Decker Posted May 2, 2018 Share Posted May 2, 2018 (edited) With the negotiations about 12 months away, as you can read in these statements from a Ford VP the ground work is being put in place. (again....) "What that means is a downturn is coming, and we don`t know when," our VP Galhotra explained. "but when it does, GM will have every motivation and the capability to get into a price war with us to drive us into negative territory". "Galhotra, reiterated the bottom line: The objective has never been clearer. When the next economic downturn arrives, Ford will enter it from a position of strength". "We have to get there, and this is how we are going to get there - by working differently", said Galhotra. But if these behaviors and principles only stay on the 11th floor at world headquarters, it`s not going to be effective. The change has to be made in all parts of the organization. We need everyone's help to succeed". (you think by saying everyone's help, he meant those helping souls attached to the late great IUAW?) Then add in the mysterious use of EBIT instead of Profit by Fords CEO and the picture is starting to come a little clearer. What do the pencil pushers have up their sleeve? Now roll in the Fed`s keeping our royals really pre occupied with that little thing about training funds... and the I don`t want to seek another term or the mail my last check cause I retired syndrome... Maybe Jimmie will stick around as a paid consultant to explain "it`s the best contract we could get" or "you all should be thankful you even have j-o-b-s"? Then our new grand poobaa will make the speeches about we have to help Ford so they don`t go bankrupt. Then again there may be a new twist, "we got all these new jobs so we need to have more tiers and the legacy members can afford to give up 10 dollars an hour as their equity in sacrifice".... Get ready, its a commin..... Edited May 2, 2018 by Decker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jose Posted May 2, 2018 Share Posted May 2, 2018 Couldn't agree more the writing is on the wall. Supposedly MAP will only be 1 shift for 18 months once they come up. AAI is losing product all setting up fpr the company come next sept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted May 2, 2018 Share Posted May 2, 2018 Supposedly MAP will only be 1 shift for 18 months once they come up. Until the Bronco launches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deflep1 Posted May 5, 2018 Share Posted May 5, 2018 Decker, I and most workers at Flat Rock have seen this coming for awhile. Ford is cutting spending on almost everything. We have a hard time getting new batteries for our bluetooth guns, most tugs are pulling parts trains with batteries that don't hold a charge and could die any minute, new parts racks are very rare, the bathrooms flood and half the toilets are broken. Ford won't even allow treatment of injuries unless it's a broken bone or deep cut. If you go to medical and say I hurt my back, shoulder, knee, whatever...they tell you it didn't happen here. They will give you ice to put on it and tell you you're not allowed to seek treatment for this injury at the plant again, you'll have to see your own doctor for it. They are forcing workers out by saying it's a personal injury and there is no work available. Ford knows a big downturn is coming and knows their customer base is shrinking rapidly. They are in total survival mode because they see how many sub prime car loans for them (and the industry) are being defaulted on. Leases are one third of all new sales, and defaults on those are rising fast too. They know potential customers under the age of 30 can't afford a new cars without their parents help. I saw on Dave Ramsey's financial radio show that 21% of all federal student loans in the last 2 years are guaranteed to default because those "students" actually took all the money from the loan and bought Bitcoin with it! That's millions of young people who will NEVER qualify for a car loan or lease, let alone save enough cash to buy one outright. I agree Ford will ask for major concessions in the next contract to keep their "profit margins on target". I believe they will try to buyout and convert future pensions into 401K's, and pay cuts and more tiers are certainly a possibility. The union will sell us out to keep their numbers and dues at high levels. Ford can make higher profits on trucks, SUV's and crossovers, but those sticker prices are getting WAY too high for more and more people to even THINK of affording. Gas prices can be a budget concern, but insurance prices are what will put a new car out of reach soon for millions. A lot of people actually pay more per month for insurance than their LEASE payment! Get one ticket if you're under age 26 and your rates can double overnight! For most of us who saw the crash of 2008 coming, Americans are in WAY worse shape financially now, as compared to 10 years ago. Wages are flat, rent / food / utilities are WAY higher and debt levels have doubled in the last decade. You remember asking back then, "how are these people able to afford these big houses and new cars"...it's the same as now...THEY'RE NOT! Ford knows they are only a few major lawsuits or large recalls away from being bankrupt. They know we workers are the biggest cost they have and will ask for concessions to stay profitable. Yes Decker, it's a commin'! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmooret Posted May 5, 2018 Share Posted May 5, 2018 Actually our labor cost accounts for less than 10% of the price of a vehicle. This is what was told to us by the company (complete with pie charts!) years ago when we still had a decent salary. However, since the concessions started some time back these pie charts have disappeared and are no longer a part of presentations. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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