A1cntrler
Well-Known Member
As if Ford shutting down the #1 in quality production line for the F150 they have in 2008, they will be treating all the employees to 4 weeks of vacation this year..... 
Ford plant will close for 4 weeks in Aug., Sept.
By JEREMIAH MCWILLIAMS, The Virginian-Pilot
© July 25, 2006
Last updated: 9:01 PM
Ford Motor Co. will idle its Norfolk Assembly Plant for one week in August and three in September, union members said Monday.
Ford had tacked an extra week onto its traditional two-week shutdown this month. Workers just returned to work from that break this week.
"I guess lack of sales," said Chris Kimmons, president of United Auto Workers Local 919, referring to the reason for the shutdown. "This is unheard of. We're just never the ones to get shut down. They've had plants shut down, but they've just never had the truck plants shut down."
The plant employs more than 2,430 workers and builds the F-150 pickup. Sales of F-Series pickups fell about
8 percent in the second quarter compared with the same period a year ago. Ford plans to stop building vehicles at the Norfolk facility in 2008.
On Thursday, the company said it must quicken its plan to slash North American production, cut payrolls and shut plants but didn't provide details. Before the announcement, the company said it did not intend to lay off a shift or shut the Norfolk plant before 2008.
During the plant's idle periods, Ford workers typically are eligible for Virginia unemployment benefits and company subsidies, keeping their pay at 95 percent of normal levels.
A message referring to the shutdown was on a bulletin board at the Johnson Controls Inc. plant in Chesapeake, which makes seats for the F-150. "We'll be shut down for that time because we build their seats," said Ricky Wingate, who has worked there for nearly 10 years. "We don't know, from day to day, what's going on."
Reach Jeremiah McWilliams at (757) 446-2344 or [email protected].
Ford plant will close for 4 weeks in Aug., Sept.
By JEREMIAH MCWILLIAMS, The Virginian-Pilot
© July 25, 2006
Last updated: 9:01 PM
Ford Motor Co. will idle its Norfolk Assembly Plant for one week in August and three in September, union members said Monday.
Ford had tacked an extra week onto its traditional two-week shutdown this month. Workers just returned to work from that break this week.
"I guess lack of sales," said Chris Kimmons, president of United Auto Workers Local 919, referring to the reason for the shutdown. "This is unheard of. We're just never the ones to get shut down. They've had plants shut down, but they've just never had the truck plants shut down."
The plant employs more than 2,430 workers and builds the F-150 pickup. Sales of F-Series pickups fell about
8 percent in the second quarter compared with the same period a year ago. Ford plans to stop building vehicles at the Norfolk facility in 2008.
On Thursday, the company said it must quicken its plan to slash North American production, cut payrolls and shut plants but didn't provide details. Before the announcement, the company said it did not intend to lay off a shift or shut the Norfolk plant before 2008.
During the plant's idle periods, Ford workers typically are eligible for Virginia unemployment benefits and company subsidies, keeping their pay at 95 percent of normal levels.
A message referring to the shutdown was on a bulletin board at the Johnson Controls Inc. plant in Chesapeake, which makes seats for the F-150. "We'll be shut down for that time because we build their seats," said Ricky Wingate, who has worked there for nearly 10 years. "We don't know, from day to day, what's going on."
Reach Jeremiah McWilliams at (757) 446-2344 or [email protected].
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