Ford To Idle Parts Plant In Monroe That Employs 1,200

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Ford Motor Co. said Saturday it plans to idle an Automotive Components Holdings auto parts plant in Monroe that employs about 1,200 people after failing to find a buyer for the facility.

Ford spokeswoman Della DiPietro said the company is in final negotiations to move propshaft operations at the plant to another location, but production of catalytic converters and stabilizer bars will wind down by the end of next year.

"We've been trying for two years, and no buyer has stepped forward to express an interest in the facility," DiPietro said.

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It's not clear what will happen to all of the workers at the Monroe plant. DiPietro said about 850 are hourly workers covered under the United Auto Workers union's contract with Ford and about 150 are salaried workers.

Read more: http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/business-13/1188055463173940.xml&storylist=newsmichigan

[wordpix]

1. how about producing cars that people want to buy & stopping the obscene salaries at the top?

NO, that would make too much sense.

[Purveyor]

4. And can afford to buy. I doubt any of the 2 million households in foreclosure and

lord only knows how many household on the 'brink', will be in the 'new car market' for years to come.

Myself, I will never buy a new vehicle again with my last 'new' purchase back in 1994.

Finding a low mileage, 2-3 year old vehicle that has already shed it showroom depreciation is a very logical and prudent way to buy.

[Double T]

2. More bad employment news in bush's great F-ing economy.

Business as usual can no longer be acceptable, and it is up to 'US' to do something about it.

[HereSince1628]

3. GM announced a similar plan for Janesville assembly plant

Gonna be a long hungry autumn for a lot of families.

[JNelson6563]

5. Weep for Michigan fellow DUers

We've been taking it in the ass here in the (formerly) mighty mitten state. Thanks to NAFTA and other factors it's been very bloody here.

Julie

[safeinOhio]

6. I've seen so many Michiganders

moving south and west to find work. It's like a new Grapes of Wrath. I moved out a few months ago and am now SafeinOhio.

[wordpix]

7. that is really sad/bad. THIS is where a primary should be held NOW

[InkAddict]

9. Don't get too comfortable. n/t

[Alcibiades]

8. I seem to recall some sort of comment about sedans

Something by an executive at Ford about how they didn't really want to be in the family car (i.e. sedan rather than SUV) market because it's just not profitable. They were not going to regain market share with cars such as the Grand Marquis, the Crown Vic, and the stalwart but aging Taurus (which gets a new model this year, but only B/C they are relabeling the 500 the Taurus). It looks like ten-plus years of conceding this huge "niche" that includes most households has really worked well for them. Now the Japanese are doing to the truck market what they did for sedans, and surprise surprise, even truck buyers are finding these products attractive. Here in NC, the truck for poor rednecks is no longer a Ford or Chevy, but a Nissan, because they like the reliability (or so I'm told--I drive American, of course).

It always gets me, too, how many US flag stickers and crap I see on foreign-manufactured vehicles. Apparently, the mantra is "Support our troops, but fuck our autoworkers!"

As usual, of course, the executives who made the bad choices that have resulted in Ford's sorrys state got paid, and paid well, but these folks, and all of the City of Monroe, will suffer for their mistakes.

[nebula]

10. Good riddance to Ford

These laid off workers may have an opportunity for employment with Toyota, Honda, Nissan etc.

For every domestic auto factory that shuts down, there seems to be a Japanese one taking its place in the US.