The view outside of the Ford/UAW contract modifications has focused on two concessions,

1) the salary freeze of entry level workers and

2) that UAW members would not be able to strike over the amount of improvements to their wages and benefits. In other words UAW members would be allowed to strike if Ford was lowering their wages and benefits, but would not be allowed to strike over wages and benefits if Ford was improving that offer.

Now, a WHAS11 viewer has contacted me to share why Ford workers here might reject the contract, even with the prospect of thousands more jobs on the horizon.

Here's his e-mail:

Here is an idea of what we have already given back...
1. GEN, 2.ETAP, 3.Overtime premiums after 8 hours, 4.Holidays, 5.Christmas Bonus, 6.Performance Bonus, 7. Two tier wages, 8.SUB, 9.COLA, 10.Insurance Co Pay increases 11. one minute reduced from each hour break time. 12. Outsourcing of janitorial services. Also the Reduction of thousands of full-time employees due to retirement packages and early separation packages.
Remember what we have given up already.... just this year alone...
COLA: (assuming it stayed at 99 cents the entire contract): $6,240 through 2011
Performance Bonuses: $7,000 (on average) through 2011
Holidays: approximately $600 for two holidays
Christmas Bonuses: $1,200 for 2009/2010

TOTALS PER EMPLOYEE: $15,040 through the EOC in 2011, just in lost compensation
Assuming 36,000 Active Hourly Employees: $541,440,000 in compensation concessions.
Do you really feel like giving up the most important tool we have (striking) for a measly $1,000 bonus (that won't be paid for 5 months anyways) which will end up only being about $670 after taxes?
You have eliminated thousands of workers off the rolls. The company should be saving a ton of money by this alone. Overtime eliminations in most plants. 10 hour day modifications by not paying workers overtime until 40 hours have been reached.

In closing, do you really believe there is no hidden agenda here? With these recent concessions of giving up our strike clause for wage increase and unlimited 2nd tier hiring, ask yourself this... if the UAW and Ford have such a great working relationship then why is this a concern? After all, look what we have already given them. OUR OPINION...they are not worried about taking our wages down, they want to keep our
wages frozen where they are right now until 2015, after we have not received a wage increase since 2003, and guess what...WE CAN NOT STRIKE!!! While Ford will be reporting another quarterly profit gain!!!

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