Makeastand

We do have a bad image but we are the union, we are Ford Motor Co. We are the ones who need to step up and talk to people, I never have any problem with talking to people about the union or Ford. They may start the conversation with an attitude but after talking to me they change their outlook and agree with me. It’s not that hard to talk to people about US. I do agree that Ford and the union should do more for pr but staying home to avoid a crowd isn't helping either. If people aren't willing to listen to what you have to say then they aren't worth talking to and shouldn't be any sweat off your back. Generally if you stay calm and provide a few facts they will usually say "man I didn't know that, I've been misinformed this whole time". Most people just need a little direction. The media and the government have gotten the public so screwed up they don't know what to think until they talk to a human being instead of seeing/hearing it on tv. A lot of people do think we are over paid but Bill Ford said (I believe it was on Larry King Live) about a month ago on tv when asked are we paid too much, "No the workers are paid fair wages and I wouldn't want to take anything away from them. I consider these workers my extended family". That’s not word for word but that is what he said. I was going to post it but I couldn't find it. I know times are bad and depressing but we have to keep our heads up and keep spreading positive news about our union and company. If you are a proud American and buy American you are a part of the solution.

The etap and jobs banks are only suspended. When they get done negotiating our contract WE will vote yes or no, on it being permanent or not. There will be other issues involved along with etap and jobs bank.

Sorry Hvcpicker, I just found it. It was Rev. Lowery who said it. If you look at the original transcript (which does not say who wrote it) there are footnotes in parenthesis (laughter) after a couple of sentences implying that these couple of statements are said jokingly. Well Rev Lowerys voice isn't very clear so when he came on I went into the kitchen to get a drink and missed the rest of his rambling. I was told from people who watched it that he didn't say it in a joking matter and the audience didn't laugh. I agree. It was totally uncalled for. Again, I hope Obama and congress can work together and make positive progress for the American people and do so in a timely manner.

I just hope Obama and congress can put there heads together and make progress for the good of the American people. I don't give a shit what color anybody is, lets just get business taken care of to get our Nation back in working order.

Are you talking about the inauguration speech? I don't remember hearing that and I pulled up the transcripted version of his speech today and I don't see it anywhere. Maybe you should look further into things before you

Sure take the meds the doc prescribes for your illness or problem, but medical should not tell you to go to your job if the prescription says do not operate machinery. If you are a person who is used to taking pain pills then you would most likely be fine on the job (which means your problem is not being fixed due to complications or your just an addict which means we would be talking in circles) but people who are not used to them may pose as a threat to other workers as well as themselves. I think this whole "off the topic" disscusion came about due to people getting high or drinking on the job. If you have to have your pills to work thats fine but it doesn't mean go out on break and crush your pills and snort them.

Its another great PR move by Ford but will go unnoticed by the public as usual.

I'm not sure but I think that old machinery was in the way of where the new trim dept is going to be for the Expedition and the Navigator. I haven't been to that part of the plant in months but I remember a bunch of tools from the old trim dept and robots from body sitting over there.

I wish Ford would stop letting people play the medical games. If your hurt thats one thing, but if your not then you need to pull your weight just like everyone else. I know a guy that plays the restriction games when a person on the team is being trained so he can bump the person off their job and train the new guy so he only has to do half a job. When there is no gravy work available then does his own job. He claims he hurt his back so he takes a medical leave for a few weeks and while he is off he goes on long horse back rides. What about the guy that has a hurt back but while he was off on medical he built a deck on the back of his house while he was off due to restrictions? Crap like that is what makes insurance so expensive. I like to go hunting and fishing to, but I'm not going to the doc to get a note to miss work so I can. The bummer of it all is that sometimes it makes it hard to tell who really is hurt.

My team leader called me but I don't work in trim. I know that don't help you but have you talked to your teamleader? Also the company said that we would be notified by phone and/or mail. We will see I guess.

You said it. That is the answer for our global economy. Our politicians have not been doing their jobs allowing the execs to get out of hand so the elite can get rich and the middle class that the rich hates so much pays for it.

The old trim shop at KTP would kick anyone’s ass. The new trim shop isn't easy either. Thank God I work in chassis. I’m with ya on the "recreational use". What people do at home or on the weekends is their business but when they come to work drunk or high, then it is every ones business. Our work environment is dangerous enough that we don't need any help from junkies or alcoholics. Drug testing is a practice that most companies believe in and most do not give more than one chance in rehab and some don't send you to rehab at all, let a lone pay you for it. There are people at Ford who have been caught and sent to rehab 4 and 5 times and get paid while they are off which is usually 3 months. WTF? I don't understand these people who are against drug testing when OUR safety is involved not to mention things like the reputation we already have for coming to work drunk and high and being over paid. If you don't like it then tell your buddies at work to party at home because they are going to ruin it for the people who don't party at work. It's always a small group of people who fuck it up for everybody else. Please excuse my language. As far as the buyouts go, I would be shocked if they actually happen. It's like Liquidspine said, why would they pay you to leave when they can do it for free now that the jobs bank is gone and where would the money come from. The national seniority thing may very well happen but it will not be acknowledged or called national seniority. They will place everyone then lay off, simple as that. I don't believe for one minute that Ford didn't take a tarp loan just so they can offer buyouts. They didn't take the loan in an attempt to gain positive PR and was only at the hearings to support GM and Chrysler with their loans. Ford also wanted a credit line available as a safety net if GM or Chrysler does file for bankruptcy. So we have good PR, executives still receive their pay, and shareholders don't have to make concessions.

A few of the problems this country made for itself is partisanship and career politicians. Change those two issues and you would have a great start to getting this country in order.

So sad for her family and co-workers. My prayers go out to them all.

Well said Pioneer

You mean like republicans and their "God-like" George W. Bush?

I believe you are right. If the public is worried about keeping their job, pay cuts, don't have a job, or lenders not lending, the auto industry as a whole will never sell enough vehicles to stay afloat. I believe that this is our own governments fault. Too much so called "free trade", other countries lie and under value their monies and no one does anything about it, no regulations on sub-prime "rip-off" loans, immigration not being dealt with properly, and the Bush administration cut taxes and spends $10 BILLION a month killing off our soldiers in a war that will never benefit the American people or Iraq. On top of all that they are still giving U.S. companies huge incentives to move our jobs over seas to China where they can pay an 8 year old child to work for .40 cents a day. Then we go to Wal-mart and buy our products back while American children are dying from lead poisoning. I could go on for hours

We are not talking about Fords contract we are talking about GM. I don't have a GM contract. Sorry

I have always been told that my plant needs the down time for maint. repairs and upgrades

If Toyota lowers their pay (I think they said by 2011) It will be easier for them to organize if our pay stays the same.

Mazda is owned by Ford and any Mazda built in the U.S. is UAW if I am not mistaken. The Fusion is made in Mexico and some of the money does go to Mexico naturally. The largest percentage of that money though, goes to Ford and helps Ford North America. Don't get me wrong I would rather by a Taurus made right here but I will not complain when I see a Fusion on the road nor will I damn anyone driving one. The same could be said for a lot of Big 3 vehicles. There are two problems that exist here. One is our own government keeps giving U.S. companies incentives to move OUR jobs over seas. Our own government literally, is paying your employer to fire you and hire an 8 year old kid to do your job in a sweat shop over in China for .40 cents a day. Second is the fact that the transplants are still having a lot of their own parts imported. The are able to buy these parts at their countries prices (which all have an under-valued dollar) then sell the part at like a %1000 mark up or more. You might as well say these parts are free for the transplants. Yea some of the money pays American workers but most goes back to their own country. Not to mention Japan, Korea, Germany and all the other countries where these transplants come from get subsidies from our government AND THEIRS, and have been for years. Their governments are paying their own countries companies to put us out of business. WHEN WILL OUR COUNTRY/GOVERNMENT HELP US WITHOUT BITCHING ABOUT IT Just my opinion

Summer/Xmas shutdowns are not just for the benefit of the line workers. This is time for maint. to do the things they need to do.

We've been hearing that "these are unprecedented times" since Bush took office the first term. Coincidence?

I said on one of these threads that once I worked at a company that had a no strike clause in our union contract and we had 0 bargaining leverage. The only thing that changed in our contracts was what we lost. GM, Chrysler, and Ford could be facing the same music, and brother I hate that song. I have said in the past that I will not vote for any concessions. Well if it comes down to concessions or a no strike clause, I pick concessions. In 5 or 10 years when the company is making money hand over fist again (and it will) we will not see any of it if we have a no strike clause in our contract. That money will go from the customers pocket straight to the execs and politicians. In the mean time the public will still be saying that the high price of cars are our fault because the average hourly rate for blue collar Americans dropped back in 2009 when the UAW made wage and benefit cuts and put a no strike clause in their contract. I pray that it doesn't happen and it may not but it doesn't hurt to prepare for it mentally and financially.

Yes I do realize there is a clause already and I do not know if there are any stipulations to that or if it is no strike period. But now the "no strike" ball could be in Chrysler's court. Then Ford will be looking for similar concessions. If all of the Big 3 have no strike clauses then thats the end. Really I want to say it will never happen but I don't wan't to jinx us lol.