Work at Ford? Drive a Ford?

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: https://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2006-02-16-ford-tough_x.htm