kcsuperduty

Thx I appreciate it!

I am looking for the Ford Part# for the Focus 17" Machined Aluminum with Black-Painted Pockets. Can someone post what that number is? They say it is stamped inside of the wheel. It would be greatly appreciated! Thx

There is a article that was posted from a Journalist from the Louisville area that stated that Union Reps from Local 600 were taken ballots to the workers on the line, and telling them to vote yes. Can anyone from that Local verify that this was happening? Of course just like any reporter he is saying "SOURCES" told him that for the article. We all know what code word for sources is!

I have not heard that from any reliable source. They are going to ask for inverse layoff on the transit side to get the night shift up and trained before they start both shifts. They have hired more people in recent weeks and had more testing so the 3rd shift is not going away.

The one thing I am trying to figure out is why anybody is volunteering to work any overtime? If it is mandatory then you work, but if not when they canvas the shop all departments and plants say "NO". We need to send a message right now that we are not going to take it anymore. Come September 2015 we want 4 years of raises 10%,6%,5%, and 4%, cola back, 6 min per hour for break, and do away with the 2nd tier wage. If that is not agreed upon by the company our delegates walk out, call the plants and we walk out on strike immediately. STOP THE VOLUNTEERING it is the only way we can send a message to the company without threat of retribution.

We are going to have a big problem come contract in 2015. There are to many workers that look out for themselves instead of the big picture. People keep volunteering to work overtime, and all that does is verify what the company is trying to do split the membership. By not volunteering that is the only way that we can stand up to the company without retribution. If every dept worked what is mandatory and stopped volunteering to fix things like body, paint, line working and doing repairs the company would be coming to the Union asking what we need to do to get production back working. All of the Temp givebacks that we gave the company to get them back on track were to be returned once the Company was profitable, was thrown back in our faces for what no signatures on the agreement. Give me a break it does not take 2 years for an arbitratior to see that. Then they have given management 2 raises the last couple of years.That is like kicking the dirt right in our faces, and I am not happy about it. People better start saving money because it is time to stand up and get back what is ours.

The COLA that you are talking about is in the Equity of Sacrifice Grievance along with all of the other concessions that we gave up during the 2007 Agreement. That is to be heard Nov 17 and 18. I keep asking people that say they are voting "NO" what they think we are going to get in return and I get the same answer " I DON'T KNOW". If we vote this proposal down people better realize that if the company gives us the 72 hour notice and they lock us out, because they do not have to go back to the bargaining table you will not have health insurance and if you have to go to the free market to get it be prepared for a big price tag. It will take no time to eat up that $6,000 signing bonus, another topic to think about is that Mullaly while at Boeing set into motion for Boeing to build a manufacturing plant in South Carolina to build the Dreamliner Plane with non union workers, moving a lot of the production from the Seattle (union) plant. This is not the time to vote no, we need to get all plants full of production first. Then the next contract we will have the leverage.

Can someone from Louisville tell me what type of layoff your plant is on (Temp, Perm, Involuntary ) and if you had to use your Sub-Pay credits?

We at KCAP were told that we were off the first week of the year because of parts shortage prior to leaving for Christmas shutdown. That is not new information. I am just concerned about the future with gas close to $3 gallon and predictions of $4 by summer. Not to mention recalls. If Ford states it is only a certain amount then all the sudden more need to be recalled the consumer will choose not to purchase them.

I cannot believe what I am reading about the recall on the F-150, because of possible fires due to a bad part. I see Bill Ford Jr on CNBC talking about how Ford is not going to make the same mistakes that it has made in the past. We were asking at KCAP why are we continuing to build them, when we were told that a 2011 truck caught fire, but it was the same old answer we will fix it once it is in the lot. We cannot keep shooting ourselves in the foot, If we are going to be known for Quality then stop production until it is fixed. Charge the parts manufacture for the down production time. With all of these car manufactures that are selling vehicles in the United States, and the new start ups we cannot be linked to the past problems that plagued Ford. Alan Mullaly needs to work on the old style management now that we have refreshed products. We are finally winning a lot of customers back plus getting new ones to Ford products because we did not take the bailout, but bad news of Quality problems can bring momentum to a halt.

Ford was getting alot of good press this morning on "MORNING JOE". Talking about the new Hybrid Fusion and the mpg that its producing and that this is what americans need to help out in the future. Then Ford is the only one not taking bailout money and Field replied that they want to make it on their own. Then he was asked where the Fusion was built and he stated Mexico. Then Joe asked the million dollar question what is the bigest problem with not building them in the United States? He said most of the vehicles are built in the United States. The video should be on line later this morning on MSNBC.com

From what I am hearing Gettlefinger is retiring in early 2010. So we know how Ford is they could have used him to get this packaged passed with a promise then when he retires close Louisville just like it was stated earlier. Until I see something in writing with an official letterhead anything can happen to any plant after a product has ran its cycle.

Invisible, Ford has stated we need two plants to build the F-150. So if DTP does get retooled what plant is going to get the rest of the F-150's ?

KCAP Trucks is only off 8 business days for xmas, the suv side is down longer.

If the big three go bankrupt and the pensions are funneled to the Pension Benefit Guarentee Company you will only get 30% of your pension. All you have to do is look at the Airline and Steel Industry. It is a shame but most people do not care about peoples pensions.

Hey Harry Bennet at least get your facts straight we do have co-pays on our insurance. And the UAW is taking over the health insurance in Jan 2010. So we have given back to help the company out. And there are alot of people working in the plants that have college degree's. So go easy when attacking people.

If anyone watched the debates you seen McCain look right in the camera and stated several times that Social Security was an easy fix. If it is such an easy fix then after 26 years in congress Mccain has not been able to get it accomplished. For us auto workers this is a big issue because if the Big 3 go bankrupt we will only recieve 30% of our pension. Mccain was a better candidate in 2000 but Bush 43 and his cronies slapped this War Veteran upside the head and threw him in the ditch and kicked dirt on him. But now they love him go figure who needs friends like that, and who would want to vote for him. Not me

Two weeks ago at KCAP when they had the launch of the 09 F-150 with all the big wigs there for the media, Henricks stated that Ford will stay with the F-150. It will rebound from what the sales are now once the economy returns to normalcy,and stated Ford will need 2 plants to build the F-150's and 1 Plant to build the Super Duty. Is this just talk or the truth? time will tell.

Hey lquidspine I was just asking a question because i read the article in the KC Paper written by Sarah A Webster from the Detroit Free press stating what i wrote early. Boy some one needs to take a chill pill you are wrapped way to tight. I did not say I believed it but i like to get the facts before jumping to conclusions.

Can someone from DTP verify a report that was printed in the KC Star that hourly workers have been teaching salaried workers how to build the 09 F150 station by station using the same instructions and tools that the hourly workers use. And how is that going?

During the process of asking people if they wanted to be transfered to the new C Crew on the Suv side. The question was brought up about the order bank on the Hybrid Escape and the Area manager stated it was shortage of batteries why there are not more produced on a daily basis. The vendor cannot keep up with their contractual obligation for the amount Ford wants to build. This is a shame because customers do not want to wait for a product they will go else where.

I agree S.Knight we cannot give up every truck plant that is why I believe that they will slow down the lines and go to mass relief as well as down weeks. Because Ford has the #1 Truck and when the construction business fires back up you will see consumers buying the F150 again. You do not want to be caught by not having the capacity to meet the demands. If they used plug ins and hydrogen for cars and cross overs as well as small Suvs they could use oil for trucks. Because they use more energy and I am not sure in the immediate future they can find a alternative to gas for trucks with the demand for power the need.

One thing people are forgetting is that when you have or start a business the first thought is what am I going to produce,build or service you are going to offer. If you ask consumers what type of vehicle they would like to drive most of them say SUV's, Trucks, and performance vehicles. But fuel prices are causing them to change their minds. Take a look at Toyota and Honda they never used to build SUV's and Trucks but they seen how many consumers were willing to buy them which brought big profits for the companies. Ford, GM and Chrysler did nothing wrong they were just building what the consumers were wanting. Even though the media beats up the Big 3 for producing Suv's and Trucks but given a pass to Toyota and Honda for building them. If fuel prices were $1.50 to $1.90 a gallon the Suv and Truck plants would be working overtime.

There is only a small group of people that know what the outcome is going to be and that will be announced shortly in Dearborn. I think Ford will start by eliminating 1 shift at DTP then have some down weeks for both plants then if things are not better one of the plants will get all of the F150's and the other plant will get a new product (car). But I do know that Ford better be prepared to bring out some better vehicles ( hydrogen, plug in electrics) and soon because we are getting beat up on by the media. And that adds to the problems we already have wtih the american car buyer. They believe we are lazy and overpaid and our vehicles are not as well built and more reliable.Toyota and Honda are getting alot of good (free) press with announcements of vehicles being ready for buyers in 2010. Alot of magazines or papers that show hybrids usually have a picture of a foriegn car not one of the Big Three of Detroit. A majority of UAW workers will be spared but others will be released. I still believe that the UAW needs to improve their image, with union workers in this country down to 11% the masses in this country are not in favor of joining unions that is a fact. We are in for a rough road ahead.

A little facts about KCAP the plant has 4.7 million sq ft of space on 1,269 acres with empty land still with no buildings on it. Does that mean KC will stay open over other plants in the future who knows. Ford better come up with attractable and reliable cars and trucks over the next few years without recalls or it may not matter. I would like to see Ford management have monthly or bi-monthly meetings with the labor force for ideas and on what options would be nice on vehicles.