, trucks and commercial vehicles. The company’s commitment to install a new product line requiring this level of investment was enabled, in part, by the recent ratification of the new UAW-Ford Collective Bargaining Agreement. “The men and women of Kansas City Assembly Plant have a proven track record of building a high-quality product that customers love,” said Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president and director of the National Ford Department. “They are a strong and dedicated workforce, and I know they are up to the challenge of building this exciting all-new product for North American customers.” In recent months, Ford also worked closely with Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon and the Missouri State Legislature in passage of the 2010 Missouri Manufacturing Jobs Act. This legislation provided tax incentives, which also contributed to Ford’s ability to commit to the Kansas City Assembly Plant through new product, new investment and new jobs. “Americans and Missourians have been building automobiles for generations. It’s who we are. It’s in our blood,” Gov. Nixon said. “From major plants like Claycomo, to small suppliers located in every corner of our state, American auto workers keep our country moving forward. It was vital that we keep these folks living and working right here in our communities.” Ford’s current commercial van, the Ford E-Series, is built at the company’s Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake, Ohio. Certain E-Series body styles will continue to be available through most of the decade, even after the Kansas City-built Transit goes on sale.

I agree, having a well rounded portolio is very important. Outside of my 401k and IRA, I have other investments to draw from if needed, I would say my eggs are very well balanced.

Excellent Post! I have no doubt whatsoever about the decision I made and I'm definitely not emotional about it. I'm at peace and now it's time to move on!

Just a suggestion. Do you have a IRA? if so, put it in there when you maxed in your 401k. I use too maxed out all the time when I worked at NAP, I had a much higher % coming out because of all the overtime we worked, so I put my extra into that account.

The internet call them "Cyber Bullies" and all the name calling is a perfect description of themselves!!

Wallstreet, Bankers, Big Companies, the government and their rich buddies and now the IUAW has trickled the guilt and fear down to the middle class by making people feel bad about the mess THEY got this economy in. All the scare tactics posts refers to things like, look at the economy, the general public will hate us, be glad you have a job, oh, did you see the 17,000 people standing in line in Louisville applying for LAP jobs and the unemployment is 9.1%. On top of all the negatives, Ford and many other companies are stll making record profits in a bad economy. Did IUAW have any ill feelings about the economy when they gave themselves raises after we gave up concessions? I wonder if managements felt bad after they received all their benefits and raises back. All the things we use too have before the concessions, did anyone felt guilty at time as if you were being greedy or you didn't deserved those benefits? I'm not saying that we should get everything back but not to receive anything doesn't make sense to me. If your heart and soul tells you yes than vote yes but mines told me no. I pray for the unemployed, I thank God everyday for my job and I'm also very thankful for the 90 - 91% of the work force that are still employed because without them many of us would be laid off!