What would Henry number one be thinking, if he were still alive? Could he have imagined the state of the auto industry today? More to the point, could he imagine the state of the company that he founded today?
Those must be some of the questions that cross the minds of the heirs of old Henry. The Detroit News has an interesting article up on some of the behind the scene scrambling going on with one of America's most famous families, as they deal with the current industry slump, and their relation with it.
Image: The Detroit News
steve_ says:
11:40 AM, 11/26/08
Henry would be thinking the union did the company in. Along with booze, immigrants, and a few other bogeymen.
Vinnmar says:
08:24 PM, 11/26/08
What needs to change is the compansation in the E band Groups. They are so well over paid that it appalling. (E band is from Grade 12 on up). The E band pensions also need to change ASAP. FORD NEEDS TO STOP PAYING PENSIONS THAT ARE EQUAL TO THE BASS PAY OF EVERY PERSON FROM THE PLANT MANAGERS ON UP. If your in the E Group and your pay is $500,000.00 a year, your pension will be $500,000.00 a year as long as you have held that job for 18 mo. THIS IS THE SAME ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TOP AT FORD. They need to have the same kind of pensions that the workers have on more no less. When times are good they (the e band) get rich and the rest may get a 3% raise over 3 years. When times are bad they still get rich and push the rest out and make us give up our jobs, and cut the pay rates. The public thinks that the hourly are over paid. The hourly have given up alot. Its the E Band thats steeal the company blind. Its not just the bonuses its every thing. We all need to cut but they can fly around and blow money all the time.
Why is it that the top never gives up a thing when we are in trouble.
They always pull from the first line supervision, from middle managment and the UAW but never from the E band group.
Its time that they start giving up as much as the rest of us have done.
They are not the FORD family.
They work for Ford Mo Co the same as all the workers do.
How is it that they can push some one out of a job and F up his credit and none of them have to pay for what they have done to a company or to its people. This company was one of the best run just ten years ago? The proublem was that the Ford family was not driving the ship they were asleep at the wheel. This all startes going to Hell with Jac Naser he was the down fall of this company.
The start of this started back then.
The plants need to get back to the buisiness of making Quality cars and forget the small shit.
The Quality of a Ford is next to none but the E band group needs lots of Help.
firstwagon says:
08:01 AM, 11/27/08
SO share with us... what's determines that a position is E-band (what is E-band)?
Right now your rant sounds like everyone elses. You claim that you do a good job and are fairly paid but the fault is with everyone else.
Normally the blame rests at all levels.
ateixeira says:
10:41 AM, 12/ 1/08
There is no doubt there should be major sacrifices at the higher levels, but for Ford to be viable they have to be cost competitive at all levels.