Scott Eskridges Newsletter 8/31/2010

[TonyV]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The current order bank is: 32,079 Super Duty units, 7,261 Expedition units and
1,629 Navigator units.

The total number of tentative Saturdays has been reduced to
two. They are September 25 and October 9, 2010. The overtime that was anticipated
for the plant will begin to slow down after November 1, 2010.

Management has worked with us on the scheduling of lunch and last break in the
past at our request to accommodate the membership. Depending on the length of line
time, lunch and last break has been scheduled in a manner that would balance the work
day better. By doing this, some confusion has been created regarding the scheduled
break and lunch times. In order to alleviate all confusion, plant management and the
UAW have agreed to set break and lunch times regardless of scheduled line times. The
schedule for dayshift is first break at 9:00 am, lunch at noon and last break at 2:00 pm.
The night shift schedule is first break at 7:30 pm, lunch at 10:30 pm and last break at
12:30 am. These are the scheduled times and only one on each shift will be able to be
changed if necessary.

Last month I signed a joint letter with Plant Manager Joe Bobnar addressed to
the Kentucky Congressional Delegation that represents the area of the Kentucky Truck
Plant. Those delegates were Senator McConnell, Senator Bunning and Representative
Yarmuth. The purpose of the letter was to invite the Congressmen to visit the Kentucky
Truck Plant during the Congressional in-district work period or another time that is
convenient for them. Ford Motor Company and the UAW want to showcase both the
products that are being built locally and the men and women that build them. The
resurgent Ford Motor Company and UAW are a fantastic story of cooperation and
perseverance that needs to be shared. Of the three invitations sent, only Representative
Yarmuth accepted and he will be in the plant taking a tour and visiting with employees
on September 1, 2010. Representative Yarmuth has been a friend to both Ford Motor
Company and the men and women of the UAW. He has consistently been an advocate
for the U.S. automotive industry. Regardless of political affiliation we must remember
those that have stepped up and helped the U.S. auto worker.

We have also had many calls concerning the paint parking lot lights. The lights
have been out for a couple days. This issue has been addressed and the lights should
be functional by Friday of this week.

We have three members that will be transferring to Michigan (DTP) on
September 27, 2010. I want to thank them for their service to Local 862 and KTP.

The Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom passes that were previously sold through the
UAW Local 862 still have refunds available!! Records indicate that there are members
who still have not claimed their refunds. All must be refunded by October 1, 2010. See
Scott Edwards, UAW Financial Secretary, at the Fern Valley Union Hall. After October
1, 2010, all unclaimed refunds will be donated to "Make A Wish" foundation.

The UAW Local 862 Bass Tournament is scheduled for Sunday, October 10,
2010, at Barren River Lake. The entry fee is $60.00 per boat and the registration
deadline is October 4, 2010. Entry forms are available at both UAW halls and the in
plant union office at KTP.

The regular UAW membership meeting has been rescheduled for September 7,
2010. The meetings will be at the LAP union hall on Fern Valley Road. Times are
12:00pm and 6:00pm.


The UAW Local 862 picnic will be at the Louisville Water Tower on Sunday,
September 26, 2010 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Food service is from 11:00 am to 4:00
pm. It is for all UAW Local 862 members, retirees, surviving spouses and their
immediate household members only. You must have Ford ID badge or union card
available for the parking attendant.

There will be two more chances to buy Cincinnati Reds tickets at a discounted
price for KTP and LAP employees. The games are Sunday September 12 and
Saturday October 2, 2010. Employees can purchase non-premium seating locations for
half-price. Tickets have to be purchased in advance of the game date in order to
receive the discount. To purchase these tickets visit www.reds.com/lapktp. The
password to order is: oval.

The Louisville Zoo World's largest Halloween party will start October 1 and run
through October 31, 2010. The UAW/Ford Employee's day is Saturday, October 30,
2010. We will work from 3:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Volunteers are needed to work. Please
call Mark Baker at 429-2688 for details.

The JDRF fundraising walk will be held on Saturday September 11, 2010. The
walk will be at Churchill Downs at 9:00 am. You can log on to www.walk.jdrf.org for
additional information.

In Solidarity,

Scott Eskridge

[driveshaftgrunt]

2 pm break on a 10 hour day...........

Great. Good times.


Nothing better than making sure you have a two hour plus run at the end of the day...............

EVERYBODY I talked to loves this idea, better to avoid the "confusion"............

[ScottR@KTP]

You weren't asked?

[tonyp]

LAP break times are 9:30 first break for 35 min...Lunch at 12...last break at 2:30 for 15 min
This is on a 10 hr day

[ktp399]

12:30 break for night shift was a great idea, glad we were asked what we thought about it.

[wplap]

It's not really a "UNION" when our representatives function in an autocratic fashion. Apparently they don't really give a shit about anyone's input, they are the law and the final word and we are just passengers in the Super Duty farce. The committeemen seemed to be fed up in dealing with our bitching when the company kept moving last break around. Apparently setting a rational last break schedule such as: 11:50pm for 8hr. shift: 12:30a for 9hr. shift: 1am for 10hr. shift was just too complicated for the boys in blue...not too mention the asinine management. In the end, it was the buffoonery of the company and the union for not agreeing to a floating last break schedule such as this. This is basic stuff and it really blows my mind, the level of incompetence both parties have shown. It's amateur hour at best: The company side runs this place like they have no idea what the hell they are doing and the "UNION" is chocked full of victims who just throw their hands up in the air and say "I don't know". It's true, you can't please everyone, but with the application of common sense, at least you sensibly justify your stance.

[readyandaimedatyou]

Well put Wlap..
these lazy asses have been off the line for far too long , there needs to be MORE churning of the flat butts, put some guys fresh off the line in there, who can appreciate what it means when we tell them we're getting %ucked.!!!!!!!!!!!!

[brizzel]

Sept 1, 2010 11:08:18 GMT -5 wplap said:

It's not really a "UNION" when our representatives function in an autocratic fashion. Apparently they don't really give a shit about anyone's input, they are the law and the final word and we are just passengers in the Super Duty farce. The committeemen seemed to be fed up in dealing with our bitching when the company kept moving last break around. Apparently setting a rational last break schedule such as: 11:50pm for 8hr. shift: 12:30a for 9hr. shift: 1am for 10hr. shift was just too complicated for the boys in blue...not too mention the asinine management. In the end, it was the buffoonery of the company and the union for not agreeing to a floating last break schedule such as this. This is basic stuff and it really blows my mind, the level of incompetence both parties have shown. It's amateur hour at best: The company side runs this place like they have no idea what the hell they are doing and the "UNION" is chocked full of victims who just throw their hands up in the air and say "I don't know". It's true, you can't please everyone, but with the application of common sense, at least you sensibly justify your stance.

I couldn't of said it better myself. Excellent post.

[kentucky250s]

forgot the end of the night you want it to be your easiest haul to get through and were not as tired knowing we only have a short distance to go , i wonder what the union traded off with the company to come up with this.........

[ktp399]

The floating break at the end was a good idea. Most people liked this idea. It was the bullshit early breaks that we don't like. Like 11:30 break for a couple job break down that pissed everybody off.

[meanjean]

Sept 1, 2010 11:08:18 GMT -5 wplap said:

{Apparently setting a rational last break schedule such as: 11:50pm for 8hr. shift: 12:30a for 9hr. shift: 1am for 10hr. shift was just too complicated}

Hit the nail right on the head there, wplap. How hard is that and who in the world would be confused by it but some moron. When they call line time, they could include the breaktime that fits. DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ScottR@KTP]

As usual, wplap understands the situation. He needs to become our speaker.

[driveshaftgrunt]

Oh , its even BETTER than I thought.


If we go 8 hrs, you know, home at 2:30............... We STILL will take break at 2:00. You know, to avoid the inevitable "confusion"...........

This is turning into a Bukowsky novel........


I'm on a quest, no a mission of epic proportions. I vow to dedicate my life to finding TWO people on the line who like this.......I say two, because finding one idiot is just too easy anymore.....

[wplap]

I had to keep telling myself today that we are talking about break times. How basic is that? It's not like this plant just opened last week and we are all new hires....

I honestly felt like Allen Iverson talkin' bout "practice" when discussing this with coworkers: Man, we talkin bout break times...really? Break times? We talkiin' bout when to break? Break times?

[wplap]

Fucking Bukowsky!

[JoePieper]

2:00 break to go home at 2:30. WOW i would rather just work through and take it on the end. Glad we only get two 20 min breaks in Body. On 3-11 its 6 and 9. Last Friday we went 10 and had two 25 min breaks at 6 and 9:30. Made sense and no one bitched but that was also a first time for that idea. I have worked in Frame and Trim and can honestly say you guys and gals get screwed damn near every day. Just remember when election time rolls around EVERYONE needs to get out and vote and get the lazy asses OUT.

[trinitus]

I have been waiting for Kessinger, Janes, Hughes or one of the Eskridge boys to come on here and comment on this. Since they haven't let me do my best imitation of them.

" This is Ford Motor Company and they set the breaks. They could give you 5 minutes every hour if they so choose to do so. Just be grateful that this Local was able to work out some sort of break schedule so they wouldn't do that to you guys. I know it isn't the best one but it was all we could do. "

Now all you long time KTP'ers answer this, is that not close enough to what they would tell us?

Just use some common sense here ands set it up for a ten hour day and adjust the breaks accordingly. Like MeanJean says just give break time when they call line time how hard and confusing is that. As for voting them out I laugh at that, the way they set it up they will never be put out unless they resign after you give them so much crap like the last two did.

[meanjean]

Sept 2, 2010 13:06:10 GMT -5 trinitus said:

" This is Ford Motor Company and they set the breaks. They could give you 5 minutes every hour if they so choose to do so.
Now all you long time KTP'ers answer this, is that not close enough to what they would tell us?

I can't say how many times I have heard this statement in my time here. A bunch

[ScottR@KTP]

Well done trinitus...well done. You prolly nailed it.

[brenteskridge]

Well I know that there are more than a few that are unhappy about this and I know that you are still not going to like the explanation that you read but here are the issue's surrounding this decision on the break schedule.

On night shift we have done in the past, that if we went under 9 hours that break would be at 11:50 and if we went over 9 hours that break would be at 1:00. We had several team leaders from different areas come to us asking if we could do a 12:30 instead of 1:00 just to break the time span up. The suggestion was brought to us I guess in the mindset that 12:30 would be better because we go to break then and the last run wouldn't be as long. This does make sense if we go 9-9.5 hours or less. Doesn't work so good going 10 hours.

We also heard a lot of complaints from the workers because nobody knew when we were going to break when we had the 11:50, 12:30 and the 1:00 break pattern that we were trying on nights. Even though we thought this would be a good way to do breaks but we still got a lot of complaints about that because everyone still did not know what time they would be going on breaks. So we have established a breaktime that is set in stone so that everybody knows what time they are going on break. Now this can change if there is a break down. Remember that the company can only do one early break a night. We never had this in the last contract and it wouldn't be nothing for them to use the contract against us to go on early break, lunch then the next break because they would have a break down and send everyone to break. This language that we have now is strong because it causes the company to really have to think about whether or not they want to burn that one early break for that certain break down.

Another issue with this is that we are always telling the company that they are not going to makes changes day to day because that is not fair to our membership and they need to know when they are going on breaks but here we are going to them and asking them to make changes after we tell them they are not going to make these changes. Yes, they have made threats to force the five minute on the hour and that has never stuck nor will it. We don't settle on a break schedule based on that kind of threat. The plan to go at 12:30 is also based around the issue that we are not going to be doing these long days for much longer.

Our main goal is still to get to the 4x10's as soon as possible. This is still a hot issue between the union and the company. This is still on the table and hopefully this happens real soon. I don't have a date but we will keep everyone posted as soon as we come to an agreement. We all want it because it will make our lives so much more enjoyable. We all will get more family time and I know that is what we all need or at least I know that is what I need. I am sure you all feel the same way.

So, if anyone is reading this right now and has any questions you can call me to talk or to bitch me out at my desk in the union office at 429-2392. It is 3am and I will be here sending notes out for the next 20 minutes. If not, I hope everyone has a great weekend with their families.

[kentucky250s]

Brent we work the LINE in U trim we have had crew cabs out are ass last 2 weeks, real bad mix, now we dont sit at a desk sorry ...were out there ripping are bodys apart so all of you have a desk to sit at, someone could have taken a poll like the teamleader he passes out the fliers for are committee person so why not this? this 1230 break SUCKS i sure have not heard one person say they like it . you rest at your desk brent ill go get my heating pad you sir have a good weekend ............

[JoePieper]

Bottom line is some will like it and some won't. You can't please everyone and toes will get stepped on. I work in Body so this break schedule doesn't affect me. However it seems to me like a reasonable compromise. And it can be changed later if necessary. At the end of the day we are all on the same side. Be safe and have a good Labor Day weedend.

[brenteskridge]

Kentucky250s I know that you hurt at the end of the day and I still remember that feeling and I understand your frustration. I don't try to sell you on it, I just try to let you know how we came to this decision. I am going to pass along the concerns of the membership to the B/C and this is an issue that the committee will discuss with them. I am not saying that this will change at all.

Resting at my desk is never the case. If I am at my desk I am working even though it is a different kind of work that you are doing. My work starts early when people start calling me and asking questions and even when I get home I am still getting calls. I don't mind because I want to help people, I want to be able to make a difference in someone's life if I can. I do what I can and if there is something that you think I can improve on then feel free to call me and we can discuss it. We all are not going to agree on issues but I am always willing to listen and discuss any issue with anybody.

Yes, there are times that the team leaders do pass the information that we have. I ask this of them so that information that is very important gets to all early in the night. With being in two areas I don't always get to go to each person that I like to. That is why when I took over my new area I put my number out so that anyone at anytime could get a hold me at anytime. Again, I understand your frustration even if you think I don't but as I put out in letter from the day I took over the area that I will take calls even over the weekend to discuss any issue that you may have. Feel free to call anytime and if I don't answer just leave a message and I will get back with you. I hope you have a great weekend.

[JoePieper]

Personally I can vouch for Brent Eskridge. He is one of the most genuine and honest committeepersons in this plant. Brent was working on the line after we came back in 2009 to a new Body Shop. I know this because I worked right next to him. He knows the contract, he knows the issues, and he genuinely cares about and for the membership. Unlike some Brent does not forget where he came from.

[kentucky250s]

My Mistake meant P trim . and i didn't trash Brent at all or his capabilities, i just think when being intimidated by mang. and hounded also that someone sitting behind a desk in a/c and forgetting where they came from may not make the wisest choices for there brothers..when the mix is bad all night for 2 weeks and crew cabs get more things in them that we haft to move ..are bodies and minds are tired i think they will not get 100% from this the line people at the end of the night when there is a long haul to pull

[JoePieper]

Part of their job involves office work. Im sorry if that offends you. If there is one person that DID NOT forget where he came from it is Brent Eskridge. I work in a metal booth all night with temps hitting 95 sometimes and I don't bitch and whine about it like a crybaby. Im sorry you hurt and your sore, but we all are. I have a bad shoulder, bad back, and two bad knees all thanks to Ford. But I still come in here every day and do my job. Oh and as far as the mix of crew cabs goes, tell the dealers and customers to stop ordering them if that makes you happy. That should take care of half our order bank then we can all go on TLO because we have nothing to build you jackass. If the working conditions are so bad for you then by all means find a nother line of work. Otherwise quit your whinig. And before you say it I have worked in Trim, Chassis, Engine, and Frame. I know what its like. Been there, done that, got the free T-shirt.

[trinitus]

Sept 4, 2010 11:39:39 GMT -5 JoePieper said:

Part of their job involves office work. Im sorry if that offends you. If there is one person that DID NOT forget where he came from it is Brent Eskridge. I work in a metal booth all night with temps hitting 95 sometimes and I don't bitch and whine about it like a crybaby. Im sorry you hurt and your sore, but we all are. I have a bad shoulder, bad back, and two bad knees all thanks to Ford. But I still come in here every day and do my job. Oh and as far as the mix of crew cabs goes, tell the dealers and customers to stop ordering them if that makes you happy. That should take care of half our order bank then we can all go on TLO because we have nothing to build you jackass. If the working conditions are so bad for you then by all means find a nother line of work. Otherwise quit your whinig. And before you say it I have worked in Trim, Chassis, Engine, and Frame. I know what its like. Been there, done that, got the free T-shirt.

I just love this shit. Someone who has moved around so much telling someone else to quit being a whiner and to find another line of work LMAO. I think you could have gotten your point across without resorting to this type of BS crap that has gone on for too damn long.

fordktp99 you are right though, it isn't Ford who makes these order's but our customer's who make them. I mean hell there should be a better way to distribute the mix but when the Crew Cabs numbers are more than the rest then it is what it is.

As one person once told me, " If Ford was an asshole, then Trim would be the hemarhoid ". Both funny and logical if you ask me. When the mix is bad do like I do, stop the line and tell them it is a bad mix. When they tell you it isn't keep doing it and ask for an official mix count. It works everytime I have done it. They know what the mix is supposed to be and they also know when it is bad. Don't let them pull the wool over your eyes because if you do they will keep doing it.

[trinitus]

Sept 4, 2010 2:01:19 GMT -5 brenteskridge said:

Well I know that there are more than a few that are unhappy about this and I know that you are still not going to like the explanation that you read but here are the issue's surrounding this decision on the break schedule.

On night shift we have done in the past, that if we went under 9 hours that break would be at 11:50 and if we went over 9 hours that break would be at 1:00. We had several team leaders from different areas come to us asking if we could do a 12:30 instead of 1:00 just to break the time span up. The suggestion was brought to us I guess in the mindset that 12:30 would be better because we go to break then and the last run wouldn't be as long. This does make sense if we go 9-9.5 hours or less. Doesn't work so good going 10 hours.

We also heard a lot of complaints from the workers because nobody knew when we were going to break when we had the 11:50, 12:30 and the 1:00 break pattern that we were trying on nights. Even though we thought this would be a good way to do breaks but we still got a lot of complaints about that because everyone still did not know what time they would be going on breaks. So we have established a breaktime that is set in stone so that everybody knows what time they are going on break. Now this can change if there is a break down. Remember that the company can only do one early break a night. We never had this in the last contract and it wouldn't be nothing for them to use the contract against us to go on early break, lunch then the next break because they would have a break down and send everyone to break. This language that we have now is strong because it causes the company to really have to think about whether or not they want to burn that one early break for that certain break down.

Another issue with this is that we are always telling the company that they are not going to makes changes day to day because that is not fair to our membership and they need to know when they are going on breaks but here we are going to them and asking them to make changes after we tell them they are not going to make these changes. Yes, they have made threats to force the five minute on the hour and that has never stuck nor will it. We don't settle on a break schedule based on that kind of threat. The plan to go at 12:30 is also based around the issue that we are not going to be doing these long days for much longer.

Our main goal is still to get to the 4x10's as soon as possible. This is still a hot issue between the union and the company. This is still on the table and hopefully this happens real soon. I don't have a date but we will keep everyone posted as soon as we come to an agreement. We all want it because it will make our lives so much more enjoyable. We all will get more family time and I know that is what we all need or at least I know that is what I need. I am sure you all feel the same way.

So, if anyone is reading this right now and has any questions you can call me to talk or to bitch me out at my desk in the union office at 429-2392. It is 3am and I will be here sending notes out for the next 20 minutes. If not, I hope everyone has a great weekend with their families.

LMAO thanks for coming on here and at least putting something on here we have never heard before. One question though, How come we can go 5 ten hour days with no problems but we can't do 4 tens?

[rclap]

Sept 4, 2010 2:01:19 GMT -5 brenteskridge said:

We all want it because it will make our lives so much more enjoyable. We all will get more family time and I know that is what we all need or at least I know that is what I need. I am sure you all feel the same way.

No, we do not all want it, and no, we do not all feel the same way. That's the problem; you assume you know what the membership wants without actually finding out what they want, or worse, you negotiate what would serve you best. That's the whole problem with the new break times, no one wants what you bargained for; the old way of setting the break time according to how long we were going is the better alternative.

I know I am in the minority, but I personally hate 4 10's. I feel much better physically when working 8. When I get off at 2:30, I still feel like I have the time and energy to do something if I wanted to, as opposed to being completely wore out after going 10.

[JoePieper]

Sept 4, 2010 12:12:00 GMT -5 trinitus said:

Sept 4, 2010 11:39:39 GMT -5 JoePieper said:

Part of their job involves office work. Im sorry if that offends you. If there is one person that DID NOT forget where he came from it is Brent Eskridge. I work in a metal booth all night with temps hitting 95 sometimes and I don't bitch and whine about it like a crybaby. Im sorry you hurt and your sore, but we all are. I have a bad shoulder, bad back, and two bad knees all thanks to Ford. But I still come in here every day and do my job. Oh and as far as the mix of crew cabs goes, tell the dealers and customers to stop ordering them if that makes you happy. That should take care of half our order bank then we can all go on TLO because we have nothing to build you jackass. If the working conditions are so bad for you then by all means find a nother line of work. Otherwise quit your whinig. And before you say it I have worked in Trim, Chassis, Engine, and Frame. I know what its like. Been there, done that, got the free T-shirt.

I just love this shit. Someone who has moved around so much telling someone else to quit being a whiner and to find another line of work LMAO. I think you could have gotten your point across without resorting to this type of BS crap that has gone on for too damn long.quote]


My whole point was that he should do something about it as you said instead of bitching about it. Used to turn the line off multiple times everyday on front axle deck because of bad 4x4 mixes when I also had to install the front driveshaft. It took 18 months of this but it finally got changed to having a 3rd person on that operation. So my point is you can sit on here and be a crybaby about the shit of do something about it and be proactive. Now Im sorry if I hurt anyones feelings.