Democrats

Is Ford Corporation Betraying American Loyalty?

November 3, 2006 ⋅  E-Mail Article ⋅  Print Article ⋅ Post a comment

Hey do not be an idiot, outsourcing and globalization have affected you and if you hear someone say its not there problem then I ask you to slap them in the head. Each person in America is facing a crisis because of the race to the bottom outsourcing and globalization has caused and you are in this battle whether you know it or not. Consider Fords, they went to court Thursday to try and squirm out of their obligation to pay for health benefits to their retired workers. Ford’s and the UAW are normally not allowed to bargain directly for retired individuals benefits but Fords is citing special circumstances for this occurrence. If they succeed and Fords can cut their benefits it may start a domino effect felt throughout America. Many other companies will try and job their previous and current employees and it will go on and on. Today it’s your health benefits tomorrow it’s your livelihood. Where does it end? Who is standing up for the American worker? How can Ford’s cut benefits in America and provide benefits to other workers around the world?
Where is the loyalty?

According to the Detroit News, “To help reverse North American automotive losses that reached $1.6 billion last year, Ford is also trimming the benefits of salaried employees and retirees, which are less generous than union retirees. In 2007, Ford will limit health care contributions to salaried retirees at 2006 levels. Additionally, Ford is limiting paid life insurance benefits for future salaried retirees…Ford also plans to shed 30,000 jobs and close 7 manufacturing facilities by 2008, and shutter another 7 facilities by 2012 to counter falling sales and revenues. The automaker has been hit especially hard by a slump in SUV demand.”

Ford’s says they are cutting jobs in North America because of demand but has anyone asked Ford’s who they expect will buy their car’s if they keep laying off their workforce? Millions of Americans consider Ford’s less domestic than Toyota because of all of the recent job cuts in North America. American consumers also note that Ford’s is expanding in other countries and they see this as very hypocritical. James Jones stated, “How can Ford’s fire 5000 workers, send their jobs to India and Mexico, and then expect those 5000 Americans to continue to buy their cars? This is such a betrayal it is almost unforgivable.” A lot of Americans feel this way but Ford’s simply cites demands of Globalization. However, if Toyota keeps creating jobs in America while Ford’s keeps outsourcing jobs it will not be hard to see why Toyota has surpassed them as the number two automaker in America.

As the political races heat up we must ask ourselves, ‘Who is working to protect American jobs? Who will provide for Americas’ future and make it advantageous to keep Americans employed?”

The outsourcing issue is an issue much more relevant to you than the war in Iraq, trust me. The politicians want you to forget the issues brought on by outsourcing but you must stay vigilant. If you do not protect your future it will be jobbed right out from under you.

Fords Cuts Benefits

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