Scott Eskridges letter-january 27th

[TonyV]

Scott Eskridges letter-January 27th:




Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Ford Motor Company announced that it will add one
thousand two hundred (1,200) additional jobs at the Chicago Assembly Plant. These
jobs will allow the plant to add an additional shift of production. This announcement has
resulted in a number of questions by our members as to whether these openings could
affect us at Kentucky Truck Plant. Steve Stone the LAP Building Chairman has been
working with the International union and Labor Affairs to make sure that his people that
want to transfer with the product will have that opportunity. At this time there is no
agreement of a "Transfer of Operations." If this agreement is reached anyone who
turns down the opportunity will not have a strike assessed to them per the JSP. There
is an additional letter from the modifications that protects LAP and KTP employees
during the lag time between the launch of the explorer at Chicago and the launch of the
new product at LAP. It states " where there is good business case, the parties have
agreed to work together to minimize churning and the unnecessary relocation of idled
employees who may be required for near term openings in that zone". In my opinion, it
would not be beneficial to the company to ask people to transfer to Chicago, when in a
short time frame; they are going to need people for the new product at LAP.
Furthermore, before they would even get into forcing people to Chicago, they would
have to go to all the plants that have people laid off and try to first get volunteers from
those employees both laid off and working. If there are not enough volunteers to fill the
required number they would have to re-solicit all the plants that have people that are
indefinitely laid off or in protective status and go thru the process of asking those people
if they want to take the transfer or have a strike assessed to them per the JSP. This
has not happened yet and I do not see it happening in this situation. The reason I say
that is that it is not beneficial to the company to spend money to send people to Chicago
and less than a year later, have them move back to LAP. Also, with not forcing people
to go, this would give the company a chance to hire people at a lower rate. At this time I
do not believe that anyone at KTP has to worry about being forced to Chicago.
I also want to stress the importance of quality at this time.
We are building the last of the 2010 Super Duties while preparing for the launch of the
new 2011 Super Duty in February. The launch of the new Super Duty is very important
and the success of this launch is being counted on to financially carry Ford Motor
Company through next year. Ford Motor Company has received very positive press
lately with its improvement in quality and model selection. Toyota has been in the news
with a massive quality and safety issue involving the sticking of some of their
accelerator pedals. As a result of this Toyota has halted assembly and sales of eight
vehicles that this issue involves. The press is finally giving some of these Toyota recalls
the same attention that has been given to US auto makers in the past. This is a great
opportunity for Ford Motor Company to further separate itself in quality from Toyota and
to reinforce that we are now truly the leader in quality.
In Solidarity,





[rudedawg]

Excuse me while I pull the knife out of my back.

[elmer]

He's giving Ford way to much credit for doing the right thing for it's workers. Just ask those laid-off LAP workers how Ford treated them. Ford will do anything it can to try and put as much hardship on it's laid-off members, Ford wants them to take a buyout or give up their pay and benefits.

[kessinger]

Where is he giving Ford credit for doign the right thing for its workers? The letter was negotiated by the UAW. Maybe I am missing what you are seeing, please elaborate? Same question to both of you guys.

[rudedawg]

If your referring to me just give me a clue as to what you're talking about and I'll give you an answer.

[elmer]

If you read the letter it clearly is assuming that Ford will do something that they have not agreed to.

Now lets look at the facts LAP laid off could be survey to go to Chicago problay around June. If they the LAP workers have more time then a current worker at KTP he can roll him forcing that worker to chose between losing his pay and benefits or moving to Chicago. Now that is fact that’s in the contract everything else is bullshit. Here’s a few statements form the letter that Kissinger says is all fact and where negotiated by 862.

"In my opinion, it
Would not be beneficial to the company to ask people to transfer to Chicago, when in a
Short time frame; they are going to need people for the new product at LAP"

“If there are not enough volunteers to fill the
required number they would have to re-solicit all the plants that have people that are
indefinitely laid off or in protective status and go thru the process of asking those people
if they want to take the transfer or have a strike assessed to them per the JSP. This
has not happened yet and I do not see it happening in this situation. The reason I say that is that it is not beneficial to the company to spend money to send people to Chicago and less than a year later, have them move back to LAP. Also, with not forcing people to go, this would give the company a chance to hire people at a lower rate. At this time I
do not believe that anyone at KTP has to worry about being forced to Chicago”

The above statement in bold is assuming Ford will do this but according to you this is a fact and has been negotiated.

[TonyV]

Elmer, I believe he was referring to the letter "Future Staffing Issues-zone 7, Louisville area"

Scott's letter is as accurate as you could put out at the time. The I-UAW will be making this 'business case' soon. Your highlighted area is just part of the 'business case' that will be presented.

The only reason I posted the letter was for the ones that may not have received it on the floor at KTP.

That letter, by the way, was put in the modification to help out in this situation. It could potentially help the ones on ILO from LAP avoid a 'strike' against them.

I was just passing along info - I did not mean to incite...........

[elmer]

Yes thanks Tony, I'll I know is that nothing has been agreed to by the Company yet and Scott was assuming that they(Ford) would agree to his plan, and I hope they do.

But I have a many Friends at LAP who where told that they had it in writing that would be able to work until 11/09. They where told many times that if they where laid-off it would be as a TLO so they had noting to worry about. And now there telling the current workers that when LAP goes down for retool they will be classified as TLO.

[rudedawg]

In my opinion, it
would not be beneficial to the company to ask people to transfer to Chicago, when in a
short time frame; they are going to need people for the new product at LAP.

I've already been screwed once by being put on ILO when I was told I'd be on TLO until we come back after retool. Now if I'm reading this right the above statement means basically f*&k those on ILO. Don't let them transfer because their pay and benefits are about to run out anyway. Although I agree with that statment in a Company perspective I in no way would have ever thought a high union official would put that in a letter.

Now if would excuse me I need to see if I can get the tire tracks out of my shirt from the bus that just run over me.

[elmer]

rudedawg you will be able to follow the explorer to Chicago and if you decide to go luck Chicago is a great city the only negative is the cost of living. But you can live in Indiana or outside the city to save money.

[rudedawg]

The only way I'll be going to Chicago is with it written in blood that I get to come back. Just waiting to see what will become of this business case crap.

[lucero]

Amen rudedawg, I amsick of being in limbo! Its like they dont want us to work. For those whining about having to work a full shift at KTP friday night, I'll gladly trade places with you.

[ScottR@KTP]

LOL...I hear ya! Actually, Ford really doesn't want you to work. They want 20% of the workforce to be new wage workers...ASAP.

[lucero]

I understand the whole " not churning" thing, but some of us would go to chicago for 6 months or longer if we can come back home. If given the option to go or roll someone at KTP, with my seniority, I would rather bide my time up north than be low man. I just wish the local would hurry up and give some info so I know my options. Just my .02

[kessinger]

Feb 2, 2010 11:39:31 GMT -5 rudedawg said:

In my opinion, it
would not be beneficial to the company to ask people to transfer to Chicago, when in a
short time frame; they are going to need people for the new product at LAP.

I've already been screwed once by being put on ILO when I was told I'd be on TLO until we come back after retool. Now if I'm reading this right the above statement means basically f*&k those on ILO. Don't let them transfer because their pay and benefits are about to run out anyway. Although I agree with that statment in a Company perspective I in no way would have ever thought a high union official would put that in a letter.

Now if would excuse me I need to see if I can get the tire tracks out of my shirt from the bus that just run over me.

Ok, I don't see how giving you our honest opinion of how things will go based on the situation is a knife in your back but ok. Just post what you want to hear in the future a so I can just cut and paste it back to you.

Now, since you think we are stabbing you let me give you some truth of how we are trying to help you. We have asked the IUAW to let us solicit KTP now in hopes that some of LAP's laid off workers could fill in those spots of people who want to tranfer from here to Chicago. This may happen anyway if they dont fill the positions in the other steps of the placement hiearchy but we have asked if we can move that up the list in the process.

[kessinger]

Hopefully they will be taking you guys out of limbo tommorow.

[rudedawg]

Feb 3, 2010 22:26:37 GMT -5 kessinger said:

Feb 2, 2010 11:39:31 GMT -5 rudedawg said:

In my opinion, it
would not be beneficial to the company to ask people to transfer to Chicago, when in a
short time frame; they are going to need people for the new product at LAP.

I've already been screwed once by being put on ILO when I was told I'd be on TLO until we come back after retool. Now if I'm reading this right the above statement means basically f*&k those on ILO. Don't let them transfer because their pay and benefits are about to run out anyway. Although I agree with that statment in a Company perspective I in no way would have ever thought a high union official would put that in a letter.

Now if would excuse me I need to see if I can get the tire tracks out of my shirt from the bus that just run over me.

Ok, I don't see how giving you our honest opinion of how things will go based on the situation is a knife in your back but ok. Just post what you want to hear in the future a so I can just cut and paste it back to you.

Now, since you think we are stabbing you let me give you some truth of how we are trying to help you. We have asked the IUAW to let us solicit KTP now in hopes that some of LAP's laid off workers could fill in those spots of people who want to tranfer from here to Chicago. This may happen anyway if they dont fill the positions in the other steps of the placement hiearchy but we have asked if we can move that up the list in the process.

I guess I'm not allowed an opinion if it's not agreed upon by you. So correct me if I'm wrong but if in his opinion the company shouldn't ask anyone to go to Chicago because it doesn't benefit them there is no need to ask. So if he has an opinion that we can't get any of the benefits we recently lost there is no reason to even fight for it. What's the worst thing that could happen, they say no? Also he is saying that we should just lay in limbo because they will be needing us in a short time. In case you haven't figured it out but that limbo will be a year.
Now we are hearing about some modification that got passed that will prohibit us from rolling to KTP if there are younger people than us. Most the people I have talked to never heard anything about it. Even so, with us supposely being paid through re-tool it wouldn't have mattered at the time. Then we hear that we can go to Chicago and come back. Now that looks unlikely to happen. So sorry if you think I'm ungrateful but it seems we on ILO are just taking steps back.
Now all we can do is wait and see what happens and hope Ford takes care of it's people.

[lucero]

Feb 3, 2010 22:28:03 GMT -5 kessinger said:

Hopefully they will be taking you guys out of limbo tommorow.

Do you know something?

[kessinger]

They will be calling you guys and asking if you wish to goto Chicago on a transfer of operations transfer. We (KTP) wont be involved in that part but hopefully they will have an informational meeting for you guys prior to you having to make a decision.