Ford and the UAW are beginning to enforce a Ford-only policy for premium parking spots at Ford factories nationwide.
USA Today reports that a manager of Ford’s Dearborn Truck plant said last month that beginning Feb. 1, the most convenient parking spots could be used only by employees who drive vehicles built by Ford or one of its subsidiaries. Ford will put a sticker on non-Ford vehicles parked in areas reserved for Ford vehicles and will record their license plate numbers. Those who break the rule a second time will have their vehicles towed, according to UAW Local 249.
“Ford is serious,” said local President Jim Stoufer. “We support buying Ford products. It’s our livelihood. It’s going to be a fight for survival.”
Stoufer said the UAW would like to see the ban applied to all foreign-made vehicles, including Ford’s Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo brands. Ford owns a controlling interest in Mazda, and Mazda vehicles also are exempt at most facilities.
Rex Nagy, a skilled trade worker at the Dearborn Truck plant, said he has been driving his son’s Ford F-150 pickup to work because he would have to park his Chrysler in the back of the lot. Nagy said he bought his vehicle through a relative who works for DaimlerChrysler AG. Nagy said Ford should not tell him how to spend his money. Another Rouge worker said she thought the restrictions should only apply to imports. “We need to support all our union brothers,” said the worker, who would only give her first name, Lisa. She pointed out that many Ford workers in Michigan have spouses who work for other automakers. She added that many of Ford’s products, such as new Fusion sedan, are manufactured in Mexico.
No wonder many think the UAW is the real reason why the US automakers are falling behind their competition…
Full Story: http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2006-02-16-ford-tough_x.htm
I seem to recall that for a time in the 1970s, Imports were banned from UAW parking lots.
This is not the first time.
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http://spaces.msn.com/MOES-GARAGE/
By moe. February 27th, 2006 at 6:18 pmMakes sense to me. How can customers take a company seriously when its own employees don’t believe and won’t even use their product?
By Chuck Smith. February 24th, 2006 at 9:46 pmIm a Union Aircraft mechanic and I believe people who look at the BIG picture can see why this is practical. If you work any where their making a product but your not buying it , It means you either don’t like your product or its inferior. While America is a free country, FORD motor company is a private company and has the right to enforce, parking lots on its property. My question to those working at Ford not buying them is — Do they like their job–Thats simply an economic issue? While I’m a Buy American kind of guy. As an Employee of Ford you are a direct representive of the company like it or not. People associate you with your product and the pride of ownership goes hand and hand. As for the Union stuff can’t put all the blame on Organized Labor — Most of the world either has no health care or no retirement plans. Bind greed and lack of teamwork of Labor and Management is more at fault with the current dilemma in American buiness– The Goverment trade policys have also play a major role in shaping our poorly devised future — Were all in this together, car companies and aircraft manufacturing — ect as so goes manufacturing so goes the blue collar working man
By Woody. February 22nd, 2006 at 8:11 amwow, i think everyone needs to re-read the article,ford nor the uaw say that if you do not drive a ford you cannot park at a ford plant.just if you do not drive a ford to work,you may have to park further away in the parking lot.my wife and i both drive fords and sometimes i drive a chevy truck and i could care less if i get a parking spot close to the doors at work,when i drive my 67 galaxie to work i try to park further away to avoid door dings from other cars. enjoy the extra exersize and stop whinning over the little things. just my 2 cents worth.
By jonnyk. February 21st, 2006 at 5:53 pmAs far as the parking spot idea goes, i think it is great. A person who builds a Ford and drives a Ford is someone who takes pride in their work. If you are building a product that you dont even like enough to drive, then why would you want to do a good job building it.
As far as the union labor goes, my dad had a guy who used to work for him construction/mechanic. He was a good worker and he went to go work for the state as a union mechanic because of the better benefits. My dad understood that and is fine with that. I was talking to him after he had been working there for a while, and he said that some people do absolotly nothing. They can turn an hours worth of work into 4 hours worth of work.
Another example, one of my friends dad that worked for NorthWest Airlines, who is cutting pay for many, said that if everybody there worked hard, they could be there for a few hours ever day and get everything that needed to be done. No wonder they filed for bankruptcy. Although there are some union workers that do their job as they should, there are way too many that waste time and drive up costs.
By Andy. February 20th, 2006 at 4:19 pmTo the few idiot’s who read the article that and then made some form of mention that Ford was telling them “what to do with their money”, go read the story again! Nowhere does it read that Ford is telling employee’s how to spend their money.
In this messed up society we live in, even parking spaces are sacred so, therefore, Ford is capitilizing on the “perk” and rewarding its employee’s who purchase their products. GOOD MOVE!
If a parking space means that much to you, then go by a Ford vehicle.
Regarding unions; I’m not a union basher. I feel that, even in this country today, they are a necessity to prevent unfair lobor pratices. Does that mean “union member’s” deserve $30/hour just for showing up? NO. Those high labor cost are passed on to consumers and ultimately bad for the ecomony 5 to 10 years later because it drives up prices, etc.
Let’s not forget that unions were created to one, prevent unfair labor practices during the industrial age, and two, ensure people got paid a fair wage (key words there) for the work.
By Boomer. February 20th, 2006 at 10:53 amWell let me tell you BUD , you dont have a clue of the machinery and the equipment i deal with every day and have for the last 15 years. So SHUT UP WITH YOUR UN-EDUCATED COMMENTS.
By 71hotrodpinto. February 20th, 2006 at 7:49 amYAH you are done.
I have a right to my comments which are true and you have a right to work for an organization that is ruining this country.
Nuff said
Union bashing again….uuum. Well when all the high pay jobs are gone to slave labor overseas and mexico I hope those people living in huts with dirt floors one day realize the way our grandfathers did that they were making all the money for a hand full of people who sit on there ASSES and do NOTHING(this is still going on in America…and getting worse). For those who say that union workers get paid just for showing up…you do not have a clue. Come with me to work bud. You wouldnt have the first clue as to what to do and because of it you would likely destroy millions of dollars worth of equitment and hurt or kill someone. Fair wages AND reasonable work hours along with safety is what organized labor is about. There are places for the workers to still have a say in this. Im done.
Tim
By Tim. February 20th, 2006 at 7:01 amBrotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
Div 180
Ok no more uaw comments .
By 71hotrodpinto. February 19th, 2006 at 6:51 pmHowever I totaly agree with them doing this. If you have a ford worker that buys a ford and drives a ford then you most likely have a employee that BELIVES in his / her product. Id rather have people putting my ford product together that have an interest in weather or not it succeds and prospers.
Sounds like most others that have no interest in the ford product, is just a 9-5 ‘er. I work side by side with those kinds of people and they dont care about anything else than their paycheck.
As far as some of the other comments about this , hell they arent forcing them to buy the ford product, their just REWARDING THEM with a nicer parking spot. Its their right to. Besides they get a huge employee discount for crying out loud!
If some want to cry foul, then quit and work for some other company that you believe in.
Good for them.
Hey, I just got a great idea! Instead of forcing the workers to just buy a Ford and drive it to work, maybe Ford should just make their employees buy everything from them. Instead of paying them in real money give them ‘Ford Bucks’ that they have to spend at the Ford grocery store, clothing store, to pay the Ford mortgage company. That’ll show those unpatriotic traitors to go and buy a car not made in this country……
By Ted. February 19th, 2006 at 2:36 pmI think it is a great idea. Its not like they are banned for not driving the car the build. They just dont get the better parking.
By Ixtlan. February 19th, 2006 at 9:27 amIt is like a tree hugger working at a sawmill.
Thumbs up I say.
Whats wrong with fighting to keep someone elses job? AKA “dont touch that machine”? In not all instances that you cannot “touch someone elses machine” it just depends on your local. Its falls under the C.O.A and if your company and union are to agree by these terms what is so wrong with that???
Who does’nt want more per hour? Would would not like to get the best package out of their days work? It is redickulous to bash someone for wanting that. If we were to go that route then why would any CEO make as much as they do? Talk about being overpaid and underworked…
And the quality thing. You need to check up on your quality stats. ALL makes are in the same game. So its a mute point.
By WILDO. February 18th, 2006 at 4:01 pmBut this is a pissing match. And we are both getting a little wet.
What brand of vehicle do I drive??? You are pretty hot there. ok lets see.
By 71hotrodpinto. February 18th, 2006 at 12:40 pm71 FORD pinto
97 FORD ranger
03 FORD focus
88 FORD bronco
My father worked for Simi Valley Ford as a service writer, for 20 years and now in Idaho ,another ford dealer.
He knows all of the shortcomings of FORD on the service and warrenty side and STILL owns Fords and has owned ;
65 Mustang fastback
67 Mustang coupe
69 Boss 302
74 Pinto wagon
86 Full Bronco
88 v8 T-bird
02 expedition
06 Ford 500
He knows
So anymore questions?
As far as the point of being told to stay home. Well its the union thats doing it to you.
The trade agreements?? What doest that have to do with the fact that people are buying more imports than domestics?? They arent much cheaper on the average
The fact is that the LABOR costs are out of control in the US. Im sorry, but for instance the average salary for the same Job im doing in a union position is $10 more and hour!! AND they (union) restrict you on doing more than the job you were hired in to do. Run more than 1 machine NO WAY, youll be taking someone elses job ETC!! So just stand there and do nothing while your machine runs. Just because theres another machine right next to you your not alowed to touch it. Oh and sweep the floors?? No way, Clean the chips out and service your machine if your capable?? NO way. Your taking away someone elses job. What utter stupidity.
Now as far as the Company being responsible for employing you ?? Thats also utter stupidity. A contract ?? More. They SHOULD only be responsible for
1. making a quality product .
2. making a profit for themeslves and said stockholders.
3. offering a FAIR wage, benifits, and decent working enviroment to said workers.
The fact that the union is running the company when it comes to the wages is stupidity.
Oh and what about the strikes?? I get SOO angry when I see that another strike is happening No matter who or over what.
When my employer(s) has issues with costs, he then passes it down to me when he has no other choice. I bite the bullet and either look for another job or reduce my living expenses. I dont just go STRIKE and wait till they give me what I want.
If Companies in general werent so strangled by the UAW and other divisions then Ford among others, wouldnt be forced to use CHINA, TAWIANESE,CANADIAN,KOREAN, ETC, ETC made parts in there cars and trucks and products in general.
We as a country still enjoy the highest standard of living in the world , well now were importing our things that support that living for cheaper. At the same time were crying for more money from our employer at every turn.
Well I have no solution for this vicious circle but it has to start somewhere.
Why such a bash on UAW/Workers? Speak of what you do know. And keep your mouth shut of which you do not.
Quick to blame the the worker, Yet the company has a contract that its responsible for keeping that worker active. Its not the workers fault, And not so much the companies. Thanks to our government of its onesided trade aggreements. . There are tons of people out there that WANT to get back to work. But they are forced to stay at home, Or go to work and do petty jobs. If you were a UAW/Ford worker you might know something about this.
What brand of vehicle do you drive…..
By WILDO. February 18th, 2006 at 11:20 amIm sorry but the UAW and unions in general are the reason that manufacturing in the USA is and has been dwindling as a WHOLE. Yes the american worker deserves a fair wage, but lets be realistic. No one deserves to be paid just because they show up. Union run companies drive up the cost of doing buisness so dramaticly that product ends up being SO expensive.( less we forget the insurance cost these days)
By 71hotrodpinto. February 18th, 2006 at 9:48 amIve never worked for a union shop as a machinist so ive had to deal with lower wages and less benifits.
Also- “No work sorry, heres your last paycheck.” Hell its part of life. But union workers expect to get paid for sitting around waiting for work to show up, BULL!! I have a family just like every other union worker. And when work dies I get out and pound the pavement.
Its soo aggravating to read these bumper stickers that read “live better,work union” Yah live better for WHO?? Hell I cant afford the goods and services that they provide!
So to get down from my soap box Unions are the real problem in this country and they need to be a thing of the past.
If ford wants peope (and especially their own employees) to drive their cars they have to bring the quality of their cars back. I am a huge ford fan, but I am fan of old fords, not the new ones. I have driven and worked on several fords, both old and new and there is not one new for that has impressed me. The new ones are plastic pieces of junk if you ask me. On the other hand I own a 67 mustang that is incredibly reliable, the only things that have broken are the the starter and the power steering hoses (and the points but they wear out quickly). Hell, when I worked as a mechanic a few summers ago I remember crown victorias coming in with broken intake manifolds because they were made out of plastic and cracked form the heat. If ford starts making quality cars again, and stops trying to squeze every penny out of everything they might get some customers back, including their own employees.
By Tanner. February 17th, 2006 at 10:03 amHmm this is a tough one… I guess if the employee wants to own a non-Ford vehicle then that should be their right… but at the same time, if they make that choice, they have ZERO sympathy from me if they get laid off. You should believe in what you build. If you don’t, either help make things better or get a different job, because you’ll only be taking away from the quality of what you’re building.
By Motrhed. February 17th, 2006 at 8:16 amI am a die hard Ford man. My Dad retired from GM and he puts it perfectly. You work for them and give them an honest days work and they give you an honest days pay. That’s where the loyalty ends. Telling you that you that you should spend your hard earned money to buy there product is no different the the government revoking your first amendment rights.
Now that being said, the GM plant he retired from had a similar policy that said that all non GM cars had to park at the back of the lot. The back of the lot is next to the highway. Now when people drive by the plant, it looks like all of the employees drive non GM vehicles. How does that look to potential customers.
By Bubba. February 17th, 2006 at 4:59 amIM all for it! Its redickulous how many people buy non-ford imported products.
By WILDO. February 17th, 2006 at 3:23 amYellow ribbons show support for our troops.
Yet nobody wants to support the american worker.
Ford is wanting to honor those who do. There is nothing wrong with that. I hope ALL Ford employ’ed plants will go to this thinking soon!
Bill Ford lays off 30,000 workers and this is his solution. Towing ‘furren’ cars out of designated Ford parking spots. What a brainstorm! Straight out of Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War”.
By papacito. February 16th, 2006 at 11:39 pm