Ford plant bans competitors' cars from lot

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Nelson,



Ford did not require them to drive a Ford to work there. You can drive anything you want. If you choose to drive something else, park across the street. If my company required me to wear clothes made in the USA, so be it. They can not bar me from working there, but they can require me to park across the street. Then I have a choice. Buy the clothing or park across the street.



Driving something other then the product, or brand, you build leaves customers, or potential customers, wondering how good of a product Ford builds. If I have a family and I work at a Ranger plant, I would respect that not the employees can not possibly drive only a Ranger. If Ford did not offer a full line of cars, then again, I could understand. Lets say Ford did nt build a full size pick-up. Then I would understand they must drive something that will work for them. Since Ford builds just about anything anyone would need, there is no reason to buy anything else. The job you are securing is your own.



When you make a fair wage and can buy, lets take my Trac for example, a $28,900 MSRP and pay 23,050.67 plus tax, there is little to no reason to buy something else.



You build Ford, you drive Ford. You build GM, you drive GM.



What is the problem? They are not making you drive a Ford, they just make you park somewhere else. Don't like it, go work for the company that builds your vehicle of choice.



Ultimatly, it is pride. Are you proud to drive what you build?



What if you were in the military and the guy next to you chose to salute the flag of the USSR, China, or better yet North Korea. Would you trust that person's judgement if your life was in his hands? He is defending the USA, but puts his loyalty to North Korea?



Would you say he is a proud American?





Tom



 
If you look at the second article, they are considering expanding this to the entire plant, not just one lot. It would be very inconvenient for anyone not owning a Ford product to continue employment under that circumstance.



Regarding the salute...hundreds of US Military salute the flags and officers of friendly nations every day. It is required by our Government. Russia (fomerly the USSR) and China are not our enemies, and if we were in uniform, and their anthem were played or we approached one of their officers, we would be required to salute. A hand salute is not a symbol of loyalty or subservience. It is a greeting and a symbol of respect.



I've personally saluted the Turkish, Portuguese and South Korean flags while serving overseas. At the end of the duty day, the anthem of both the US and the host country are played, and we are required to salute until both anthems are completed.
 
If you look at the second article, they are considering expanding this to the entire plant, not just one lot. It would be very inconvenient for anyone not owning a Ford product to continue employment under that circumstance.
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It would be very inconvenient to not have a job too. Even more so when the guy working next to you doesn't care about the product he builds.



If it were up to me, you work for Ford and drive something else, you park across the town.



I noticed you did not comment about North Korea. Since North Korea is not a friend, would you want to work next to someone that cares about North Korea?



The automakers compete against each other. I would go as far as saying if Ford could buy Toyota to remove them from the scene, they would. So, you buy a Toyota (Insert any auto maker with Toyota, it doesn't matter) when yu work for Ford, you are essentially saying I like Toyoa better then Ford. Lokk here, I don't buy them, but you should. Keep me working.



I guess it is like a father doing a line of coke telling his kid not to do drugs.





Tom
 
I don't know Tom. I didn't see any of my buddies saluting the North Korean flag when I went on this trip. Those North Koreans don't look too friendly! :D



[Broken External Image]:
 
Duh, No wonder what I said about saluting the flad did not make sense when I read it.



I was thinking of saying the Pledge of Alligience but said salute. Giving a salute is a sign of respect.



I knew that. I must have my head screwed on a little too tight today. It is a nice day today, about 60 degrees, and I am do a little stuff aroud the house. My mind is running three directions.





Tom
 
If you make Fords you should drive a Ford... Okay, let's carry that further. If you make pacemakers, you should have to have one inserted into your chest. If you make wheelchairs, you should have to ride in one all day and we should only hire women to work in companies that make bras. Lord knows the general public won't buy these things unless the people making them use them :wacko:



I do guess that Ford sees this as a way to boost their sales. If you want to park in the "good lot", you have to buy a Ford (or subsidiary). That's one expensive parking lot. What a crock. Desperate times, call for desperate measures I guess.
 
Not everyone needs a pacemaker, nor does everyone wears a bra. Almost everyone drives a car and a car can be seen from a street. A Pacemaker can not be seen by someone standing next to you. Nor can a bra, though I prefer to make shirts and bra's illegal in the USA.





Tom





 
But your statement was:

Imagine Rich Lunder building the Lever Lift kits, but not using one himself. How about Chris Wells building the sub box's and not having one in his truck? I could go on, but why bother?



I hope those that are going to be layed off are driving something other then a Ford. It would serve them right. If you build it and don't drive it, why should I? What does that tell the general public?
Click to expand...



So if Rich sells his Trac he should give up his business? The pacemaker statement was fighting absurdity with absurdity. You don't have to use a product to make it and the public could care less if the folks putting it together use the product. When I go to McDonald's, I don't ask the server and the cook if they eat there. I just go in and buy my food. I could care less what they eat. As a matter of fact, I'd say more power to them if they chose to eat somewhere else. It won't sway me from my order. The only folks that I can think of that think you have to be a user and producer is the Hair Club for Men… and I’m not about to buy from them. :rolleyes:



I think it speaks volumes when the folks who put the vehicles together and get a SWEET discount would rather pay more for a competitor's vehicle. It also speaks volumes that Ford has to use coercion to get its employees to buy Ford.
 
Doughboy, in 1990 I was looking to buy a new car. At the time I was a GM employee via Hughes Aircraft. I could get a nice discount on any GM product. I ended up with an Acura Integra. The quality of GM products then, was substantially lower than the Japanese and German products. I could not find a GM product that I wanted to buy. The Acura was great. Having said that, I have bought several GM products, since then, for my family and myself. '92, 96 and 97 Saturns, '96 Grand AM ,and a '98 and '01 Olds intrique. I will buy a Cadillac SCT when it goes to all wheel drive. Their product was greatly improved and I had no problem buying it. I bought a'03 Trac in lieu of an Avalanche 'cause of the Avalanche's size.



Many buyers are misled, in many instances, with the reliability and cost of maintenance of some of these foreign cars. BMW has had many electrical problems. Honda has had their share of recalls. The problem is, in many instances, the past quality of theses products. Even when they improve, the consumer doesn't even look, but assumes that it hasn't.



Even if they filled their parking lot with Ford vehicles because workers wanted to park closer, they would only add a couple of thousand (at the most) to their annual sales. Not worth the ill will in my opinion. Management, in my opinion, still hasn't got a clue.
 
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Again, buying what you build is a direct reflection on you as a person.



BTW, the employee pricing is not a gift from Ford. It is not coersion. It was negotiated in past contracts in leu of a larger raise. Ford did not always offer any type of discount program.



Kinda neet when you actually hear facts instead of making stuff up to support your feelings n a subject.



Build a Ford, drive a Ford. If you dont drive a Ford, take the bus, or better yet, work somewhere else. Give the job to someone that really wants and cares about thier job.





Tom
 
Sorry about that. I did read that wrong.



I would not call the parking situation coersion. I consider it rewarding employees for protecting your job.



If it were up to me, I would fire everyone that did not drive a Ford product. Thank goodness the Union would be there to protect those that buy other vehicles, some of which are non-union built. Something those people that took thier oath to be come a UAW member then broke it by buying something else.



I guess as long as you don't break an oath while in the Military or government member, an oath is nothing important.





Tom
 
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If you work somewhere you need to take pride rather than just a paycheck in working there. When I worked at Home Depot (corporate) there was no way in hell I could have walked in Lowe's to buy something with a clear conscience.



It's called LOYALTY and it's in your own best interest if you want YOUR company to succeed, which in turn keeps YOU in a job (or career if you will).



I no longer work at HD and can be found shopping at Lowe's, Ace, HD, or whoever can give me what I want at the best price or whatever\wherever is convenient.



JT#14



 
There is an oath involved in being a union member? WOW... I didn't know that. Is that what they call becoming a "made man". :lol:



Caymen - I think you said you build things for the Navy. Shouldn't you then be required to at least serve in the Navy Reserve so that you use what you produce. Maybe they should make that a condition of employment and fire anyone that doesn't serve on the ships that use the products that they build.
 
Travis,



When I worked at IBM (86 - 94) they have huge discounts on personal computers. Regardless, the cost of an IBM pc to an employee was still significantly higher than buying a Dell, a Gateway or a Compaq.



Furthermore, the profit margins on an IBMP PCs were very small; and when under the employee purchase plan, pretty much meant no profit back to the company given the employee purchase.



Therefore, many IBM employees bought competitors PCs, because a) They were cheaper, and b) it really didn't HURT the company



Now, sure, the last part of that is a rationalization; but the truth of the matter is that often those companies that you work for make it difficult for you to buy from them. When that happens, it is MORE the company's problem then the employee's, IMHO.



Sure, when things are equal and it helps the company too, buy from the company that employs you. But all to often, especially for larger companies, all things are not equal (price, quality, etc).



TJR
 
I guess taking the logic of Ford's action, since I live in Missouri, I should only be supporting Missouri workers who build Missouri cars. Let's see-- I have a choice of getting a Dodge Caravan, a Dodge Ram pickup, GM full-sized van (yuck) or a Ford Escape/Tribute.



They don't build SportTracs in Missouri.



Am I disloyal?
 
Doughboy,



When the president elect takes office, he takes an oath. When a police officer takes his job, he takes an oath. When someone joins the military, they take an oath. When a judge takes his position, he takes an oath. When you take the witness stand you take an oath. You sweat to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.



When I took my oath, I swore to "uphold the constitution of the boilermakers union, to buy American union made goods when possible, never to cross the picket lines of an authorized strike", to name a few things.



I guess it is better to never serve in Jury duty since you would be "made man".



As for requiring me to be in the military in the past to work there...how does that pertain to Ford. They never said to work there you had to drive a Ford, they said if you don't drive a Ford product park somewhere else.



If the company gave primo parking spots for those past military members and those in the reserve, so be it.



99.9% of those in the Navy will never see the things I build.





Tom
 
I don't see what the big deal is. The plant manager isn't prohibiting those who own non-Ford products from working at the plant. From the tone of the article, Ford is still providing a private lot for those who don't drive a Ford, they're just offering a small perk to those who are loyal to the company that pays their handsome wages.



For those who have such a problem with this policy, would it be wrong for the Rooneys to insist that Bill Cowher wear Steelers gear on the sideline of the Super Bowl as opposed to say, Seahawks apparel?
 
It seems to me that as a union member, you would be against a policy that restricts a workers ability to "work with dignity" or that interferes with the "contentment of freedom". If not, then are you fullfilling your oath? :unsure:



This organization is founded on the principle that in a democracy, good

unionism is good citizenship. The purposes of this International

Brotherhood are to implement the exercise of the natural right of workers to

organize that they may more securely work with dignity; to establish the

contentment of freedom and security; to enable its members to participate

actively in self-government; to unite into one International Brotherhood all

workers eligible for membership, regardless of religion, race, creed, color,

national origin, age, or sex; to secure improved wages, hours, working conditions,

and other economic advantages for the members through collective

bargaining, through advancement of our standing in the community and in

the labor movement, and through other lawful methods; to provide educational

advancement and training for officers, employees, and members; to

safeguard and promote the principle of free collective bargaining, the rights

of workers, farmers, and consumers, and the security and welfare of all the

people by political, educational, and other community activity; to protect

and strengthen our democratic institutions and preserve and perpetuate the

cherished traditions of democracy; to protect and preserve the union as an

institution and in the performance of its legal and contractual obligations.



- Constitution of the International Brotherhood of BOILERMAKERS, IRON SHIP BUILDERS,

BLACKSMITHS, FORGERS, AND HELPERS
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