paintguy

I've known back pay to happen as well. Deals are made...

I've been concerned about the same thing. That facility was being developed with a degree of secrecy. When it was shelved, not a bunch of information about % completion. Also plans seemed well along. So not starting from green field.

Trucks rolling in the South Suburbs as well. Thought Ford relocated the plant to a closed horserace track.

Find the safety aspect is sometimes overlooked when a campaign is done with uncommon procedures done off line. Skilled Trades gets you to unusual situation frequently. Stay safe.

In fairness, some of the quality issues are outside UAW control. Some of the electrical infotainment issues have little UAW involvement. Some of the techniques used on recent launches were far from optimal in achieving a quality launch. And sitting vehicles waiting for repair is just asking for chip scratch, dings and dents. Not to mention the trim damages when replacing or fixing bad parts. I'm sure you have been there.

This is part of the deal with the UAW getting no raises for many years. As a Ford salary employee saw my insurance go to PPO or HMO coverage.80% coverage high deductibles, and mandatory use of mail in for maintenance drugs. An annual physical to get 80% coverage. And "help" calls if anything on the physical was amiss. And a premium increase every year. But almost anyone not a government employee or UAW already has that. And with that some years raises were OK, others not so good. 401K match changed.

If those things happen, at similar or better pricing, I would consider. But in my lifetime, I've been promised nuclear power "too cheap to meter", practical fusion in 10 years (50 years ago) and countless automaker show cars with features too numerous to mention. Seems there is progress. Researchers though need funding. Lofty promises help keep the dollars or euros and yen flowing.

Yes. I have a 3.5 Ecoboost Taurus SHO, and a Mustang Ecoboost, both are great. This was my wife's family who mainly drive Toyotas. The nephew, a police officer, drove Crown Vics, Taurus and Explorer Police Interceptors. The first time the engine broke, he was cool, the second time, not so much. Then the dealer, (nephew had retired and moved) balked at doing the repair. Now I face that entire side of the family will not consider a Ford. That is the cost of poor quality that sometimes we don't face. I'm sure it happens with others. But the frequency? Who is losing market share?

My 2009 went 115,000 miles mostly trouble free. My nephew's 1.5 L 3 went 20,000 miles before failing and needing a rebuild. And then the rebuild failed. Another customer lost for life.

More valid comparison would be 2010 Escape hybrid to 2023 Escape Hybrid. I had a 2009 Escape Hybrid. believe that was 32 combined. So it was an improvement. But I could buy a 2009 Escape Hybrid AWD, and the 2023 you can't. The competition RAV4 has AWD standard For the PHEV, most have about a 20 kwh battery pack. The high range BEVs about 100 kwh battery pack. If battery production is the limiting factor, you could significantly increase "electrified" vehicle production with PHEV. The other factor is customer acceptance. Many dismiss the BEV due to charging anxiety. Demographics of Ford customers and where they live may make a big difference. Both coasts in major metropolitan areas, I see plenty of BEVs. Middle America, as you get more rural (truck country) you don't see so many.

We are the carbon they want to reduce.

Flexibility is rough with pensions. The pension defaults are minimized with ERISA laws. Reductions in benefits usually come with high amounts. One impetus for the law was the bankruptcy of the Studebaker pension fund. Ford took some hits to income over the years to meet mandated funding. As a salary retiree, crossing my fingers that it maintains solvency for at least 20 more years. UAW does the health segment with the VEBA negotiated some years back. Regulations on health benefits seem weaker. Let's hope company and union bean counters and stock pickers choose wisely.

Sorry to hear that Fuzzy. Over the years and from others I know who know you, understand you are a good worker. Hope it ends up well for you. This is a tough industry to be working into your 70s. Best of luck.

Pensions are a tremendous benefit. Social Security averages about $1,800 a month $3,600 a month at age 66 if you make SS maximum. $3,600 isn't bad but not luxurious, even in retirement. Most financial planners use the 4% rule for retirees with drawing from savings. So if you want to replace $3,300 a month, you need $1 million. Requires disciplined consistent savings over many years. And direction to invest wisely. Unfortunately for companies, it also requires discipline. Many companies, and states, did not invest wisely or even pay in funds. Federal government reigned that in requiring some massive payments. They don't want to do that again.

I actually had a lawn care company give a quote for service double what my neighbor has. (He has a larger yard). The rep said my house was previously owned by a doctor as justification. Replied, well I'm not a doctor. Needless to say, I don't use them.

Actually, some salary employees would be good with it, if their Health care was handled the same as the UAW. Premiums increased substantially in the last 25 years. Formula for pensions has not changed for salary in many years. Along with loss of retiree health care, replaced by a lump sum. Newer salary employees (after 2003?) have only 401K. Profit margin remains low at about 5%. Most industries that would be unacceptable and merit a divestiture of that business. US auto manufacturers hire "C" type people from the US executive market. Other CEOs in other industries receive that much and more. One I was shocked at was compensation of $182 million for Hertz CEO. Not long ago Hertz was a minor part of Ford.

They want you to eat crickets too... Have a cicada brood coming next year. Be eatin' good in the neighborhood while waiting to charge my electric car.

Surprised there was not an attempt already. After all Fremont was previously a UAW facility. Musk taking the opportunity to say this about other companies. If there were an attempt he could not say this about his own company, Tesla. It would be considered a threat.

Think that is the benefit to having customers dip their toe into electrification through HEV or PHEV. I have had HEV and am open to PHEV. BEV still not there with the Ford charging network available now. My neighbor went BEV after owning a Volt PHEV. He does mostly short trips ad commuting. Doubt he uses a supercharger. Only so many realize that.

I'm in the South Suburbs of Chicago. Not an upscale area, but is as opposed to South Side Chicago. Many Ford Employees in the area (Chicago Stamping 5 miles away, less than 20 miles to Chicago Assembly). See several Mustang MachE daily. Only see one F150 Lightning. Several neighbors with Tesla 3, Y, S, and X. Rivians seem to have a good showing. About half the Amazon trucks in the neighborhood are Rivians. Odd looking but distinctive van. Rivian located in Illinois. Know a few Ford employees who left for Rivian. Might explain some of my sightings.

Hey, in the USA that is dangerously close to political talk. LOL Apologies to moderator in advance...

Think the fact that no additional strike against Ford is planned indicates Ford is negotiating in good faith. Let's hope a deal can be made soon. On other forums, the domestic automakers and workers are not held in high regard. Think the Ford ads released recently are trying to give a positive spin to American labor. Certainly don't want to lose more market share.

Agree, very disappointed with Edge and Nautilus. Edge and Nautilus are fine products. Wife was looking forward to a hybrid Nautilus. From China, not so much. Hope we are not moving too fast with BEVs. Want to see all our North American plants working!

Instances where no one wants to act for fear of facing blame. Seen some promoted who did little but talked a good game. For me, I wanted to feel I did something at the end of the day. Hearing you are on skilled trades apprenticeship, certainly you get a lot of advise from bosses and engineers.

Much of the engineering problem is types and deployment. Powertrain will take a big hit as ICE declines. Some manufacturing facilities misuse engineers with tasks with less of a return than should be.