Post by TonyV on Jan 21, 2010 15:04:43 GMT -5
Few take Ford's latest buyout offer, union says
Those who wanted deals took them already, leader finds
BY BRENT SNAVELY
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
A buyout program Ford is offering to its 41,000 hourly workers is yielding few interested volunteers, UAW officials told the Free Press this week.
The enrollment period for the program, announced Dec. 17, is to expire Friday.
Ford has already cut its hourly workforce in North America by nearly half since 2005 through job cuts, plant closures and buyout programs.
Last spring, about 1,000 hourly workers, or just 2.4% of Ford's hourly workforce in the U.S., volunteered for a similar buyout offer.
"They've offered it so many times, the ones that wanted them already took them," said Rocky Comito, president of UAW Local 862, who said only handfuls of workers at two assembly plants in Kentucky that employ 5,800 have signed up for the buyout.
Ford is offering eligible production and skilled trades workers who accept early retirement or a buyout lump-sum payments from $20,000 to $50,000 and either a $25,000 vehicle voucher or a $20,000 payment.
But with Ford's financial prospects improving and the possibility of finding another good-paying job in today's economy grim, Ford's latest buyout offer is viewed by workers as too small -- especially when Ford is gaining market share and reporting surprise profits.
"It doesn't do much for people," said Jeff Terry, president of UAW Local 228, which represents more than 2,000 workers at Ford's axle plant in Sterling Heights.
If enough workers accept the offer, Nick Kottalis, president and chairman of UAW Local 600's Dearborn Truck unit, said Ford might be able to bring some part-time workers back to work. But so far, he said, only about five workers had volunteered at Dearborn Truck Plant.
"It is very hard for an assembler with 10 years in to take a buyout," Kottalis said.
Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans said the majority of workers who volunteer for a buyout typically make their decision during the final days of the enrollment period.
Contact BRENT SNAVELY: 313-222-6512 or bsnavely@freepress.com
Those who wanted deals took them already, leader finds
BY BRENT SNAVELY
FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER
A buyout program Ford is offering to its 41,000 hourly workers is yielding few interested volunteers, UAW officials told the Free Press this week.
The enrollment period for the program, announced Dec. 17, is to expire Friday.
Ford has already cut its hourly workforce in North America by nearly half since 2005 through job cuts, plant closures and buyout programs.
Last spring, about 1,000 hourly workers, or just 2.4% of Ford's hourly workforce in the U.S., volunteered for a similar buyout offer.
"They've offered it so many times, the ones that wanted them already took them," said Rocky Comito, president of UAW Local 862, who said only handfuls of workers at two assembly plants in Kentucky that employ 5,800 have signed up for the buyout.
Ford is offering eligible production and skilled trades workers who accept early retirement or a buyout lump-sum payments from $20,000 to $50,000 and either a $25,000 vehicle voucher or a $20,000 payment.
But with Ford's financial prospects improving and the possibility of finding another good-paying job in today's economy grim, Ford's latest buyout offer is viewed by workers as too small -- especially when Ford is gaining market share and reporting surprise profits.
"It doesn't do much for people," said Jeff Terry, president of UAW Local 228, which represents more than 2,000 workers at Ford's axle plant in Sterling Heights.
If enough workers accept the offer, Nick Kottalis, president and chairman of UAW Local 600's Dearborn Truck unit, said Ford might be able to bring some part-time workers back to work. But so far, he said, only about five workers had volunteered at Dearborn Truck Plant.
"It is very hard for an assembler with 10 years in to take a buyout," Kottalis said.
Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans said the majority of workers who volunteer for a buyout typically make their decision during the final days of the enrollment period.
Contact BRENT SNAVELY: 313-222-6512 or bsnavely@freepress.com