[Brian S]

It is quite likely that Ford Motor Co., as we know it, will not survive. JMHO.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I don't see why this isn't a good idea. If the jobs are not necessary, for Ford to produce the vehicles, then why would they want to hire bodies to perform unnecessary tasks?

I tend to distrust unions, so maybe I am missing the point of the article.

[Joe Boucher]

Guess I'll not buy a ford then and I'm about to get a new truck.
Maybe toyota has a better idea?

[Conservababe]

In 1975, my brother-in-law was making $25.21 sitting in the cars on the line checking the wind shield wipers.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

More fallout from Unions.

[MonroeDNA]

I love the smell of unios dying in the morning.

[Timesink]

I can't say I blame them for feeling the need to do this. As long as the Ford Foundation continues to exist in its present form, I will be making no purchases from any unit of the the Ford Motor Company.

[AlbionGirl]

It is so sad to see this class of job being eliminated. For decades many young men and women who had no desire to go on to college, but were good, smart, hard working people have no where to turn.

The worst part is that our society is producing a bunch of people who think the only job worth having is a white collar one, and the trades are looked upon as work fit for the unfit. It's a doggone shame.

I went to school with boys who hated books, but could take apart the engine of a Sunbeam Alpine and put it back together at the age of 15. I've always had a lot of respect for men and women who work with their hands. It's really too bad we produce very little in the US.

The Unions have reacted too little, too late to the onslaught of competition.

[damncat]

It's the pension load that's killing the big auto makers. For each worker in the big three, there are two retirees living off the pension fund. Once the work force is reduced even further, who pays for the retirees? The Goliath has finally consumed itself, or could taxpayer subsidies be in our future. The government would probably bail them out, unless the liberals are in power at the time. Then they get what the greenies have been begging for all along. The demise of gas guzzling personal transportation.

My wife designs parts for a subcontractor, she'd been laid off for most of the year. I haven't much hope for her future in auto design. However a relative has just returned from Japan on a Mazda training seminar. The Japanese seem to use their resources much wiser.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

How is someone who makes $30 an hour a "blue collar" worker?

[snopercod]

It is quite likely that Ford Motor Co., as we know it, will not survive.

Maybe they should try making vehicles that run reliably. I hear there is a market for that.

[alphadog]

"Ford Motor Co. hopes to eliminate about 21,000 jobs"

They hope do they?

[CyberAnt]

And .. where will 21,000 laid off workers go ..?? Maybe to other car mfgs.? How many of those 21,000 will be ready for retirement anyway..?

[FR_addict]

Bump.