Grim Reaper

Our labor rates are competitive. There is no reason to change anything at this point in time, even profit sharing. King has sent the message to recoup some of our concessions he will not reduce our rates of pay further to chase some pipedream the company is offering. Because of the auto show, this whole month is clear posturing for upcoming labor battles in 2011. The company is negotiating through the press. Don’t bite into the posturing, it’s all part of the negotiating process. The companies are just reacting to Kings statements made last month and this month on gaining return on our losses. Plenty more negotiating through the press on the way…………… God bless the UAW Grimshaw

Yes Spine you are correct. The domino effect would have been chaotic for suppliers as well as the D3. This would have impacted every facet of our economy. As fragile as our economy was at the time this could have put the USA in a depression that no stimulus could fix. Steel as well as other commodities, suppliers, vendors, trucking, trains and rail operations and many more would have shut down. 1 out of every 7 jobs are a part of the D3 industry. If Bush, Obama and the UAW did not re-act the job losses would be an epic disaster. The problem and Obama and Bush realized, if a collapse did happen the jobs that were lost would more than likely be gone for good. The D3 as well as all citizens that depended on the industry would be a very different landscape than we know today. Many jobs would be lost and more than not would have been picked up by a Mexican, Asian or European country, never to return to an American worker. The potential for disaster was eminent and was realized by Bush, Obama the UAW and the D3. I still thank God for Bush, Obama and the UAW for the loans and I still feel disgust for Shelby and Corker for putting our economic structure in jeopardy for their ultimate goal of busting the UAW. God bless the UAW Grimshaw

Oh you know how these posts go . Original post Then comes the innuendo and insinuations. Then comes how the UAW screws us Then sprinkle in some entry level rhetoric (even though we ratified it back in 07) And poof, Here comes the negativity on how its the union, democrats and republicans fault. Usually around the end of the first page comes the swearing and name calling. Yes. Everyone has been notified the transfer of operations will happen to LAP but its easier to spread hate and lies than to simply state the truth Good job Harley...... but notice how they continue to press the negativity even after you spoke the truth

Hey Cocheese Junior........... How is this for job security............ http://detnews.com/article/20110110/AUTO04/101100350/Ford-plans-to-fill-7-000-U.S.-jobs Once again Thank God for the UAW Grimshaw Dont worry about the UAW.......... Keep your drivel in Canada where it belongs.

Just to add a few more points. http://uaw.org/organize Here are testimonials of workers organized by the UAW. I challenge you to read each one. This is what the UAW can offer. Let me ask you this. If you had a choice right now would you want to work where you are now with UAW representation or work in a non UAW transplant? I think we both know the answer. That is what the UAW can offer.

Spine, Thanks for the tip on quotes…… I will heed your advice. Just an observation on your scenario, in no way shape or form am I claiming the UAW as a perfect entity. Me, you and the UAW are all humans. Sure they do their best with the cards they are dealt and I am just stating the good they did over the contract to give us great protections. I am also stating that given the transplant structure and if they stay unorganized these great strides made by the UAW (and our ratification) will be for naught and we will continue to be challenged by the transplants pay structure. We can sit back and yell and scream about how the UAW has nothing to offer. You know, they should save the money and don’t waste the effort. They would be better off burning the money. You see the UAW trying to do good for us and have the proactive notion to better position us in the future and the very members the UAW are trying to protect once again are tearing them down. It’s just a dishonor to criticize the institution that protects us. Now, with the scenario on Temps that have been utilized since 2004. I do believe there is contractual language to have these members on local preferential hire lists. The temps are hired, laid off, hired, laid off are administered locally by labor relations. I don’t believe the IUAW would have knowledge of this constant hire/layoff cycle of the same people. I do know the IUAW does have to authorize manpower additions and layoffs but as far as the actual people utilized as temps are done locally. The IUAW gives permission to manpower requests once certain criteria are met. I would get with your Chairman or Local President and have them identify this as an issue for 2011 bargaining. This is a problem that should be an easy fix. It cost no money to keep a list at World Headquarters of all plants utilizing temps. I would even suggest they utilize them on the JSP program for placement. Give them their original temp date as seniority for purposes of preferential placement of any hiring anywhere in the country. Things like this are easy to accomplish if we work with our union instead of looking for perceived, superficial issues that somehow the IUAW ignore. These problems are easy mends and just need to be addressed with language and a structure. We can continue to tear this union down or support it. I choose the later. God Bless the UAW Grimshaw

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Other than his extravagant pay there is no one even close to the skill level of Mulally. We are fortunate to have him. I worry that if he was to leave Ford that we will revert back to the old style of running an Automobile Company, no new products, no investment in current products and loss cutting edge designs. In short I worry about another Jac Nasser.

Wow. Are these permanent jobs?

Toyotas workforce is getting older and their bodies are breaking down. Toyota fires these people that have developed injuries or have personal medical problems. This is how they keep the “legacy costs" down. The older workforce can now see the protections we have with union representation. The other problem is Toyota has had “Temp” workers as long as 15 years. They never get benefits and basically get crapped on every day. Through our specific language long term supplementals convert to full time status after 1 year with benefits. The UAW can offer sound pay structure, job security, medical placement, anti harassment and a no worries of getting fired for hurting yourself or if the boss has a vendetta against you. Google search these atrocities’ and tell me they don’t need to join our union.

God Bless the UAW Grimshaw

Seems like Armstorng answered your questions a few posts up. Here they are again. With the 3.5 and 3.7 cranks I would have to say they are sitting pretty good and may have to add a 3rd shift with the huge demand for these new engines.

1) Extending beyond 20% will not happen. If it is negotiated it will not have any impact. The Octomods did mention it as a temporary period and revert to 20% in 2015 just to keep parity but if you do the math 20% of 40,000 people is 8,000 new entry level people. We still have over 3,000 in ACH that need to be placed also in a full time Ford facility. That’s a flip of 11,000 jobs. This will not happen even for the next 2 contracts. It’s simply just an unattainable target. Everyone that wanted to retire or terminate are gone. There are really no more people that want to go. If there are volunteers it may be less than 100 companywide and that is a non countable number for purposes of getting to 20%. So to put this in perspective 3,000 people will make up 3 shifts in an assembly plant. 11,000 people is nearly equivalent to staffing 4 new assembly plants. This will not happen. I would not worry about the entry level at 5%, 10% 20% or higher mix this contract 2011 or next contract 2015. Will not happen. 2) Buyouts are over. They will probably negotiate them again but there will not be a mass exodus as in the past. They will not get more than 100 people to go. 3) Hopefully we get a large signing bonus, huge investments beyond 2015 and increase in profit sharing. This will keep us employed and great job security. Don’t expect any reduction in rates of pay or benefits. Our labor rates were played out, challenged and proven that we are now competitive. 4) I my opinion the UAW will not pick a target. Remember 2003, they did not pick a target but bargained the D3 all at the same time and all equal as all in rates. If Ford is struck you can bet it will be over product investments. We are now benefiting from the foresight of the UAW in from the 2007 CBA from product investments. Because of the 2007 agreement it has proven successful to our job security and should be a top priority again.

I would not pay any attention to the “unbiased” (sarcasm) Consumer Reports. They go out of their way to promote anything but US D3 vehicles. Consumers want technology and Ford is delivering. The days are gone of jumping in a new vehicle and figuring out the controls on the way home. Consumers have to get a tutorial from the Dealer as well as read the manual. I always put Consumers Reports on my ignore list. They never supported the D3 before why now. In fact the tech savvy people don’t even subscribe to magazines any more. Everything is free on the internet. So Im sure their demographics suggest the 55-70 year old crowd read their outdated rag. Rant off Grimshaw

This is a priority that has all of our best interests. King knows if we do not get these plants organized that their unorganized existence will continue to challenge our hourly wage and benefits and drive them down more than they already have. God Bless the UAW Grimshaw

http://www.windsorstar.com/business/Ford+introduce+minivan+North+American+market/4004117/story.html No official announcement yet but this arctice claims it has been awarded to Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan :happy feet:

If this is happening now at Saline it looks like they are trying to lower operating cost. If enough cost is taken out then Saline could be viable for more product. This is a smart move to encourage keeping Saline viable and remove it from the sale/closure list. My thoughts are this is a proactive move to be able to show workable solutions for Saline. Seems ironic that negotiations are starting this summer and the “International Union” let this happen. Maybe Saline’s future is brighter than most foresee.

New product decisions are not made at the Plant Manager level. Plant Managers are just operating pawns for the Directors. Nothing more. You are correct in your assessment at AAI, 1 shift is not good for the future of AAI. The Octomods did mention incremental products for AAI in addition to Mustang commitments. So that is a ray of hope that incremental new product could be obtainable for AAI. The only way to secure new product, special retirements and certain location specific buyouts for AAI is in 2011 National Negotiations. Did you submit all of these issues in the form of a resolution so the National Negotiators are aware of the problem/resolution? Good luck God Bless the UAW Happy New Year Grimshaw

With the economy rebounding and the annual rate of auto sales in the US market rising over the past 18 months I would hope we get new products in our plants. Even though the UAW negotiated the following new products in 2007 they must continue to bargain even more in '11 CAP with the new Taurus, MKS and 2011 Explorer Also generated new products for CSP/Lima/Cleveland/Vandyke/Woodhaven/Sharonville MAP with the All New Focus and C-Max Also generated new products for DEP/DSP/Woodhaven/ISA/Vandyke/Sterling/Sharonville LAP with the All New Escape Also generated new product in DEP/Lima/Cleveland/Woodhaven/Vandyke/Sterling/Sharonville KTP F series/Navigator/Expedition/New Body Shop Also generated new products in Romeo/Sterling/LTP/Woodhaven/Sharonville/DSP DTP and KCAP with the redesigned F150 Also generated new products in Romeo/Sterling/LTP/Woodhaven/Sharonville/DSP AAI with the new Mustang Also generated new products in Romeo/Sterling/LTP/Woodhaven/Sharonville/DSP This is only the short list off memory but Im sure there is more. Its safe to acknowledge that at this point in the rebounding economy that investments and overall job security are the biggest, most important part of the 2011 agreement and the UAW must deliver on investments. Without these investments negotiated in 2007 the UAW would have no bargaining power in 2011. So my prediction would be huge investment in our plants bargained in 2011. God Bless the UAW Happy New Year Grimshaw

With gas prices rising, a new fuel efficient Focus among other products bargained for MAP you will be on O/T for a long time. Good luck, keep up the Quality at a World Class level and MAP will be a great place of employment for many years. God Bless the UAW Happy New Year Grimshaw

I really don’t see the organizing benefit tied to pensions or health funds. Truthfully these are presently separate entities between GM, Ford and Chrysler. The real benefit I see is that we were tied to the transplants as part of the labor rate/benefit operating cost during the bankruptcies. Even though we did not take the TARP money our labor rate/benefit cost must be near or exact to GM and Chrysler. If the UAW is unsuccessful in organizing these plants they will continue to bring down the UAWs ability to sustain/increase our base rates and benefits. If the transplants compete at lower labor rate/benefits in the USA we will be disadvantaged. Additionally, this is also tied into Ford committing to new product investments in the USA. If our labor rate/benefit cost is higher than the other competitors including GM, Chrysler and the Transplants then Ford will be forced into investing in lower labor rate/benefit operating cost markets. This means Mexico and Asia. To put this in perspective at $1 more per hour per 40,000 hourly employees the labor rate/benefit package adds up quickly. At $1 (more per hour) X 40,000= $40,000. $40,000 x 8 hour shift = $320,000 per day. $320,000 X 5 days = $1,600,000 labor rate/benefit additional cost per week. 1,600,000 X 50 weeks = $80,000,000 dollars more of an operating cost. This disadvantage would have to be made up elsewhere in the company. The disadvantage equates to investing in new manufacturing/products and investing in lower labor rate/benefit countries like Mexico and Asia. At $1 more per hour operating cost Ford would cease investments in our US plants. Sure we would contiue as we are now but slowly new investments will be made elsewhere. So King is correct in his assessment. Organizing these plants is critical to our near future as well as extended futures in both wages and investing in our plants. As you mentioned the Right to Work Foundation (Republicans) will be the UAWs biggest obstacle. Corker is already fighting this drive through the press. I have to agree this will be interesting. It is all tied together. Grimshaw

This effort will start in a year when the UAW also has very important contract talks with Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. King says "not only will the union be able to handle both efforts at the same time, but they are tied together." “If we want the greatest economic security, the fairest standard of living, we have to have the whole industry organized.” http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2010/12/22/uaw-to-begin-big-organizing-effort/ This is a pivotal time in our lives as a Union. God bless the UAW and all of their efforts. Happy New Year Grimshaw