Ford and Canadian Auto Workers reportedly reach a deal
Ford Motor Company and the leadership of the Canadian Auto Workers union have reached a tentative agreement after a marathon four-day wrap-up to negotiations. Union membership needs to approve the deal, which will guarantee a Great White North presence for Ford until at least 2012. Voting is underway this weekend, and if approved, the CAW will be responsible for building 10 percent of Ford's North American production, down from the current 13 percent, which the union had been trying to hold on to.
Workers did agree to time off reductions, and pledged that new employees will have to pay into their pensions. Ford's given its word that the company will build as many vehicles in Canada as it sells there, and the union deemed the pledge good enough to grant GM- and Chrysler-style concessions to Ford.
The Panther platform has been given its last rites; the St. Thomas Assembly plant is the only Ford location currently building the body-on-frame biggies, and that plant will close in September 2011. The 1,600 people in Ontario who build Town Cars and Grand Marquis are understandably unhappy about word that Ford intends to shutter the plant, but the Panther has cheated death more than once. This time, it may stick.
Better news for CAW members is that Ford's Oakville assembly complex, also in Ontario, has the go-ahead to add a third shift when needed. Ford also says it will manufacture a new vehicle at Oakville, which currently builds the Edge, Flex, MKX, and MKT crossovers, but that will likely come after the current labor agreement expires.
[Source: CBC News, Photo: Ford/CC]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Clavius 4:32PM (10/31/2009)
Go Ford! Curious as to when they'll be seeing green constantly. Didn't they have a goal of 2012 or something like that in being completely profitable?!
Reply
Yaroukh 4:56PM (10/31/2009)
They expect to get into black numbers in 2011, many expect it to happen sooner though.
BTW on Monday 3Q report is scheduled by F.
Matt 5:59PM (10/31/2009)
Big Al said they would be profitable in 2009.
Yaroukh 6:25PM (10/31/2009)
URL?
Yaroukh 6:30PM (10/31/2009)
oh that is you, forget I was asking
Clavius 6:34PM (10/31/2009)
It's Matt. When Ford announce's its profitable he'd most likely say they did it with child labor sweat shops and clubbing baby seals.
Jei 9:32AM (11/02/2009)
"Phew!!!", said Ford execs after inking this deal a bit earlier than expected.
They knew word would come out that they actually pulled a $1B profit this past financial quarter.
e. 4:37PM (10/31/2009)
The better deal would be to bring those jobs to the States and then cut them $45.00 an hour wages in half. But im sure these money hungry, suck the life of the company, no better than the CEOs that give them self's a 300 million dollar pat on the back for running a company to the ground union jack asses will only want a raise, even though the economy is to crap. Maybe its the reason why these jobs aren't here, but noooooooooo.... lets keep our union delegates asking for more money and raises.
Happy Halloween every one.
Reply
Aznauto 7:06PM (10/31/2009)
Better move will be built the factories in China.
daleam 1:45PM (11/01/2009)
a$$holeauto - If you love China so much why don't you go there? Or maybe that's where you are already. In either case just STFU. We're sick of your crap.
MoeJoe 4:50PM (10/31/2009)
e. you are such a downer.
My money is on Ford building the uni body Explorer at that plant, since it is based off of the Flex.
Reply
Westside T.O. 6:55PM (10/31/2009)
Yeah, my first thought too!
adam 10:53PM (10/31/2009)
explorer will be built at chicago. its already been awarded to them
Tony 6:34PM (10/31/2009)
As with any agreement between the automakers, unions and government lately, the proof is in the pudding. GM struck a deal two years ago with the Ontario government for millions in aid, promising to keep labour levels at around 16,000 workers. If GM didn't keep its promise, it would have to repay these monies. GM is down to what? 8,000 workers and what happened to this agreement? POOF! Gone, so is the money along with the billions lent GM this last winter!
Reply
Brian 10:58AM (11/01/2009)
I got stuck with a rental Focus from Hertz last week.
I was embarrassed to be seen in that think. Godawful ugly styling on the outside (looks even WORSE in real life than it does in photos), cheap plastics and fake "chrome" inside, no telescoping steering wheel, numb steering, buzzy engine...what a crapbox. How can anyone defend the Focus?
Reply
ed 12:55PM (11/01/2009)
The current Focus is for people that want a reliable (it's the same car that came out in 1999 so you know it's reliable) basic car that goes from point A to point B or people that don't care about that they drive. Some people blame the Union for the reason Ford couldn't sell the new Focus here (too costly to import or even build in he U.S.) and the reason why they downgraded it as the years went by. The new one is coming soon but no longer will be cheap. So no I'm not defending the current Focus lol.