Post by TonyV on Oct 7, 2011 2:58:06 GMT -5
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I want to thank the membership for your patience during the National negotiations. It was a great
honor and opportunity to represent Local 862 at the National negotiations. This time in Detroit was a huge
learning experience for me as both a union official and a person. It forced me to look at the entire
membership of the UAW and not just Kentucky Truck Plant. As a team we had to face, the company's
desire to close plants, increase the number of Entry Level employees, consolidate skilled trades and
reduce fixed costs overall. This set of negotiations was very difficult; we were looking for strong gains
from the company. As we know, Ford Motor Company has started to make a consistent profit due to
sacrifices the membership has made in the past modifications. Unlike GM and Chrysler, we have stood
on our own to weather this economic downturn and emerge a better company.
The tentative agreement that we have brought to the membership is a good agreement. It is not a
perfect agreement, but a good agreement. We gave nothing back from the previous set of modifications
and made gains on several fronts. I have always tried to be as transparent and honest with the
membership throughout my time as your chairman. I have never asked or told you to vote a certain way
on any issue. I simply tell you my opinion, list the facts, and ask you to vote the way you feel is right for
you and your family.
I was on the team that negotiated this tentative agreement and I will vote to ratify it. It does not
have everything that I had hoped to gain in this round of negotiations, such as a pay raise or cost of living
allowance. I was a very strong and vocal proponent of these issues at the table. This tentative agreement
does give us stronger job security in assembly plants across the United States and the ability to move
forward to reap additional financial gains from a profitable Ford Motor Company. It allows the union's
numbers to grow in the United States which will put us in a stronger bargaining position in the future.
The contract does have huge gains in the form of new work coming into the United States from
Mexico, China, and Japan. This will lead to the creation of twelve thousand additional union jobs to help
swell our dwindling ranks. At Kentucky Truck Plant this equates to an investment of $621 million. This
investment will create 53 new jobs; add a new stamping press and guarantee production of the next
generation of Super Duty. This tentative agreement will also help to close the disparity between the Entry
Level employees and those of us that have been with the company. This will help to combat the two-tier
division that possibly could fracture the solidarity of our Union in the upcoming years.
Profit sharing also has the potential to be a huge financial gain for the membership. The new
formula includes greater transparency and all profits from North America (including Mexico and Canada)
are now included in the formula. The profit sharing formula used to calculate our share would be based
on the profit that Ford Motor Company reports to its stockholders. There is not an opportunity to
manipulate the numbers with "one time" expenditures.
Please take time to read the language that is available at www.uaw.org or www.uaw862.org. We
are waiting on the highlights to be delivered to the hall. Once we have them we will distribute them to the
membership. Educate yourself on the tentative agreement and make your own decision on whether to
vote yes or no. Do not fall prey to other people telling you how to vote or giving you misleading
information. Read for yourself and ask questions. There will be a meeting on October 15, 2011, at 10:00
am to do just this. It will be at the Louisville Assembly Union Hall. I along with representatives from the
International Union and Negotiating team will be available to answer all your questions. Ratification voting
will take place in the plant on Monday October 17, 2011, and Tuesday October 18, 2011. The polls will
open at 5am on Monday and close at 5pm on Tuesday. Polls will be located in the FCPA building next to
the end of the chassis lines.
As always, I want to thank the membership for your continued support and look forward to talking
with you about the tentative agreement. I will be in the plant walking the floor today and tomorrow. Please
feel free to ask any questions to me that you might have regarding this tentative agreement. I truly believe
that taking the entire agreement into account that it is a good agreement and should be ratified.
In Solidarity,
Scott Eskridge
I want to thank the membership for your patience during the National negotiations. It was a great
honor and opportunity to represent Local 862 at the National negotiations. This time in Detroit was a huge
learning experience for me as both a union official and a person. It forced me to look at the entire
membership of the UAW and not just Kentucky Truck Plant. As a team we had to face, the company's
desire to close plants, increase the number of Entry Level employees, consolidate skilled trades and
reduce fixed costs overall. This set of negotiations was very difficult; we were looking for strong gains
from the company. As we know, Ford Motor Company has started to make a consistent profit due to
sacrifices the membership has made in the past modifications. Unlike GM and Chrysler, we have stood
on our own to weather this economic downturn and emerge a better company.
The tentative agreement that we have brought to the membership is a good agreement. It is not a
perfect agreement, but a good agreement. We gave nothing back from the previous set of modifications
and made gains on several fronts. I have always tried to be as transparent and honest with the
membership throughout my time as your chairman. I have never asked or told you to vote a certain way
on any issue. I simply tell you my opinion, list the facts, and ask you to vote the way you feel is right for
you and your family.
I was on the team that negotiated this tentative agreement and I will vote to ratify it. It does not
have everything that I had hoped to gain in this round of negotiations, such as a pay raise or cost of living
allowance. I was a very strong and vocal proponent of these issues at the table. This tentative agreement
does give us stronger job security in assembly plants across the United States and the ability to move
forward to reap additional financial gains from a profitable Ford Motor Company. It allows the union's
numbers to grow in the United States which will put us in a stronger bargaining position in the future.
The contract does have huge gains in the form of new work coming into the United States from
Mexico, China, and Japan. This will lead to the creation of twelve thousand additional union jobs to help
swell our dwindling ranks. At Kentucky Truck Plant this equates to an investment of $621 million. This
investment will create 53 new jobs; add a new stamping press and guarantee production of the next
generation of Super Duty. This tentative agreement will also help to close the disparity between the Entry
Level employees and those of us that have been with the company. This will help to combat the two-tier
division that possibly could fracture the solidarity of our Union in the upcoming years.
Profit sharing also has the potential to be a huge financial gain for the membership. The new
formula includes greater transparency and all profits from North America (including Mexico and Canada)
are now included in the formula. The profit sharing formula used to calculate our share would be based
on the profit that Ford Motor Company reports to its stockholders. There is not an opportunity to
manipulate the numbers with "one time" expenditures.
Please take time to read the language that is available at www.uaw.org or www.uaw862.org. We
are waiting on the highlights to be delivered to the hall. Once we have them we will distribute them to the
membership. Educate yourself on the tentative agreement and make your own decision on whether to
vote yes or no. Do not fall prey to other people telling you how to vote or giving you misleading
information. Read for yourself and ask questions. There will be a meeting on October 15, 2011, at 10:00
am to do just this. It will be at the Louisville Assembly Union Hall. I along with representatives from the
International Union and Negotiating team will be available to answer all your questions. Ratification voting
will take place in the plant on Monday October 17, 2011, and Tuesday October 18, 2011. The polls will
open at 5am on Monday and close at 5pm on Tuesday. Polls will be located in the FCPA building next to
the end of the chassis lines.
As always, I want to thank the membership for your continued support and look forward to talking
with you about the tentative agreement. I will be in the plant walking the floor today and tomorrow. Please
feel free to ask any questions to me that you might have regarding this tentative agreement. I truly believe
that taking the entire agreement into account that it is a good agreement and should be ratified.
In Solidarity,
Scott Eskridge