Report: Ford board will get option of cutting 6,000 more jobs

[OhioChick]

DEARBORN, Mich. Ford's board will have the option of cutting roughly 6,000 more jobs than previously announced, the Detroit Free Press is reporting.

The paper cited several un-named sources in saying the board will have the option of slashing a total of 40,000 jobs by the end of the year.

In July, Ford pledged to speed up and possibly deepen its North American turnaround plan. That plan already calls for slashing up to 30,000 jobs and closing 14 facilities by 2012. It also calls for eliminating the equivalent of 4,000 salaried workers.

At meetings Wednesday and Thursday, executives are expected to call for a deeper round of cuts and faster new product introductions.

http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=5387990&nav=0RbQ

[leftchick]

1. the new CEO has a nice salary

and bonus. I guess this is how they afford it. :argh:


ALAN Mulally, Ford Motor's new chief executive, will receive $US18.5 million ($24.5 million) in a one-off payment to join the troubled car maker, Ford disclosed in a regulatory filing.
Ford agreed to pay Mr Mulally a signing bonus of $US7.5 million plus $US11 million to offset his compensation at Boeing, where he was head of the commercial aircraft division.

He will receive a base salary of $US2 million a year and a target 2007 bonus of $US3.5 million as well as shares and options. The shares and options in 2007 could be worth $US11 million, bringing his potential pay next year to $US16.5 million.

Bill Ford, executive chairman, said Mr Mulally's compensation reflected "the competitive environment for world-class talent, the demands of the position, and the need to recruit Mr Mulally from a long-established career at Boeing".

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20387486-36375,00.html

[no_hypocrisy]

2. 6,000 union jobs as opposed to nonunion jobs that have been

outsourced to foreign countries I suppose.

[ima_sinnic]

3. so much for the old credo of building a car that the workers can buy

-- if they don't have a job, they won't be buying a Ford, or any car.

[AndyA]

4. Before judging Ford, take a look at what's parked in your garage.

If it has a Toyota, Nissan, Lexus, Acura, Honda, Mercedes, Hyundai, or Kia nameplate on it, you're part of the problem.

You cannot complain about American manufacturers if you do not do your part to support them. You must support American companies to have American jobs. It doesn't matter why you bought a foreign car, you can't have it both ways.

When people shop at Wal-Mart, they don't realize they're supporting the loss of American jobs. They are the problem.

[BulletproofLandshark]

5. All of those companies employ many thousands of American workers.

And I'm betting most of those manufacturers treat their employees a hell of a lot better than Ford treats theirs.

[AndyA]

15. Foreign company profits go overseas, they do not stay in America.

We need to support American-owned companies if we are to have anything left in America.

[BulletproofLandshark]

16. Ford's profits stay here..

and yet their jobs keep disappearing and keep being outsourced.

[AndyA]

19. Because Ford is fighting to survive.

They are not playing on a level field. Foreign companies with American workers do not have the huge overhead to support their workers that the American car makers have. The American companies have higher costs for salaries, benefits, health insurance, and all the other expenses related to having employees working for the company for decades.

The foreign car makers don't have all that overhead.

American car makers must sell American cars to pay these expenses. And the friends, families, and neighbors of these American workers are buying foreign cars. We need to put America, and American jobs FIRST for a change. And that means buying American made products, few as they may be.

[SoCalDem]

34. yada-yada-yada..

Ford & allthe US car makers have known the "score" since 1973..They continue to "give us what they make some of us want"..

Truth be told, there are lots of us who just want a vehicle that gets us from point a to point b, and economically.. Oh yes..we also want a car that's not a pile-o-junk in a few years..THAT's why lots of us have moved on to Honda etc.

We were always loyal american-only cars people for a long time, but a steady stream of lemons changed our minds..

Cars we owned:

Dodge
Olds 442
GTO
Ford Maverick
Chrysler station wagon #1
Chrysler station wagon#2
Buick wagon
Chevy wagon
Ford van
Ford country squire wagon
(yes I KNOW ..we were fuddy-duddies)

our 82 Corolla wagon, bought used for $500
and our 91 Accord EX, also bought used, run circles around and perform better and cheaper than any/all of the above-mentioned.

[CBGLuthier]

6. ridiculous

GM was making record profits when they started closing factories and moving jobs out of country.

And I can god damn complain about any god damn thing I want to because I am a god damn american.

[AndyA]

17. I don't blame the American companies for doing whatever they can to

cut costs, but I do blame our government for encouraging this behavior. They should be giving tax breaks and incentives to American companies to expand here, and grow their job base here.

Complain all you want, that is your right guaranteed by the Constitution (at least it was last time I checked), but to many it will fall on deaf ears.

If our forefathers had not put America first, we would have never evolved into the country we once were. Supporting foreign-owned companies will not benefit America or Americans in the long run. We have 6 years of outsourcing to prove that. Manufacturing in America has been on a long downhill slide with no end in site.

Support America. Support American companies. Support American jobs. Support your fellow Americans. Put America first for a change.

[CBGLuthier]

18. I drive an impala

First you say that

You cannot complain about American manufacturers if you do not do your part to support them.


Then when I correct you, you say I can complain but it will fall on deaf ears.



Well, I drive an Impala and I will go on the record as saying that american cars are poorly made pieces of shit.

This WILL be my last american manufacturer car.

[AndyA]

That's the way - support foreign companies.

You won't like it when they take over America. You think things are bad now, just wait.

Complain while you can, given the opportunity, that right will likely eventually be removed.

As far as having the right to complain, I think you understand the point.

Edit to add: Today's foreign corporations support their government, not ours. And today's friends are tomorrow's foes. Just ask Iran. Or Iraq. How about China?

[Lost4words]

23. AndyA you have got to read Armed Madhouse.

your workingclass compatriots are not your enemy here, even if they drive imports.

You are thinking the greatest harm is comming from these folks, it simply is not, and could not. it is a bigger scam than you can ever imagine.

Please get more information on this , get the B-I-G picture.

For a very long time I felt exactly as you do now.

You wont believe how twisted all of whats happening today really is.

If you donate to DU in my name I will send you Greg Palasts Book Armed Madhouse, I dont have a job so I cant just send it to you, I am sorry about that.

Thats all I gonna say.

[NickB79]

33. Want to talk about supporting Iran?

Tell that to the millions of Americans driving Chevy Tahoes, Ford Excursions, Dodge Rams or F-150's. How many billions of dollars has the SUV/truck craze fueled by US automakers put into Iran's pockets through higher oil prices and more consumption?

If the US automakers want more business, build a better vehicle. It doesn't have to have GPS or a built-in DVD player or a wetbar in the trunk. GM and Ford build great cars for the European market, such as the European Ford Focus. Here in the US we get the obsolete last-generation Ford Focus. Build that here and I would buy it. Until then they offer nothing that interests me.

[Sadie5]

8. Andy has it nailed down

I have been attacked for saying this before by the foreign car lovers. Enjoy the fruits of your endeavor. I don't buy foreign cars and I don't shop at Wally World.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[raccoon]

14. Toyota Camrys are made in KY, some BMW's are made in SC,

and there are other "foreign" cars made in the US by American workers.

[Blue_Tires]

27. the difference is they don't use union labor

that is why the southern states (TX MS AL SC TN KY) have plants for foriegn automakers

[raccoon]

28. Right. nt

[NickB79]

32. The workers there have refused unions in the past

The point of unions is to make sure the average worker at the plant has adequate health care benefits, retirement benefits, safe working conditions and good pay. Since companies like Toyota provide all of these in the first place, unions don't make much sense there at this time.

[Lost4words]

21. I believe AndyA is incorrect and misdirecting his discontent.

The problem is at the corp level not the consumer level.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JCMach1]

10. Buy American isn't just about American companies any more

But yes, look for a car MANUFACTURED in America. That does support American workers.

[Lost4words]

12. Not any more it dosent!

what is this KIDDY DAY at DU?

[cap]

13. what car is manufactured in America???

Only components are... or assembly of foreign made parts are made in America...

Detroit sold out a long time ago....

I am waiting for non-oil consuming cars to be produced in Silicon Valley. Then I'll go back to buying American.

The sad thing is the little people suffer from the larger folks not giving a crap.

[Lost4words]

20. The problem is bigger than that.

And even if we all bought USA autos and none of us ever shoped at Wall Mart the USA would still be hemoraging jobs like a sive holds water.

I suggest you read Armed Madhouse by Greg Palast to get a better handel on all this.

The problem isnt at the consumer level. It is, IMHO, at the corporate level.

But what do I know? I have only been a consumer for 50 + years.

Please excause any past personal indescretion!

(psst..... this one a keeper?)

8643

[AndyA]

22. I agree with what you're saying, but corporations are going to do what's

best for corporations. This isn't a surprise to anyone. They have to look out for their stockholders and themselves. Our government needs to stop trying to be an equal partner in the world economy, because we can't do it. Expenses here are higher, and so is the cost of living. We can't expect American manufacturers to compete in a world wide market when labor conditions overseas are in some cases just a step above slavery.

We need to put import taxes on foreign goods being brought into America, provide economic incentives to create jobs here in America, get rid of tax cuts and incentives for American companies with overseas operations, and start putting America first for a change. A world wide market driven economy would be great if all things were equal, but they are not and they never will be unless all American workers live in poverty, and work for substandard wages.

And perhaps that's the goal.

[Lost4words]

26. I agree with your post BUT......

(edit on spelling sorry)

where does it end, why do we allow companies that were started in the USA, do a majority of their biz in the USA move their HQ out of the country to avoid paying taxes?

And as far as public owned companies, I have learned that by their very nature they are always short term profit motivated. Long term planing dosent really exists because you always have to get the stock price ever higher and compete with others with the same motivation.

The Japanese have had a long term plan to have a slice of the US auto market. By providing better quality and value than the US auto makers. Thats why I no longer push buy American, The American corporations are interested only in their profits first and quality and value second After 30 years or so the Japanese approach has won out.

Globalization means the richest get richer and the working class gets screwed every where.
IMO thats the real war thats going on right now.

PS I drive a 1988 Mustang I bought new. I have also worked at a Ford dealership selling autos, what an eye opener that was.

I believe we are of a closer mind on all of this than I originally thought, but from a friend to a friend read Palasts Book, its an easy read and you can start anywhere in any order and still be shocked.

Cheers :toast:

Thats all from old 8643 on this topic.

[AndyA]

30. I asked the library to hold that book for me. I'll go pick it up after

work tonight, or tomorrow. Thanks.

I think the tax loopholes for U.S. companies to move their headquarters out of the country need to be closed up. That's insane! Why reward a company for NOT doing business in the U.S.? I don't know who came up with that idea, be they Dem or Repug, but it's a BAD ONE.

I have a 1969 Ford Thunderbird in my garage. Everything still works, it runs great, drives like brand new. I love it - it was an inspired design that is a true work of art. I don't think a foreign company could have ever come up with something like that. It shares parking facilities with a 2001 Mercury Mountaineer and a 1990 Oldsmobile Touring Sedan, both of which were ordered new. I love all of my American cars.

[NickB79]

31. Do you know where the Ford Fusion is built?

Mexico. How does buying a new Ford help support American workers when their jobs are already being outsourced?

BTW, I had a Ford in my garage until this summer. It was a piece of crap, with numerous transmission and brake problems and horrible gas mileage. If Ford wants my business, they will build a better vehicle. Until then I will take my business elsewhere.

[HughBeaumont]

7. Excuse me, Repukes, I believe you were saying something funny

about this great gangbusters economy . . . think it went something like "STRONG AND GETTING STRONGER"??

[leftofthedial]

24. punish the workers for management's gross incompetence

and ownership's venality

it's the Murkan way.

[Purveyor]

25. Ulitmately bankruptcy will be the final result for both Ford and GM

in order to rid themselves of their burdensome union contracts and retiree benefits.

IMHO that handwriting is 'all over' the walls.

[jacklambert]

29. Reluctantly Agree...

The global economy requires US firms to be globaly competitive. If a company in China uses 100 man hours per car at $4.00 per hour and a company in the US uses 100 man hours per car at $40.00 per hour, who do you think will win??

It's not the bigger company that wins, it is the one that is most able to adapt.

Unfortunately, it's the middle class, the American worker, that gets dumped on again.