The 2007 UAW Ford National Negotiating Committee
UAW Ford Bargainers Preserve Jobs,
Protect Wages and Benefits
Our UAW negotiators at Ford faced enormous challenges during 2007 negotiations because of the state of the auto industry as a whole and declining market share at Ford.
In the four years since our last contract was negotiated, the market share of the domestic auto industry fell from 62 percent to 52 percent. During the same period, Ford’s market share dipped from 18.9 percent to 14.9 percent. Ford workers know firsthand how devastating this has been on workers, families and their communities. Our bargaining committee made addressing jobs, seniority, product and investment priority issues in this set of negotiations.
As we are painfully aware, in 2006 Ford lost $12.6 billion and Ford management mortgaged all the company’s assets to raise $23.4 billion for a massive restructuring. Ford workers were asked to make huge sacrifices as we witnessed the closing of 10 plants and the relocation of many workers.
During this period, our union negotiated a special attrition program to assist our impacted members. While the attrition program may have lessened the impact for some workers, it strengthened the resolve of our bargaining committee to focus on job security.
“Our bargaining committee came through for our active and retired members,” said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. “Our team is proud of each and every negotiator because they have encouraged Ford to invest in product and people while addressing the economic needs of our active and retired members.”
“Our goals for this contract were to win new product and investment, to enhance job security, protect seniority and protect our retirees,” said UAW Vice President Bob King. “We made progress in all these areas.”
The proposed agreement delivers unprecedented product and investment guarantees specifying work to be performed at Ford manufacturing facilities through the life of the agreement and/or through specific product lifecycles. The commitments cover Ford assembly, stamping, engine, transmission, axle and components operations.
The agreement also includes a moratorium on outsourcing, a commitment to insource over 1,500 new jobs to UAW Ford facilities, and an agreement to evaluate 1,700 additional jobs for insourcing.
The proposed contract also delivers economic gains for our active and retired members, protects health care for active and retired members, and renews our commitment to safety in the workplace.
Ford has agreed to contribute $15.4 billion to secure retiree health care for current and future UAW retirees for years to come, including $13.2 billion to establish a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA). We also agreed to a new wage for entry-level workers, including a promotion process — by seniority — which will allow these workers to reach full traditional wages.
We believe this contract lays the potential for renewed success for UAW members and Ford Motor Co. The members of the UAW Ford National Negotiating Committee are proud to recommend it to you for ratification.