"We're not here to to cram anything down anybody's throat."

That's not Ford Motor talking, but the International President of the United Auto Workers, Ron Gettelfinger, in a one-on-one interview
before he addressed Local 862 members about contract modifications waiting for a ratification vote.

Changes include a wage freeze for entry level workers until the contract expires in 2011 and disallowing workers to strike over the amont of their of their wage increases. If, however, Ford proposes any wage or benefit decrease, a strike is allowed under the deal.

A Louisville native, Gettelfinger met privately with Local 862 leaders and then addressed local Ford workers on Sunday afternoon in the union hall that bears his name. Gettelfinger was the Local 862 President 25 years ago.

I asked him how he would have reacted if he had been presented such a proposal when he was the local President.

"I'm not sure," Gettelfinger acknowledged, "but I'm sure knowing the situation that exists in the industry today, I'd have seen it as a pretty positive gain here because in this particular location, and in every Ford location around the country we have secured product. And that's what it's all about. The best job security in the world is having a product commitment that comes into your facility."

Yet, union members are buzzing about a UAW Vice-President attempting to explain the contract, who was booed and heckled off the stage at a Michigan Ford plant. The local UAW leader there came out against the modifications. Gettelfinger said he was not concerned about how Louisville workers would treat him, and added that the plan has "overwhelming support" among union leaders.

"Just a handful of national Ford Council delegates, which is our leadership across the country, voted in opposition to it," Gettelfinger said.

But a local union official says one of those opposed to it is a delegate from Louisville.

While Gettelfinger did not dwell on his Louisville ties, it is clear that the support of his home local is important to him, and if Local 862 members reject Gettelfinger's personal mission, it could be an embarrassment for the long-time UAW President.

"This is my last term as president of the UAW," Gettelfinger said, "This is my local union and I've avoided coming here a lot of times when I've been invited because I never wanted to be shown favoritism here. I'm kind of proud to come down here with our last contract, and sit through an explanation meeting and see what's on people's minds."

Gettelfinger says opponents are spreading misinformation that workers would lose the right to strike if the deal is ratified.

"The workers here have the right to strike in contract negotiations and what I say here at Ford, on every issue expect the amount of wage and benefit improvements."

One of the biggest changes that affects the longest tenured workers is a reclassification of "skilled trades" positions that would place skilled tradesmen in "mechanical teams" that would handle a number of assignments, not one specalized area in the plant.

"If you're a production worker, or even a skilled trades worker, we don't see this as a concesssionary agreement," Gettelfinger said, "We see it as an agreement that's moving us into the future."

The future - sources say - includes compact SUV's for the Louisville Assembly plant, with enough exports to require three full shifts of workers at LAP. That would increase the hourly payroll from about 1,000 now to 3,000 workers in 2011.

Gettelfinger resisted the opportunity to come right out and say that Ford could pull the plug on Louisville plans if the contract vote is rejected. But, he mentioned plant closures several times.

"We're looking at the long term," Gettelfinger said, "We're asking people to sit down with their family and see how this impacts them personally."

I will be blogging about the Ford contract vote all week, please send comments or questions to jarnold@whas11.com.

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