ETAP

[JoePieper]

Rumor going around we are getting ETAP reinstated. Any truth to this?

[TonyV]

detnews.com/article/20100514/AUTO01/5140348/1148/Ford-to-restore-tuition-aid-for-workers


detnews.com/article/20100513/AUTO01/5130497/1148/Ford-to-restore-tuition-help-for-union-workers

[ScottR@KTP]

Get your arses in the classroom people.

[Ironman2301]

May 14, 2010 2:51:26 GMT -5 ScottR@KTP said:

Get your arses in the classroom people.

I Agree with that Scott!!!! Can't wait to get back to school!

[bo862]

Does the union have an official date that this goes into effect ?

[lap65]

That is great news, however it does little to nothing to make up for white collar getting raises & bonuses back. So few people use ETAP, this is token at best & a slap in the face at worst. How about reinstating cola & yearly raise, 1% would be better than nothing. Better yet I would forgo cola & raises until contract time to get sub & benefits back for our laid off brothers & sisters.

[marcus]

Im with Lap65 on this.

[jkiel]

Good points by all on this!

Given a choice, I'd much rather get something to help our retirees, or our laid-off coworkers.

Having said that, I'll sign-up for a class when ETAP does restart. Can't hurt.

[Itchy]

Sure wish we'd get our kids tuition money back. I guess Ford is more interested in getting us educated and then showing us the door. Oh well...

[SteveGoodlett]

As far as I am concerned they can keep the ETAP money. Give me back my pay raises, paid holiday, lost break time, COLA, Previous OT Provisions, etc . . . Education money is a good benefit, most people don't use it. Everybody can use money and extra break time. Just my 2 cents

[trinitus]

The way I see it, the small amount of people who do in fact use ETAP does not reflect what we gave up as a whole. Ford still will come out on top if this is the only thing they give us back. The top three things i would like to see come back is

1. All bonuses. This includes the performance bonus and Christmas bonus plus any other bonus we would have gotten untill the end of this contract.

2. COLA. Enough said.

3. This one is a tie between OT standards and Lost break time. Still thinking which one would benefit me the most.

Of course I would like to see something go to the laidoff members as well.

[marcus]

I agree goodlett!

[bo862]

Absolutely. We need to take everything back. That includes everyone making the same amount of money regardless of seniority and find a way to fix everything that we gave up from the retirees.

Until then, it will be stupid to throw 4k away each year in etap benefits.

[kessinger]

I never even considered using ETAP before. After what we have went through I will be using it. Phoenix University online is approved and I know everyone on here has a PC. Hard to pass it up when you can use ETAP from your bedroom.

Here is their link if you want to see what they have: www.phoenix.edu/

[trinitus]

Damn Kessinger I thought you were an old country fart like me, unless this school offer's Moonshing 101, I doubt I would ever use it.

[trunkmonkey]

Go back to college, absolute yes. Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT attend U of Phoenix. You will be sorry. I just ESCAPED this "college". You have been warned and will be highly disappointed. These private colleges are nothing more than diploma mills. You will have wasted your money BIG TIME. JCTS (JEFFERSON COMMUNITY TECHNICAL COLLEGE) is an inexpensive college that is an honorable alternative to the more expensive U of L. Start there but do not sign up for U of Phoenix. You will be sorry. U of Louisville is a good option too.

[ScottR@KTP]

You better listen to trunkmonkey...I looked into Phoenix, but thankfully never attended. They are outrageously priced. JCTCS is the best when starting...use the ULTRA program and everything transfers to UL with no problems. Best of luck!
And check out UL...they offer 100% online degrees now. My last @ 80 hrs were completed online.

[wplap]

The whole point of them giving back the ETAP funds...is that NOBODY uses it! It's a great situation for them: They placate us with a niblet of good faith and the only thing it will cost them is maybe 10% of the UAW will take advantage? I say we all go back to school(I know I am) and at least burn through some of their cash. Shit, maybe we can get the UAW to sponsor a fraternity at UofL! Remember you old pervs: There be coeds out there!

[kessinger]

Trinitus,
Gonna get me sum dat der edumaction.

Mostly just remember how nervous I was when we weren't working much and I hadn't used it for something. Sounds like UL is the right choice though.

[inspect96]

Try Northwood..its a good college and thats where I recieved my degree with ETAP money. If your looking for a graduate degree try Webster.

I have also heard that Lap and KTP use ETAP money more than any other plant in the system.


It would be nice to have jobs balanced instead of the Etap money. This new truck added alot of new parts but not many new jobs. We've been fighting work for 3 months and still "were working on it" give me a break!!

[ktploner]

I am not sure about undergrad, but I am a little over halfway through with my Masters from Webster. It is pretty pricey but ETAP will pick up about 3 grad classes per year. Undergrad work is a little less expensive, but not sure of specifics. The best thing about Webster is that the bill goes directly to Ford so all you have to do is fill out the form on www.myuawford.com and it is all taken care of. There is no reimbursement or anything else. Sign up, fill out the form, and go. You can check everything on Webster's site to see if it goes through. The online classes are ice because you can do them at your convenience, but you have to be dedicated enough to keep up. Everything (chats, assignments, quizzes, etc) are all due at the end of the week so there really is not falling behind. If you don't keep up with the schedule, it becomes difficult fast.

[Calvin@KTP]

May 24, 2010 10:37:18 GMT -5 wplap said:

The whole point of them giving back the ETAP funds...is that NOBODY uses it! It's a great situation for them: They placate us with a niblet of good faith and the only thing it will cost them is maybe 10% of the UAW will take advantage? I say we all go back to school(I know I am) and at least burn through some of their cash. Shit, maybe we can get the UAW to sponsor a fraternity at UofL! Remember you old pervs: There be coeds out there!

Bingo...They are just throwing us a bone to help with the equity of sacrifice grievance that the union has with the company. ETAP is nothing but a drop in the bucket of what we gave up.

[bo862]

I am assuming that international is still fighting for the grievance on the rest of the issues, and that we will receive the equivalent to what was given back to salary soon. If not, the membership should be informed of what is going on with the grievance and why we are not going to receive our share of the benefits.

[readyandaimedatyou]

Are there any trade skills that are covered under this program? Any online for trades as well?

thanks in advance for answering...

[marcus]

We shouldnt have to fight a job for three months!

[kessinger]

The kentucky community colleges have full programs online now. And UofL's website says they accept the credits from the online courses.

[Itchy]

Does etap cover books?

[inspect96]

It cover only 150.00 a year or thats what it cover before.

[bo862]

It reimburses up to $200 per year.