Ford Motor Co., which is closing plants and cutting jobs in an effort to improve results from its North American auto business, said Thursday that it will shutter assembly plants in Norfolk, Va., and St. Paul, Minn., in 2008.
Let me say that anytime someone loses a job, there is no joy.
I do not like unions, that fact is no secret. I am as pro-market as they come, even when it comes to labor. But, I take no pleasure in seeing anyone losing a job, union or non-union. But the important thing to note in all of this is, the year the plants will close is 2008. These people have two years to plan out the rest of their lives. Many can and will relocate, albeit reluctantly in many cases, I am sure. Many of the smarter ones will go back to school and study in an area that is more recession-proof.
But it's not the best thing to happen to many of these people, but it could have been much worse. They could have showed up to work, found pink slips awaiting them, and then could have been sent home on the spot.
3 comments:
As far as domestic vehicles go, I've found Fords to be quite reliable. However, some of their vehicles have some poor-engine design. For example, we had to replace the intake manifold on our Mustang because the part was made of plastic which couldn't stand up to the heat generated by today's "fuel efficient" engines.
Ford has had significant problems with some of their expensive "designer" trucks. Again, poor workmanship and poor design were to blame.
And we all remember the snafus with the Ford Explorer.
I'm with you, LA. These individuals losing their jobs will suffer because most will now find limited opportunities for similar work. The families will suffer as well. I rather doubt that most will find similar wages and similar benefits out there because Ford had a good package in that regard. I'm not sure that the 2008 date will do some of them any good.
AOW,
I'm not sure that the 2008 date will do some of them any good.
Maybe not, but I am sure there will be some that will opt to relocate, many won't/can't. But I hope that there will be a decent amount, that will go back to school and get into a field that is less volatile, in the labor market.
Nice, I will wait for this. I know that ford trucks are very powerful to used in heavy hauling. Thanks for sharing this information to us.
heavy hauling equipment
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