I was thinking this was going to be a "hostile" round of labor negotiations this time around. Now, I'm not so sure, the two sides seem pretty well aligned as far as the big points go. If King can keep the far fringes of his UAW boys from taking over, it appears calmer and more sensible voices will rule the day.
Contract talks begin:Ford fires test balloon
"We cannot afford to slip back into old habits," Fields told the Free Press in an exclusive interview Thursday as the Detroit Three prepare to kick off labor talks this week.
Ford, like General Motors and Chrysler, is leaning toward more profit sharing in lieu of wage increases. It hopes to hire more workers, but at a lower, entry-level wage to bring down its overall costs. "It's important we stay focused on staying competitive," Fields said. As it enters talks, Ford faces a more challenging road than its crosstown rivals."
"Ford held a lottery last week in Louisville, Ky., to narrow a pool of 16,837 applicants for 1,800 jobs it will add to begin making the all-new Ford Escape in November.
That surge of job-seekers illustrates how this year's labor negotiations are different from any that came before. They will be focused more on future workers who won't be able to ratify the deals and the prospect of tying more of current workers' pay to Ford's U.S. profitability.
"There's nothing shameful about wanting to grow jobs in an economic environment where people don't have jobs," said Mark Fields, Ford president of the Americas. "This is not a dirty story. This is ... about growing the business."
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It looks to me like Ford is more aligned with where King and one hopes the UAW is...ie...no further cuts, no increases in wages either but willing to look at restructuring profit sharing and the like.
But GM, who enjoys the luxury of a "no strike" cluase this time around, may be looking for further cuts in wages and/or benefits...that may pose a problem for Ford. If they stick to patterned agreements, Ford is the only one faceing a possible strike.
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GM goals UAW talks
"General Motors is planning to push for a reduction in health care costs, changes to its profit sharing formula and a reduction in labor costs during contract talks with the UAW.
In 2010, GM spent about $665 million on health care costs for all of its active hourly workers, and it’s a high priority for GM to reduce that cost, said a person familiar with the situation. But the UAW is opposed to cost increases for its active members."
"Arthur Schwartz, a former GM labor negotiator and president of Labor and Economics Associates, said he expects GM, Ford and Chrysler will all seek to lower health care costs for active workers in contract talks that begin next week.
UAW hourly workers pay a smaller share of their health care costs than workers at U.S. plants operated by Asian automakers, Schwartz said.
“It’s the biggest single benefit item by far,” Schwartz said.
At GM, hourly workers pay about 7% of their annual health care costs. On average, American workers with families pay about 33% of their health care premiums, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics."
"Earlier this week, UAW President Bob King said he is open to discussing a change to the company’s profit sharing formula but drew the line when it came to changes in health care contributions.
“There is no justification for any further concessions in this round of bargaining,” King told the Free Press.
Contract talks begin:Ford fires test balloon
"We cannot afford to slip back into old habits," Fields told the Free Press in an exclusive interview Thursday as the Detroit Three prepare to kick off labor talks this week.
Ford, like General Motors and Chrysler, is leaning toward more profit sharing in lieu of wage increases. It hopes to hire more workers, but at a lower, entry-level wage to bring down its overall costs. "It's important we stay focused on staying competitive," Fields said. As it enters talks, Ford faces a more challenging road than its crosstown rivals."
"Ford held a lottery last week in Louisville, Ky., to narrow a pool of 16,837 applicants for 1,800 jobs it will add to begin making the all-new Ford Escape in November.
That surge of job-seekers illustrates how this year's labor negotiations are different from any that came before. They will be focused more on future workers who won't be able to ratify the deals and the prospect of tying more of current workers' pay to Ford's U.S. profitability.
"There's nothing shameful about wanting to grow jobs in an economic environment where people don't have jobs," said Mark Fields, Ford president of the Americas. "This is not a dirty story. This is ... about growing the business."
===============================================================
It looks to me like Ford is more aligned with where King and one hopes the UAW is...ie...no further cuts, no increases in wages either but willing to look at restructuring profit sharing and the like.
But GM, who enjoys the luxury of a "no strike" cluase this time around, may be looking for further cuts in wages and/or benefits...that may pose a problem for Ford. If they stick to patterned agreements, Ford is the only one faceing a possible strike.
===============================================================
GM goals UAW talks
"General Motors is planning to push for a reduction in health care costs, changes to its profit sharing formula and a reduction in labor costs during contract talks with the UAW.
In 2010, GM spent about $665 million on health care costs for all of its active hourly workers, and it’s a high priority for GM to reduce that cost, said a person familiar with the situation. But the UAW is opposed to cost increases for its active members."
"Arthur Schwartz, a former GM labor negotiator and president of Labor and Economics Associates, said he expects GM, Ford and Chrysler will all seek to lower health care costs for active workers in contract talks that begin next week.
UAW hourly workers pay a smaller share of their health care costs than workers at U.S. plants operated by Asian automakers, Schwartz said.
“It’s the biggest single benefit item by far,” Schwartz said.
At GM, hourly workers pay about 7% of their annual health care costs. On average, American workers with families pay about 33% of their health care premiums, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics."
"Earlier this week, UAW President Bob King said he is open to discussing a change to the company’s profit sharing formula but drew the line when it came to changes in health care contributions.
“There is no justification for any further concessions in this round of bargaining,” King told the Free Press.
