Ford to allow ONLY Ford vehicles to park at Rouge
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From: Ontario
Ford to allow ONLY Ford vehicles to park at Rouge
Back to this nonsense again ...
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...601270377/1148
I found this comment interesting from a union member:
I hope he feels the same way when his employer decides to outsource jobs because they can get better value elsewhere. Or is that freedom only a one-way street ...
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...601270377/1148
DEARBORN -- Plant manager Rob Webber delivered a blunt message to workers at Ford Motor Co.'s Dearborn Truck factory this week: If you work at Ford, you better drive a Ford. Otherwise, park across the street and walk.
The new policy at Dearborn Truck, the modern centerpiece of the famed Rouge industrial complex and the site of popular factory tours, comes as Ford officials have been exhorting workers to rally behind the automaker's massive turnaround effort.
Losing money and sales in North America, Ford on Monday announced plans to close as many as 14 plants and cut up to 30,000 blue-collar workers.
"It was something this plant manager took upon himself. It's not a companywide policy," said Ford spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari, adding that Ford supported the decision, which was made in consultation with local union leaders.
Beginning next Wednesday, only vehicles manufactured by Ford or one of its subsidiaries can be parked on the plant site. Employees in non-Ford vehicles can still park in the employee lot across Miller Road and walk to the factory, Gattari said.
'Everybody's in this together'
Jerry Sullivan, president of United Auto Workers Local 600, which represents some 2,600 workers at the plant, said both the union and the company wanted to get people's attention.
"Everybody's in this together. (We need) to buy the products we make and support the company," Sullivan said. "This is a good place to start."
The UAW has a history of banning vehicles manufactured by Asian and European automakers from union hall parking lots -- particularly during recessionary periods.
But Harley Shaiken, a labor expert at the University of California-Berkeley, said this is the first time he has ever heard of either the union or an auto company moving to ban all competing products.
"When imports were banned, the notion was that you were supporting other autoworkers around the country," he said. "These are very troubled times. Autoworkers in general, and at Ford in particular, want to protect their own jobs."
Shaiken said he would not be surprised to see similar actions taken at other Big Three plants. General Motors Corp.'s Warren Technical Center has separate lots for non-GM vehicles.
Non-Ford cars defaced
In recent years, the UAW has put handbills on non-Ford vehicles -- and even on some vehicles made by Ford's Volvo, Land Rover and Jaguar units -- that were parked at the company's world headquarters in Dearborn.
Land Rover, Volvo and other foreign vehicles also have been vandalized while parked at the automaker's Dearborn operations.
The new ban at Ford's Dearborn Truck plant applies to both salaried and hourly workers with permits to park on site. About 15 percent of the 2,800 employees who work at Dearborn Truck have such permits.
The decision to bar non-Ford products from the plant site was announced during a town hall meeting at the factory convened to discuss the automaker's latest restructuring plan. "The place erupted in applause," Gattari said.
Workers differ on ban
But not everyone was clapping.
"They can't tell you how to spend your money," said one veteran skilled tradesman who did not wish to be identified out of fear of retaliation. "It's still a free country."
He drives vehicles manufactured by DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group because he can get a better deal on them. "I gotta go where I can get the most bang for my buck," the worker said.
Now, he plans to borrow a Ford vehicle before the ban goes into effect.
Other workers said they see the logic behind the ban.
"You buy what you build," said Dearborn Truck worker Rufus McWilliams. "That only makes sense."
While Dearborn Truck is the only Ford facility to impose such a ban so far, workers at some other plants said they would welcome similar rules.
The Dearborn Truck plant opened in 2004 as Ford was celebrating its 100-year anniversary. It was build as part of a $2 billion renovation of the Rouge facility and is considered a model of manufacturing efficiency, flexibility and environmentally friendly technology.
About 150,000 people a year visit the factory on tours operated by The Henry Ford museum.
The new policy at Dearborn Truck, the modern centerpiece of the famed Rouge industrial complex and the site of popular factory tours, comes as Ford officials have been exhorting workers to rally behind the automaker's massive turnaround effort.
Losing money and sales in North America, Ford on Monday announced plans to close as many as 14 plants and cut up to 30,000 blue-collar workers.
"It was something this plant manager took upon himself. It's not a companywide policy," said Ford spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari, adding that Ford supported the decision, which was made in consultation with local union leaders.
Beginning next Wednesday, only vehicles manufactured by Ford or one of its subsidiaries can be parked on the plant site. Employees in non-Ford vehicles can still park in the employee lot across Miller Road and walk to the factory, Gattari said.
'Everybody's in this together'
Jerry Sullivan, president of United Auto Workers Local 600, which represents some 2,600 workers at the plant, said both the union and the company wanted to get people's attention.
"Everybody's in this together. (We need) to buy the products we make and support the company," Sullivan said. "This is a good place to start."
The UAW has a history of banning vehicles manufactured by Asian and European automakers from union hall parking lots -- particularly during recessionary periods.
But Harley Shaiken, a labor expert at the University of California-Berkeley, said this is the first time he has ever heard of either the union or an auto company moving to ban all competing products.
"When imports were banned, the notion was that you were supporting other autoworkers around the country," he said. "These are very troubled times. Autoworkers in general, and at Ford in particular, want to protect their own jobs."
Shaiken said he would not be surprised to see similar actions taken at other Big Three plants. General Motors Corp.'s Warren Technical Center has separate lots for non-GM vehicles.
Non-Ford cars defaced
In recent years, the UAW has put handbills on non-Ford vehicles -- and even on some vehicles made by Ford's Volvo, Land Rover and Jaguar units -- that were parked at the company's world headquarters in Dearborn.
Land Rover, Volvo and other foreign vehicles also have been vandalized while parked at the automaker's Dearborn operations.
The new ban at Ford's Dearborn Truck plant applies to both salaried and hourly workers with permits to park on site. About 15 percent of the 2,800 employees who work at Dearborn Truck have such permits.
The decision to bar non-Ford products from the plant site was announced during a town hall meeting at the factory convened to discuss the automaker's latest restructuring plan. "The place erupted in applause," Gattari said.
Workers differ on ban
But not everyone was clapping.
"They can't tell you how to spend your money," said one veteran skilled tradesman who did not wish to be identified out of fear of retaliation. "It's still a free country."
He drives vehicles manufactured by DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group because he can get a better deal on them. "I gotta go where I can get the most bang for my buck," the worker said.
Now, he plans to borrow a Ford vehicle before the ban goes into effect.
Other workers said they see the logic behind the ban.
"You buy what you build," said Dearborn Truck worker Rufus McWilliams. "That only makes sense."
While Dearborn Truck is the only Ford facility to impose such a ban so far, workers at some other plants said they would welcome similar rules.
The Dearborn Truck plant opened in 2004 as Ford was celebrating its 100-year anniversary. It was build as part of a $2 billion renovation of the Rouge facility and is considered a model of manufacturing efficiency, flexibility and environmentally friendly technology.
About 150,000 people a year visit the factory on tours operated by The Henry Ford museum.
I gotta go where I can get the most bang for my buck.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,938
Re: Ford to allow ONLY Ford vehicles to park at Rouge
I'm 100% behind an employer, be it Ford or GM or anybody else requiring people getting paychecks from those employers to buy the products the build.
If I owned a Shell station I'd fire any employee that went across the street to Exxon to fill up!
On the other hand, I hope we don't see idiocy like we did not quite one year ago when the UAW decided to not let Marine reservists park in their lot if they drove a "non-union" made vehicle!
http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosins...C01-115531.htm
If I owned a Shell station I'd fire any employee that went across the street to Exxon to fill up!
On the other hand, I hope we don't see idiocy like we did not quite one year ago when the UAW decided to not let Marine reservists park in their lot if they drove a "non-union" made vehicle!
http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosins...C01-115531.htm
Registered User
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 538
Re: Ford to allow ONLY Ford vehicles to park at Rouge
From the article....
..... and nobody is telling him where he can spend his money. Yes it is a free country thank God.
Probably a better way to describe this effort would have been to classify this as a "privilege". If you drive a Ford you get the privilege of parking this area. All others park over here. More or less like "reserved parking".
I wish all the domestics would get together on movements as such. Though unity or operating as a whole they might be able to help quell some of the impact of the import movement. Or in the least so some unified support for domestics.
"They can't tell you how to spend your money," said one veteran skilled tradesman who did not wish to be identified out of fear of retaliation. "It's still a free country."
Probably a better way to describe this effort would have been to classify this as a "privilege". If you drive a Ford you get the privilege of parking this area. All others park over here. More or less like "reserved parking".
I wish all the domestics would get together on movements as such. Though unity or operating as a whole they might be able to help quell some of the impact of the import movement. Or in the least so some unified support for domestics.
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,180
From: Yadkinville, NC USA
Re: Ford to allow ONLY Ford vehicles to park at Rouge
Originally Posted by R377
I found this comment interesting from a union member:
I hope he feels the same way when his employer decides to outsource jobs because they can get better value elsewhere. Or is that freedom only a one-way street ...
I gotta go where I can get the most bang for my buck.
I hope he feels the same way when his employer decides to outsource jobs because they can get better value elsewhere. Or is that freedom only a one-way street ...
Goes back to that "be responsible with your money" thing again, don't it?
Personally, I think it's cool that the Plant Manager had the cojones to do this.
I hope it catches on and spreads to other facilities.
It makes the employees have a vested interest in their plant, their jobs, and the quality of the product they put out (they might just be driving a car that THEY put together - don't want to leave screws out of THAT one, do they?).
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Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 538
Re: Ford to allow ONLY Ford vehicles to park at Rouge
Originally Posted by Robert_Nashville
If I owned a Shell station I'd fire any employee that went across the street to Exxon to fill up!
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 162
From: St. Louis, MO
Re: Ford to allow ONLY Ford vehicles to park at Rouge
I think thats awesome for Ford to do. These union people bitch and moan about outsourcing and foreign cars taking over. Hell they even bitch about non-union domestic workers. I think it's very fitting then that the hypocrites put their money where their mouth is. How dare they bitch about any of these problems if they are guilty of being a part of them.
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,238
From: Wet Coast
Re: Ford to allow ONLY Ford vehicles to park at Rouge
And their vandalizing other cars because people didn't want to buy a Ford. Gimme an F'in' break here, most "imports" (Mercedes ML, Toyota whatevers) are built domestically and support jobs for workers. Ford just makes themselves seem like a dying bully.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,650
From: Indianapolis, IN
Re: Ford to allow ONLY Ford vehicles to park at Rouge
These things seem like non-issues to me. The people can still drive competitor vehicles to work, they just have to walk a little farther. It has been this way at the Chrysler HQ/tech center in Auburn Hills for years.
Vandalizing cars is bullsh**, but I think those incidents are very few and very far between.
But as far as the parking policy is concerned, I'm fine with it. Get on board with your home team, or walk farther.
Jimbo, this is about Ford people rallying behind their own team. Why should they care if buying a Camry helps a worker in Kentucky? I mean, they should be happy that someone is employed in KY, but if this particular Ford plant were to close, or lose a shift, I don't think the guy driving the Camry (and now out of work) is going to say, "well, at least the guy in Kentucky at the Camry plant still has his job." :blah: It's about supporting your own company.
Note that the policy was non-FORD vehicles have to park across the street, not non-DOMESTIC vehicles. So a guy driving a Silverado would have to walk, just like a guy driving a Tundra.
Works for me.
Vandalizing cars is bullsh**, but I think those incidents are very few and very far between.
But as far as the parking policy is concerned, I'm fine with it. Get on board with your home team, or walk farther.
Jimbo, this is about Ford people rallying behind their own team. Why should they care if buying a Camry helps a worker in Kentucky? I mean, they should be happy that someone is employed in KY, but if this particular Ford plant were to close, or lose a shift, I don't think the guy driving the Camry (and now out of work) is going to say, "well, at least the guy in Kentucky at the Camry plant still has his job." :blah: It's about supporting your own company.
Note that the policy was non-FORD vehicles have to park across the street, not non-DOMESTIC vehicles. So a guy driving a Silverado would have to walk, just like a guy driving a Tundra.
Works for me.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,938
Re: Ford to allow ONLY Ford vehicles to park at Rouge
Originally Posted by mr00jimbo
And their vandalizing other cars because people didn't want to buy a Ford. Gimme an F'in' break here, most "imports" (Mercedes ML, Toyota whatevers) are built domestically and support jobs for workers. Ford just makes themselves seem like a dying bully.
Anything can be carried to extreme but an employee should be willing to buy his employer's products and I see nothing wrong with providing a perk (such as a better parking space) for driving a company produced vehicle rather than that of a direct competitor. If I worked for BestBuy I’d better not be going across the street to CircuitCity to buy what my store carries,
It’s only reasonable…if I’m not willing to buy my own store’s products why in the world should I ever expect a customer to walk through the door and buy something from me?
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Joined: Sep 1998
Posts: 4,320
From: Memphis
Re: Ford to allow ONLY Ford vehicles to park at Rouge
If you require me to drive a Ford then you'd better GIVE me a Ford, or damn near give it to me and by that I mean give me actual COST on the vehicle and not some BS 'employee discount'.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,650
From: Indianapolis, IN
Re: Ford to allow ONLY Ford vehicles to park at Rouge
Originally Posted by Threxx
If you require me to drive a Ford then you'd better GIVE me a Ford, or damn near give it to me and by that I mean give me actual COST on the vehicle and not some BS 'employee discount'.
Most of 'em could probably use the exercise anyway.
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Pewee Valley, KY
Re: Ford to allow ONLY Ford vehicles to park at Rouge
Originally Posted by 96_Camaro_B4C
Jimbo, this is about Ford people rallying behind their own team. Why should they care if buying a Camry helps a worker in Kentucky? I mean, they should be happy that someone is employed in KY, but if this particular Ford plant were to close, or lose a shift, I don't think the guy driving the Camry (and now out of work) is going to say, "well, at least the guy in Kentucky at the Camry plant still has his job." :blah: It's about supporting your own company.
Ford is much more important to KY than Toyota is at this point. BTW the 250 people that were laid off 6 months ago from the KTP, Super Duty plant, didn't give a crap that the people in the Georgetown plant that makes the Camry was running along just fine. The parking lot at the Ford plant is 95% Fords.
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Joined: Sep 1998
Posts: 4,320
From: Memphis
Re: Ford to allow ONLY Ford vehicles to park at Rouge
Originally Posted by 96_Camaro_B4C
No one is "required" to do anything. But those who do drive a Ford are rewarded with access to the closer parking lot (or those who do not are punished by being denied access to the closer parking lot).
Most of 'em could probably use the exercise anyway.
Most of 'em could probably use the exercise anyway.
What if next thing you hear Walmart starts giving fewer raises to its employees who have been discovered to shop for their everyday needs at a store other than walmart? What if O'Charleys starts giving the crappy schedules to its employees who don't eat at O'Charleys every time they want to go out with their friends or family?
Sure it's completely within the company's rights, but who in their right mind is thinking that this is going to boost company moral?
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Joined: Mar 2001
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Re: Ford to allow ONLY Ford vehicles to park at Rouge
Originally Posted by Threxx
Sorry but I work for an insurance agency yet choose not to get insurance through them because I prefer USAA insurance since I have access to it due to being a direct descendent of a military officer. If somebody here tried to punish me in any way for not buying insurance from the company I work for they'd lose a LOT of respect from me.
What if next thing you hear Walmart starts giving fewer raises to its employees who have been discovered to shop for their everyday needs at a store other than walmart? What if O'Charleys starts giving the crappy schedules to its employees who don't eat at O'Charleys every time they want to go out with their friends or family?
Sure it's completely within the company's rights, but who in their right mind is thinking that this is going to boost company moral?
What if next thing you hear Walmart starts giving fewer raises to its employees who have been discovered to shop for their everyday needs at a store other than walmart? What if O'Charleys starts giving the crappy schedules to its employees who don't eat at O'Charleys every time they want to go out with their friends or family?
Sure it's completely within the company's rights, but who in their right mind is thinking that this is going to boost company moral?
And after all, we aren't talking about unfair labor practices here. And let's face it, there IS a difference between a decision to spend $30K on a Tyoota when you work for Ford Vs.spending $10 on a meal.
Then again I ask, why should I buy insurance form the company you work for if you aren't willing to do so? If the insurance you purchased is a better product at a better price why aren't you working for them?
Why shoud I eat a O'Charley's if all the employees who work there go somewhere else all the time?
As has been noted, no one is saying these guys can't buy a non-Ford product; it's just that those who do get a slightly better parking space; I hardly think that's an unreasonable or unfair burden for them and if they really think it is then they shoudl be working for someone else.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,650
From: Indianapolis, IN
Re: Ford to allow ONLY Ford vehicles to park at Rouge
Originally Posted by Threxx
Sorry but I work for an insurance agency yet choose not to get insurance through them because I prefer USAA insurance since I have access to it due to being a direct descendent of a military officer. If somebody here tried to punish me in any way for not buying insurance from the company I work for they'd lose a LOT of respect from me.
What if next thing you hear Walmart starts giving fewer raises to its employees who have been discovered to shop for their everyday needs at a store other than walmart? What if O'Charleys starts giving the crappy schedules to its employees who don't eat at O'Charleys every time they want to go out with their friends or family?
Sure it's completely within the company's rights, but who in their right mind is thinking that this is going to boost company moral?
What if next thing you hear Walmart starts giving fewer raises to its employees who have been discovered to shop for their everyday needs at a store other than walmart? What if O'Charleys starts giving the crappy schedules to its employees who don't eat at O'Charleys every time they want to go out with their friends or family?
Sure it's completely within the company's rights, but who in their right mind is thinking that this is going to boost company moral?
In the Ford case, I see nothing wrong with the guy saying hey, Ford is facing tough times right now. We need to get behind what we build and sell, and those of you who choose to support the competition (be it Honda or DCX or GM or Toyota or whoever) get to walk a little farther than the rest of us. Maybe it will backfire on him, or maybe it will get the majority of them a little more fired up. Maybe its just a publicity stunt to put on a face of unity and solidarity behind the company.
As for who in their right mind is thinking this will boost company morale, I'd say that the plant manager who created this policy is thinking that way.
He could prove to be wrong, or right. Not that we could ever really know.