25yrs

It is just something to think about when the time comes to (hopefully) retire. We work at Ford and chase the Holy Grail (a full pension) only to have it taken away at an age where you could no longer re-enter the workforce. Unless you are over 80 or have some form of disability you are open game to have your pension reduced by 50% based on current law. The question to pose is do you grab the cash and run when the time comes or sit back and follow the route of most where we rely on Ford to continue to pay us? Ask the Teamsters which path they would have chosen in retrospect. Their fund pays out $2.00 for every $1.00 they take in. They go into the red to the tune of 2 billion annually. The math cries insolvency. Tough choice.

'Devastating' proposed pension cuts rocks Teamsters in Midlands. Scary shit!!!

Tier's were created to save money as well as dissect the union. Reading this forum makes me believe the experiment was quite successful. Psychologists and Harvard lawyers are hired when creating a contract for the Big 3. We utilize people from the floor and think we can compete. The war is won before it starts. Pay very close attention to the developments in Mexico. Within the next couple of years "ALL" automakers will be producing there. Even the ones who said they would not do business in that country. Under the guise of Globalization the bar continues to lower. The union has taken an "accept this fact or perish" attitude. I wouldn't want to be standing in their shoes.

Is everyone aware of Sergio's position regarding two tier wages? He has stated very specifically on many occasions that he believes separate tiers are destructive to any company. At first the union was all excited that he was on their side. NOT!!!! Sergio would like a blended wage somewhere in the middle of Tier 1 and Tier 2. Let's use $20.00 as a good example. He knows for a fact that a full 45% of his current workers (Tier 2) will jump all over this. If "ALL" the Tier 1 do not show up to vote this blend will fly right through. Don't underestimate this guy he is a hell of a lot smarter than you think. I wouldn't hold your breath for a wage buy down either.

Who did they lose this work to? Is it an outside company?

I'm not saying I agree with what happens here. I'm just telling you how it is and has been every since I've been in industry.

You can go to another plant in another city/state and carry your seniority to bump??? Incredible. I've been in automotive for almost 40 yrs and we have never had that here. Nice work if you can get it.

You can bid between plants in Windsor. There is also an assembly plant in Oakville, Ontario. Some laid off members from Windsor are working in Oakville. They cannot be transferred there. There had to be openings available for them to go as preferential hires. Their in-plant seniority begins when they start.

This has happened at the Big Three in Canada for yrs. If you are given an option to go to another plant in another city for "preferential" hire your seniority in the plant begins when you arrive. You hold your original seniority date for pension, benefits and vacation but, drop to the bottom of the pile when you arrive in your NEW plant. It's been like that since the 80's or longer.

Sergio would like to place everyone somewhere in the middle (around $20.00). His thoughts are if the company does well then your pay increases with profit sharing cheques. When the company does not do well you make $20.00 per hour. I'm pretty certain that nobody in the hourly ranks has ever received a profit sharing cheque worth $16,000.00. That is how much you would need to get annually to return to your $28.00 former wage (2000 hrs x $8.00). Be careful of this guy, he's a TRUE businessman.

The 5.8L is very low volume and produced on the niche line correct? So nothing other than this?

I remember reading somewhere that Romeo secured a new product during the 2011 negotiations. Does anyone know what the product is or when it will be announced? I know Cleveland and Lima have already announced their products.

Lima seems to have once again secured new work. They must be doing something right. You can't build a company based on drunken friendships and backroom deals. This attack on them seems to be fairly skewed. Ford has deeply ingrained them within their future Powertrain plans. If they broke the law then there are avenues to pursue to deal with that. Attacking the entire plant is quite narrow minded though. I've been told their union thinks outside the box. If you have any desire to survive in North American manufacturing today this is the place you need to be. Best of luck to all of us.

Kind of off topic but, did Romeo secure a new product in the 2011 negotiations in addition to the 6.2L they presently build ? I remember reading it somewhere but, cannot seem to find it now. I know Lima and Cleveland have new products that have been announced.

Just an FYI. Oakville is in Ontario, same plant.