Ford plant bans competitors' cars from lot.

rearviewmirror · 01-27-2006, 11:41 AM

This article alone says to me that working for the company sucks as bad as the product they build.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11057921/

Ford plant bans competitors' cars from lot
Dearborn manager says employees can only park if they drive a Ford
The Associated Press
Updated: 9:44 a.m. ET Jan. 27, 2006

DEARBORN, Mich. - The parking lot at Ford Motor Co.'s Dearborn Truck plant just got a little more exclusive.

Plant manager Rob Webber announced Monday that, starting Feb. 1, the parking lot may be used only by employees who drive vehicles built by Ford or one of its subsidiaries.

Webber's move came the same day Ford announced a restructuring plan under which it will cut up to 30,000 jobs and close 14 facilities by 2012. Ford said the plan is designed to make the company's North American division, which lost $1.6 billion last year, profitable by 2008.

"It was something this plant manager took upon himself. It's not a company-wide policy," Ford spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari said, adding that Webber made the decision after consulting with local UAW leaders.

Jerry Sullivan, president of United Auto Workers Local 600, which represents about 2,600 workers at the plant, applauded Webber's move.

"Everybody's in this together. (We need) to buy the products we make and support the company," Sullivan said. "This is a good place to start."

The UAW in the past has banished Asian and European vehicles from its parking lots. The restriction at Dearborn Truck, however, may be the first to be sanctioned by an automaker, The Detroit News reported Friday.

The ban applies to both salaried and hourly workers with permits to park on site. About 15 percent of Dearborn Truck employees have such permits. Employees who don't drive Ford products can still park in an employee lot across the street from the plant.

Those employees will include a veteran skilled tradesman who said he drives a vehicle made by DaimlerChrysler AG because it gives him "the most bang for my buck."

"They can't tell you how to spend your money," said the man, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals. "It's still a free country."
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

© 2006 MSNBC.com

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11057921/

4mydogs · 01-27-2006, 12:32 PM

It'd be funny if the lot across the street filled up and the plant manager HAD to let them park nearer the plant.

rearviewmirror · 01-27-2006, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4mydogs

It'd be funny if the lot across the street filled up and the plant manager HAD to let them park nearer the plant.

Since most big US automaker executives make 415x the average worker it seems unlikely that the people who have up front parking would be driving a Ford anyways... unless they had a mass production of Ford GTs recently. Just to compare, Auto execs in Japan and Europe make an average of only 15x more than most of the workers.

msw0085 · 01-27-2006, 12:50 PM

We just studied the difference in auto makers between america and japan in one of my poly sci classes.. too much to hijack this thread with, but basically its not even close to the same way things are done here.. extremely family oriented..

Crux · 01-27-2006, 01:17 PM

Maybe if they made reliable cars at a cheap price they wouldn't have to force their employees to buy 'em

HaveBlue · 01-27-2006, 02:32 PM

Ya know, several thoughts ran through my head while reading this article:

"Ford bans competitor's cars from lot to minimize insurance losses caused by fires"

Quote:

"Everybody's in this together. (We need) to buy the products we make and support the company," Sullivan said. "This is a good place to start."

Funny...one might suggest PRODUCTION QUALITY would be a good place to start. Not banning employees' vehicles from parking lots. Too bad the employees can't sue for vehicular descrimination.

Localmotion · 01-27-2006, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msw0085

We just studied the difference in auto makers between america and japan in one of my poly sci classes.. too much to hijack this thread with, but basically its not even close to the same way things are done here.. extremely family oriented..

wow..thats crazy! I just talked about this in my Econ class. LOL

Bob_98SR5 · 01-27-2006, 02:56 PM

the overriding message of course is not "we're in this together", but "if we can't sell our cars to people who have their own free will, we at least can force the people who work for us to buy our crap"another PR blunder by ford

stevrock · 01-27-2006, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msw0085

We just studied the difference in auto makers between america and japan in one of my poly sci classes.. too much to hijack this thread with, but basically its not even close to the same way things are done here.. extremely family oriented..

Not only that but everybody has a part in the company. Many of Toyota employees are under the impression that they can do much better then they are, so everybody (CEO Included) pulls together to build a product they believe in.

It's actually pretty funny, it was an American man that taught the Japanese about quality over quantity, and the importance of fariness in the workplace, as well as quota's and bonuses as hindering both production numbers and the quality of the product.

After the Japanese companies started to improve at a very fast rate (they implemented the American man's logic), soon there after American companies were booking him. But all they had was lip service and nothing ever came of it.

The domestic market is getting what they deserve, a swift kick in the pants for thinking we'll settle for mediocracy.

Stuff like what they are pulling at that plant, while they may think it'll help the union and it's employees, it's only going to set up one more barrier between employees and managment. If I were at that plant I would pull a vote for a new union, the UAW is only screwing them.

95ToyotaPU007 · 01-27-2006, 03:10 PM

FORD

"Making Our Employees Buy FORD is Job 1"

stevrock · 01-27-2006, 03:25 PM

Maybe they want them to buy Fords because soon there's going to be 30,000 less people looking to buy new cars?

Get them to buy while they have the job/money, and once they buy fire them.

Nice job.

JamesD · 01-27-2006, 04:24 PM

Heck if you drive a Tundra to work you wouldnt have any problems since it already looks like an F150!

Seriously, Ford has some models that are pretty good but that is some. I always like Toyota's especially their trucks. American car manufacturors dug their own whole. I will buy whatever gives me the most value for my dollar. I like to buy from small business's if the price is reasonable but sometimes you have to buy Chinese stuff. Oh well you can thank the politicians for that!

James

gohawks · 01-27-2006, 04:31 PM

Quote:

It's actually pretty funny, it was an American man that taught the Japanese about quality over quantity, and the importance of fariness in the workplace, as well as quota's and bonuses as hindering both production numbers and the quality of the product.

Edwards Demming?

Not sure about his affiliation with Toyota specifically, but there is no doubt he heavily influenced post war Japan manufacturing and industry.

The American automobile industry rejected Demming and his ideas.

PirateFins · 01-27-2006, 06:17 PM

Well I am not surprised at all. My company does buisness with all of the auto manufacturers. When we go to visit we have to make sure to get the specific brand from the car rental place for what ever co. we are going to. The president of my company was turned away from a GM plant by the guards at the gate and told he had to park down the street and walk in when all the rental place had was Japanese left (we got a big laugh out of that one).

I can kind of see his point. How would you feel as a plant mananger looking out into your employees parking lot and seeing "other" vehicles. It sends sort of a negative image when the people building your product don't drive it and park it in your face. It would be like if a bunch of us here started a section about offroad and tech for Explorers on here. It would look silly for YotaTech to have an Explorer section wouldn't it?

THUNDER CLOUD · 01-27-2006, 06:17 PM

Now I have officially heard everything!...

What the employee's should do is wait until Monday Morning rolls around and then call in to work... "can't make it, my POS Ford won't start"

Seriously though, I feel sorry for these folks even though I'm sure they make a heck of a lot more money than I do. It's not fun to live day to day with the fear that you could lose your job at any given time.

JHupp · 01-27-2006, 06:25 PM

if anyone on this board works there, you can have my f250, I'll trade you for just about anything, that way you can park in the lot

nah, good truck, but all I can say is if Toyota made a comparable one, I would probably buy it instead.

THUNDER CLOUD · 01-27-2006, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PirateFins

Well I am not surprised at all. My company does buisness with all of the auto manufacturers. When we go to visit we have to make sure to get the specific brand from the car rental place for what ever co. we are going to. The president of my company was turned away from a GM plant by the guards at the gate and told he had to park down the street and walk in when all the rental place had was Japanese left (we got a big laugh out of that one).

I can kind of see his point. How would you feel as a plant mananger looking out into your employees parking lot and seeing "other" vehicles. It sends sort of a negative image when the people building your product don't drive it and park it in your face. It would be like if a bunch of us here started a section about offroad and tech for Explorers on here. It would look silly for YotaTech to have an Explorer section wouldn't it?

PirateFins, man I agree with what your saying but I think this Ford thing is a bit over the top. I work in the healthcare industry at a Hospital. My coworkers have various Health Insurance plans based on their individual situations. IE: coverage through a spouse and not with our employer. Each one of these Healthplans may require you go to a specific Hospital/group of doctors etc or suffer a reduction in benefits.

For me this is like the Hospital I work for saying, as an employee you will go to our hospital if your sick and no other. We don't want it known that you work here and went to a different hospital for your care.

I would be interested in hearing this dude's reason for doing this. Is He/She scared people will drive by and see a Yota in the lot and decide against Ford? Is He/She trying to motivate the workers? Does He/She think this will get the other car owners to just quit, thus reducing staff?

Pretty extreme in any case, IMO

PirateFins · 01-27-2006, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THUNDER CLOUD

I would be interested in hearing this dude's reason for doing this. Is He/She scared people will drive by and see a Yota in the lot and decide against Ford? Is He/She trying to motivate the workers? Does He/She think this will get the other car owners to just quit, thus reducing staff?

Pretty extreme in any case, IMO

Oh I'm not saying it's not over the top but I can understand it.

Actually he might be banking on the fat american lazy worker not wanting to walk from the parking lot accross the street anymore and they will buy a Ford which will boost plant image and company bottom line (yes they get a discount, but the company still makes money)

01-27-2006, 11:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
rearviewmirror Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: AUSTEX fiveonetwo Posts: 710	Ford plant bans competitors' cars from lot. This article alone says to me that working for the company sucks as bad as the product they build. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11057921/ Ford plant bans competitors' cars from lot Dearborn manager says employees can only park if they drive a Ford The Associated Press Updated: 9:44 a.m. ET Jan. 27, 2006 DEARBORN, Mich. - The parking lot at Ford Motor Co.'s Dearborn Truck plant just got a little more exclusive. Plant manager Rob Webber announced Monday that, starting Feb. 1, the parking lot may be used only by employees who drive vehicles built by Ford or one of its subsidiaries. Webber's move came the same day Ford announced a restructuring plan under which it will cut up to 30,000 jobs and close 14 facilities by 2012. Ford said the plan is designed to make the company's North American division, which lost $1.6 billion last year, profitable by 2008. "It was something this plant manager took upon himself. It's not a company-wide policy," Ford spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari said, adding that Webber made the decision after consulting with local UAW leaders. Jerry Sullivan, president of United Auto Workers Local 600, which represents about 2,600 workers at the plant, applauded Webber's move. "Everybody's in this together. (We need) to buy the products we make and support the company," Sullivan said. "This is a good place to start." The UAW in the past has banished Asian and European vehicles from its parking lots. The restriction at Dearborn Truck, however, may be the first to be sanctioned by an automaker, The Detroit News reported Friday. The ban applies to both salaried and hourly workers with permits to park on site. About 15 percent of Dearborn Truck employees have such permits. Employees who don't drive Ford products can still park in an employee lot across the street from the plant. Those employees will include a veteran skilled tradesman who said he drives a vehicle made by DaimlerChrysler AG because it gives him "the most bang for my buck." "They can't tell you how to spend your money," said the man, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals. "It's still a free country." © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. © 2006 MSNBC.com URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11057921/ __________________ 2000 4Runner Limited 4WD Millennium Silver Toyota OEM NAV OME springs/shocks F/R VZN185L-GKPZKA 4.300 With P265/70R16

01-27-2006, 12:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
4mydogs Contributing Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Galt's Gulch, SC Posts: 1,325	It'd be funny if the lot across the street filled up and the plant manager HAD to let them park nearer the plant. __________________ 1995 SR5 V-6 4WD Limited, 171k miles, 31X10.5 BFG All Terrain T/A KOs, Downey 1.5HD rear coils, 9" Doetsch MV-12s, Hella 1000 fog lights, Alpine XM/CD head unit, and rear window dog drool.

01-27-2006, 12:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
msw0085 Contributing Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Southlake/Lubbock, Texas Posts: 1,995	We just studied the difference in auto makers between america and japan in one of my poly sci classes.. too much to hijack this thread with, but basically its not even close to the same way things are done here.. extremely family oriented.. __________________ TOYOTA\|moving forward 1996 3.4 Litre \| 4-Wheel Drive \| 5-speed Manual Transmission \| Magnaflow Exhaust Deckplate \| Intake Silencer Removal MasterDebater

01-27-2006, 01:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
Crux Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Highlands Ranch, CO Posts: 845	Maybe if they made reliable cars at a cheap price they wouldn't have to force their employees to buy 'em __________________ 97 4Runner SR5 Blue - 135k miles, E-Locker, Armorology front/rear bumpers & sliders, BudBuilt skidplate+belly, MTR 285/75/16s, 2" Tundra/OME Lift, 1" 4Crawler Bodylift, 1" diff drop, Black Aluminum Wheels, Cobra CB 99 4Runner SR5 Black - 57k miles, E-Locker, Daily Driver 06 Girl - destoyer of all things fragile 08 Boy - a fat little hairy sumo wrestler

01-27-2006, 04:24 PM	#12 (permalink)
JamesD Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 1,547	Heck if you drive a Tundra to work you wouldnt have any problems since it already looks like an F150! Seriously, Ford has some models that are pretty good but that is some. I always like Toyota's especially their trucks. American car manufacturors dug their own whole. I will buy whatever gives me the most value for my dollar. I like to buy from small business's if the price is reasonable but sometimes you have to buy Chinese stuff. Oh well you can thank the politicians for that! James __________________ 2nd gen power mirrors for sale http://www.yotatech.com/f109/2nd-gen.../#post50746877 New Tacome V6 transfer case http://www.yotatech.com/f107/sale-br.../#post50755569 Various Toyota truck/4Runner switches for sale http://www.yotatech.com/f109/various...trucks-148139/

01-27-2006, 02:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
Bob_98SR5 Contributing Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 10,115	the overriding message of course is not "we're in this together", but "if we can't sell our cars to people who have their own free will, we at least can force the people who work for us to buy our crap"another PR blunder by ford

01-27-2006, 03:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
95ToyotaPU007 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 892	FORD "Making Our Employees Buy FORD is Job 1"

01-27-2006, 06:17 PM	#15 (permalink)
THUNDER CLOUD Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: IOWA Posts: 166	Now I have officially heard everything!... What the employee's should do is wait until Monday Morning rolls around and then call in to work... "can't make it, my POS Ford won't start" Seriously though, I feel sorry for these folks even though I'm sure they make a heck of a lot more money than I do. It's not fun to live day to day with the fear that you could lose your job at any given time. __________________ Chris _______________ 02 LTD 4x4

01-27-2006, 06:25 PM	#16 (permalink)
JHupp Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,148	if anyone on this board works there, you can have my f250, I'll trade you for just about anything, that way you can park in the lot nah, good truck, but all I can say is if Toyota made a comparable one, I would probably buy it instead. __________________ Jason '06 F250 Super Duty Daily Driver '01 Toyota 4Runner Sport 265/75/16 BFG ATs, OME 881s w/ spacers front, OME 891s rear, SS roll bar, and some other stuff. Out of Commision njttora.com