Ford offer leaves (14,000 more) workers with tough choice

[Bozita]

http://www.wwmt.com/engine.pl?station=wwmt&id=32986&template=breakout_local.html
 
December 12, 2006

Ford offer leaves workers with tough choice

December 11, 2006 - 5:33PM

DEARBORN (NEWS 3) - Thousands of salaried employees at Ford Motor Company have a big decision to make: take a buyout offer from the company - or stay and risk being laid off.

This time, the Dearborn-based automaker is whittling down its white collar workforce.

The white collar buyout offers are being presented to lower- to mid-level salaried workers and supervisors. They can take it or leave it - but their decision deadline is January 5th.

Ford is targeting to buy-out 14,000 salaried jobs. If enough people don't take the offer, involuntary cuts could follow.

more...

[WindRavenX]

1. remember when we had a good economy with a middle class?

:(

[Bozita]

2. Just another story that old folks will tell their grandchildren

I walked five miles to and from school every day ... uphill.

[WindRavenX]

3. I'm about to graduate college-- the economic picture terrifies me

I feel very insecure about the future. And I have 40K in student loans.

[southerncrone]

4. I am so sorry

When I graduated from college almost 30 years ago, you could put yourself through. I had to work 3 jobs & go to school full-time, but it WAS POSSIBLE. Today, we must help our children if they are not to begin their "careers" already behind the 8-ball with a heavy debt load. I fell we have betrayed the youth of our nation by placing them in such a negative position. It takes away alot of hope & naturally causes fear. Thanks to the Republicans for this one, too! :-(

To make matters worse, so may of today's youth have no idea about how to handle their finances & avoid the shark infested world of credit. :shrug:

Be smart, do not ADD to your debt by using credit cards. Pay off these student loans ASAP. Create a plan to pay back the debt & STICK TO IT!

You do not have to have EVERYTHING NOW! Discipline yourself, just like you did with studying.

What is your major? Where are you going to try to find employment?

And, Congratulations! :woohoo:

[Bozita]

5. I recall falling asleep while really terrific professors did their thing

Daytime job, grad student-by-night.

And those were the good years.

[truthisfreedom]

7. You can do whatever you want with your life. Keep your eyes open and follow your

instincts!

[kcass1954]

6. There are actually some offers going to higher-level managers -

regional mgrs in vehicle remarketing are getting them too. I know one who's already accepted, and a mid-level guy who's on the fence.

There's more to come, folks. Ford Credit is going to close 60 of 94 branch offices in the US. Those operations will be consolidated in the 6 existing regional service centers. They've already closed their commercial lending branches, and moved that operation to Henderson, NV. This is on top the the voluntary manpower reduction that occurred in May or June of last year.

Ford is going to pull vehicle remarketing operations out of 15 auctions in North America - decisions to be announced in February or March. The auction I work for may be one of them. We're all very nervous right now. I deal with Ford's repurchase programs, and I'm busy as shit right now - cars coming in from all over, including other auctions - but we think it's just a test.

[Wcross]

8. I work for an automotive supplier- I PRAY we are offered a BO.

I want to be offered a buyout in the worst way. I already have a business plan in place and am working it on a small scale. In the past they offered 2 weeks pay for every year of service. I would fight to be at the head of the line.

[blues90]

9. I worked for Ford dealerships for 30 years

All this experience in repair and management and 12 years at the last job and I was laid off . Here in S Calif dealers are closing down , one in beverly hills no less .

Yeah good old auto trade , thought it would always be alive and now what to do . I have absolutely no interest in most jobs offered out there . All I know in carpentry other than that and I'm 57 and no one will even consider me now for carpentry work .

At my age coming from a completely different generation and mindset there are no jobs out there that even strick me as an interest and how does one learn something new and start all over again at this point .

It really leaves one to wonder what happened to the USA . I worked hard all my life and had the mindset of pride and doing a good job for a fair wage and now all this seems to be shot to hell .

[southerncrone]

10. Sadly Blues, we were raised w/a work ethic

in the "get mine & get out" atmosphere that has prevailed in this country for the last 20 years, the concept of "work ethic" was thrown out w/integrity, decency, honesty & personal ethics. Those values don't matter any more, unless you're a sap. I taught my children to have a work ethic, and to be honest & loyal, but I fear I betrayed them in this current environment. I fear they will be eaten alive & mistreated in the work force.
The mindset today is....step on as many people as you can on your way to the top, each of those is a trophy to the almighty, cut-throat corporate god. The less integrity & compassion you have, the farther you will go up the ladder. It is the manifestation of true evil in our society.

We have become a heartless representation of selfishness & greed....neither of these is productive.

Best of luck w/new employment, you might try a private repair shop, usually benefits are low, but
IT'S A JOB!