Mach144

I'm pretty sure woodhaven Forging is trying to do the 3 crew thing your describing. They had a few postings to add people to support what they are calling an "alternative work schedule".

http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/12/news/companies/china_auto_bubble_risk/index.htm?section=money_news_international&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fmoney_news_international+%28International+News%29

In my opinion its us versus them more than ever. Trades are shrinking, contracting is on the rise. we have given up things and the next thing you know it, executives and management get bonuses and they get their stuff back they gave up. But wait, theres more, right before there will be anouncement of profit or loss, they try and get the membership to sign a quick list of concessions and changes, we turn it down and guess what? the company announces big profits and recovery. whew, almost got porked on that one didn't we? Does anybody live in the state of michigan? where the automotive industry pretty much dominates the state? where 9 jobs are created for each 1 big 3 autoworker? Yes, the big three are climbing back out of the holes, (poor management) dug in all these years, in paticular Ford seems to be making a big comeback. they are making a comeback by getting smaller, scaling back plants and laying off thousands of autoworkers. remember, 9 jobs are created for each autoworker, WORKING. our state of michigan is still a mess. I beleive at one point michigan had the most people leaving the state, out of all states in our nation. however, the steel industry is picking up, I hear great lakes is hiring. Ford will be hiring this year as well. Dont be fooled, by economic indicators which seem to give rise, we have a long way to go, to be where our state of michigan once was. Yes, Ford is doing better, it did better in part by getting rid of thousands of people. And the peoples Ford talks of hiring back are the 14 dollar an hour worker. Is that 14 dollar an hour worker, going to be able to buy any one of the five foreclosed homes I see from my frontyard? You can get a deal on houses right now, but the bank is not giving homes away, at least not where I live. Don't forget 9 jobs are supposably created from every one autoworker. How do you think the nine other jobs are going to be affected by the one 14 dollar an hour worker, as opposed to 28 bucks an hour? No, I think it is us versus them more than ever at this point. What automotive execs are scaling back, if any or anything at all? No its us the average worker that took the hit, and the company is going to ride the wave of sympathy for its ill fortunes and its economic surroundings as long as it can. Ford is doing better, and I know I am fortunate and gratefull to still have good job. Dont be fooled though, Ford got in a position to be profitable, by getting smaller, and thousands of people left the automotive industry. Our state is still depressed, and will be for a long time. But there is hope, ford is hiring some of them back at 14 bucks and hour. Good luck. I believe King can organize some of the foreign automakers, and that will be good for all. The 14 dollar an hour worker, wont do us any good, or our state. They arent going to be buying any of the homes on my block.

I agree. I have made comments that have been interpretted as "inflamatory", as a result I beleive I was unfairly marked against. I beleive in the truth, some people cant handle it. I agree with you, this guy seems to really want to stir the pot.

I do not intend on making an inflamatory comment here, however, I feel its appropriate to say that if he IS making 14 bucks an hour, his reactions may stand example for what we all have in our futures, when working side by side with 14 dollar an hour peoples..............................

Thanks for the article. It is good to hear Ford Motor company has positioned itself to grow. I feel unsure about the 14 dollar an hour worker, it raises red flags in my mind. But the fact that Ford is planning on putting 7000 more people on board, means they feel the ship is now floating. GOOD

I agree, 2 tier salarys, tell it like you see it, right or wrong. I give you a plus. why is it going agaist the reaper seems to generate a minus mark. how important do you think YOU are, reaper?

keep telling it the way you see it man, i give you a plus one. right or wrong, i want to hear what people are thinking and feeling, as does anyone who looks into these posts. We want to know the truth in what people are going through. Thanks, id give you a ten if I could.

Rumor has it Savona is Gone, we won't be seeing him again. Off to Louisville.

Rumor has it Savona is gone from auto alliance and off to louisville. We won't be seeing him again. We are getting someone from Michigan assembly, or the old michigan truck.

I have to agree with grim reaper on this one. Driving our benefits and wages down is not good. We need to think about this a bit more. There are reasons why foreign automakers tend to go to southern states, to set up plants in areas where the average person doesnt make much money. Also the state governments set up good tax deals for these automakers to go down to their states to provide employment. Also part of this, is the awareness that plants can be set up without the uaw, this is what the foreign automakers are looking for. What he proposes will not be easy. King must have a few candidates in mind already. I personally don't agree with trying something oversees, especially with any money from the strike fund. I feel the strike fund IS POWER. As far as im concerned, king should be thinking about working with whats already organized, tuning it up, and getting ready for contract. I agree totally with growing union membership. I disagree with him talking about it now. Now is the time to work with and for, what we already have. Why not flex some of our UAW muscle? When is the last time our union stood united and REALLY showed Ford Motor, whos running the show, even if just for a moment or two? Personally I am not for giving ANYTHING MORE. And I dont believe in the 14 dollar an hour worker thing either. That is what is going to hurt us more than anything.

Skilled1, I agree with everyhting you say here, its all well put. Myself and my fellow laid off tradespeoples are screaming, screaming with anger. These times we are going through hopefully are temporary, hopefully prosperous times for the trades are ahead of us. now is the time to make sure things are right, this shouldnt be a trial and error period where there are so many mistakes and errors made in the communications of what rules apply and what don't. now is the time for international skilled trades representation to come through for us, not weed through the errors of the miscommunications, WE NEED PROPER REPRESENTATION NOW. SOLID REPRESENTATION. Why is it so many laid off trades dont know the rights they have. Why is it the standard answers from union reps seem to be are, "ill get back with you, im not sure, i have to call oblack, did you go to the union meeting, did you read your handbook"???? Why cant we find work for these laid off trades peoples with the amount of contracting going on in the industry? With ford motor company downsizing its plants, why does it seem so difficult for the union to keep track of what trades are laid off and who is working, what seniority is where, how many apprentices are here there or anywhere, and if there are apprentices, when they are to finish? Isnt there someone that can organize the necessary infromation we all need to know? Its almost as if, somebody hit the international upside the head, they are dazed, confused, and havent regained composure when it comes to asnwering the big questions that will affect each individuals future, for maybe many years to come. Is this the union representation which will be negotiating a new contract for us? NOW IS THE TIME TO GET IT RIGHT, MAKE SURE ITS RIGHT, AND IF ON THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL THEY NEED MORE HELP, PROVIDE THE HELP SO NO MISTAKES ARE MADE AND ALL PLANTS ARE ON THE SAME PAGE. Not weed through communication mistakes different plants are making on a daily basis of their interpretatin of rules.

Thanks, I think I know what this is, Thanks for the info.

I like the way you put all this. Too bad it is NOT being done everywhere. An electrician went to woodhaven as a permanent production worker. There was an opening for an electrician after he got to woodhaven as production. They made him go through the bidding process to get the electrician job. Step 1.5 of the hierarchy is not being followed everywhere.

Thanks for the feedback on this topic, football fan...... It would be nice to know more about what the flexibility in the product mix means for the paint shop. They seem to be able to deliver any combination of model mix the trim and final area calls for. I would like to know exactly what you mean there. I'm going to disagree with you somewhat, I don't believe the international is doing anything to keep Mazda in Michigan. If Bob King has any interest at all in AAI, he better show up soon, and get involved. Its widely known here at AAI the Japanese don't like any of the moves Ford management are making. And as far as the taxes and the city of flat rock, we have been reading stuff like this in the local papers for the last 23 years. There has always been issues, and promises from the company as far as taxes. Your response all in all seems bright, and perhaps something good will come out as far as a new product. Right now, there is nothing on the horizon, AAI is bleeding money right this very moment, something better happen soon. I witnessed contractors bolt all this mustang stuff to the ground, it can come out even quicker.