Staff who downed tools at Ford's Transit plant face sack threat (From Daily Echo)

What a bunch of total wallies.
To go on strike at this time is just totally ridiculous and only strengthens the hand of Ford to move all the building to Turkey.
Why would they want to continue here with a work force such as this.

"Despite what Ford may think we do not live in a slave state and the workers have every right to withdraw their labour"

Despite what Bobby Noise may think Ford can move their plant where they like - they are not receving any tax breaks and no one can force them to stay here. Noise doesn't quite get it.

She said: “Despite what Ford may think we do not live in a slave state and the workers have every right to withdraw their labour and make their voices heard in the only way they can.

You are right, we do not live in a slave state and that is partly due to the Trade Unions over the years and i applaud you for it. BUT just like the employee, the employer can, given the right circumstances, decide to no longer have an individual or group of employees working for them. I am afraid that at the moment with our uncertain global problems it is the employer who is calling the tune.
Ford have enough reasons to close this plant down, for Gods sake dont give them any more as it may come sooner than you think

anyone with any sense could see this coming,keeping people in the dark about their future while talking to german and french workers about future investment.and then you get those sad cases posting drivel about good workers because of the action of a few workers. the fact is that this plant produced this plant produced 70,000 vans a year with about 1,000 people .one of the most productive plants in europe and their is no reason why it should not be built in uk.

Although I understand the deeper feelings related to this story and sypathise with their plight I think you can analyse the following sentence.... She said: “Despite what Ford may think we do not live in a slave state and the workers have every right to withdraw their labour and make their voices heard in the only way they can."

and say that Ford have every right to withdraw their services to the city.....sad as it may be!

Of course workers have the right to withdraw their labour! Has anyone said otherwise? The fact that the move did not have the desired effect is neither here nor there. Ford aren't obliged to make whatever decisions the workers demand, unfortunately.

Striking may very well be a good way to improve working conditions, get more pay, or whatever. But it doesn't take a genius to see that "let us keep our jobs, or we stop working" is utterly pointless.

Of course, if Ford does sack the strikers, Ford doesn't have to pay redundancy payments to them, if the plant reduces manning.

thesaint wrote:
anyone with any sense could see this coming,keeping people in the dark about their future while talking to german and french workers about future investment.and then you get those sad cases posting drivel about good workers because of the action of a few workers. the fact is that this plant produced this plant produced 70,000 vans a year with about 1,000 people .one of the most productive plants in europe and their is no reason why it should not be built in uk.

As I understand it there is a reason - bottom line profit for Ford.
Unfortunately workers (be it for Fords or any other employer) will only find out the final plans when the company thinks it's right to tell them. Having worked with companies gonig through restructuring and offshoring, the employees who are negatively effected are always the last to know.
It sucks and it's unpleasant trying to work (and live) with your future uncertain but it's normal practice in business nowadays, and striking will only be to the workers' detriment.

Going on strike now not a good move, if I was Ford I'd sack them now. The unions are NOT representing the workforce properly at all

billy jock wrote:
Going on strike now not a good move, if I was Ford I'd sack them now. The unions are NOT representing the workforce properly at all

The Shop Stewards at Ford have outlasted their usefulness and they know it.

While telling their members to strike they will be removing all trace of their Union activities from their CV's because no other employer will have them. They are the ones most at risk but they seem content to send their troops over the top.

Smart move guys.

Now you can dig your gardens and enjoy your pensions ... Well you might have if you hadnt been sacked.

You have forced the head loppers axe. Less for them to do later I guess.

Should have gone to the Labor center to get another job instead of stamping your feet outside of Fords plant as their CCTV picked out those they see responsible for instigating the action and those equally involved in it.

Still, this is about principals I guess.

To think its only 9 weeks to Christmas too. Lots of time on your hands now to put up the 'decos' and dress the tree and prepare to be 'JOLLY'. Yo Ho Ho!

Hey! Maybe Santa will bring you a nice new job huh?

Finlay wrote:
Smart move guys.

Now you can dig your gardens and enjoy your pensions ... Well you might have if you hadnt been sacked.

You have forced the head loppers axe. Less for them to do later I guess.

Should have gone to the Labor center to get another job instead of stamping your feet outside of Fords plant as their CCTV picked out those they see responsible for instigating the action and those equally involved in it.

Still, this is about principals I guess.

To think its only 9 weeks to Christmas too. Lots of time on your hands now to put up the 'decos' and dress the tree and prepare to be 'JOLLY'. Yo Ho Ho!

Hey! Maybe Santa will bring you a nice new job huh?

More dispicable moronic taunting of Men and Women with young children facing Christmas not knowing what the New Year might bring.
What a callous, crass indivdual.
Do you really take from knowing families are facing unemployment?
Fairly typical of the Ford bashers on here IMO.

More dispicable moronic taunting of Men and Women with young children facing Christmas not knowing what the New Year might bring.
What a callous, crass indivdual.
Do you really take from knowing families are facing unemployment?
Fairly typical of the Ford bashers on here IMO.

Bit touchy. Nobody's taking pleasure out of your plight. Just commenting on the folly of using strike action to try and keep hold of your jobs. I don't see how attacking people online is going to help you, either.

security word was side-blue. Another cryptic-ish irony

Militant Ford Worker wrote:

Finlay wrote: Smart move guys. Now you can dig your gardens and enjoy your pensions ... Well you might have if you hadnt been sacked. You have forced the head loppers axe. Less for them to do later I guess. Should have gone to the Labor center to get another job instead of stamping your feet outside of Fords plant as their CCTV picked out those they see responsible for instigating the action and those equally involved in it. Still, this is about principals I guess. To think its only 9 weeks to Christmas too. Lots of time on your hands now to put up the 'decos' and dress the tree and prepare to be 'JOLLY'. Yo Ho Ho! Hey! Maybe Santa will bring you a nice new job huh?

More dispicable moronic taunting of Men and Women with young children facing Christmas not knowing what the New Year might bring. What a callous, crass indivdual. Do you really take from knowing families are facing unemployment? Fairly typical of the Ford bashers on here IMO.

Before you have another pop at me I have twice lost my job through redundancy (once three weeks before xmas) so I do know just what it feels like.

However I simply picked myself up, improved my skills and got another job.

Ford workers need to take the same approach instead of crying in their beer.

It's all relative. Not knowing what the New Year might bring is still an improvement on knowing full well it's going to bring yet another year of abject misery, poverty and despair, which is the boat some people are in

Militant Ford Worker wrote:

Finlay wrote: Smart move guys. Now you can dig your gardens and enjoy your pensions ... Well you might have if you hadnt been sacked. You have forced the head loppers axe. Less for them to do later I guess. Should have gone to the Labor center to get another job instead of stamping your feet outside of Fords plant as their CCTV picked out those they see responsible for instigating the action and those equally involved in it. Still, this is about principals I guess. To think its only 9 weeks to Christmas too. Lots of time on your hands now to put up the 'decos' and dress the tree and prepare to be 'JOLLY'. Yo Ho Ho! Hey! Maybe Santa will bring you a nice new job huh?

More dispicable moronic taunting of Men and Women with young children facing Christmas not knowing what the New Year might bring. What a callous, crass indivdual. Do you really take from knowing families are facing unemployment? Fairly typical of the Ford bashers on here IMO.

With the exception of Finlay (who's comments are mind blowingly stupid) I don't think anyone on here is anti Ford or it's workers, just disagreeing with current strike etc.
I'm sure no one in their right mind (is Finlay?) would be wishing ill on anyone, whatever their circumstances, and let's face it, there are far more workers than just Ford employees facing an uncertain future in the current climate. At least Ford Emps should walk away with a good redundancy package (if it happens) which is a lot more than many will get elsewhere.
My advice - don't give them any ammo that may hasten closure.

Georgem wrote:
It's all relative. Not knowing what the New Year might bring is still an improvement on knowing full well it's going to bring yet another year of abject misery, poverty and despair, which is the boat some people are in

That justifys Finlay laughing at our Children?
Because its all 'relative.'???
Do any of you armchair pundits know what goes through a Man's mind when he decides to put his job on line by walking out the gate?
Have you had a bust up with the missus in front of the Kids because you have caught her telling them that they cant expect too much this year because Daddy might lose his job?
Do you really think like Adrian, that we are all 'poorly educated' mindless sheep who jump at our shop stewards bidding?
Believe me,although I'm obviously not as highly educated as Adrian Smith, I know my own mind and Industrial Action is very much a last resort. I have asked my MP, Chris Huhne to represent me, but they refuse to see him, they wont negotiate with my Union either. What are we supposed to do ? Walk like lambs to the slaughter? Hope that kissing the bosses *** and licking the boot will save our jobs?
It's not just the guys who walked out that could be facing the sack its EVERYONE at Ford. Some people have taken the view that they would rather die fighting on their feet then on their knees.
What do all you Clever Clogs want?
Move all Industry out of the UK? Pay poorly educated workers that do crap jobs crap wages - because thats all you think they deserve?
So whatif we no longer have a Manufacturing or engineering base becasue it's all been offshored to Asia - our property and financial sector will earn us ££££££££££
£'s.
Most important, keep on kicking Britsh Workers and supporting American Bosses who want to take £1.4 billion a year out of OUR local economy and send it abroad.
Do you really think that it won't affect you?

That justifys Finlay laughing at our Children?
Because its all 'relative.'???

I never said any such thing!

Do any of you armchair pundits know what goes through a Man's mind when he decides to put his job on line by walking out the gate?

No, I don't. No offence, but it seemed like a really silly move in the current circumstances. Could you enlighten us as to what *did* go through your mind? I mean, were you really expecting Ford to change their mind about anything as a result?

I know my own mind and Industrial Action is very much a last resort.

Why was it a resort at all, though? Surely if the factory is already not making enough money for Ford - and that's the bottom line, really - then hurting production isn't going to mitigate that at all.

Walk like lambs to the slaughter? Hope that kissing the bosses *** and licking the boot will save our jobs?

Accept that job loss is pretty much inevitable, maybe? You're not the first guys to face redundancy, you know, and you sure won't be the last.

Some people have taken the view that they would rather die fighting on their feet then on their knees.

Good for them, I'd personally be a bit more pragmatic about it, but I really do just mean *I* would be, not suggesting that that's how you should approach the problem. Don't take it out on everyone else when your gamble doesn't pay off, though. Striking to keep your jobs is like screwing to support virginity

Militant
I've been made redundant (after 12yrs) and have gone through all the range of emotions you describe. I've also, having found myself in a similar situation to yours (ie future unknown) simply resigned and sought other work.
In neither case would any form of industrial action have had any effect on my employer's decisions and my view now is "make hay while the sun shines" as no job is guaranteed.
UK manufacturing has been disappearing overseas for years, you know that, and no matter how emotive retaining some UK manufacturing seems, in business profit talks - bottom line, UK is often too expensive, and in an increasingly cost conscious global economy employers are looking to save where they can - certainly UK govt doesn't seem too bothered about keeping it here.
Ford's decision may be short sighted and perhaps people will stop buying Transits in disgust (although consumer loyalty is fickle) but for your own sakes understand industrial action will only impact you and your co-workers - Ford's will not (and obviously don't) care a hoot, you're simply playing into their hands.

This is where you are dearly wrong.
I am not 'bashing' anyone but I do know the mechanics of relocation and liquidation of business.

I explained way back when that it was over before the laughably 'leaked' documents stating the closure was happening, hit the press.

Anyone who has been involved in this type of operational move will say exactly what I have said to you. If you strike they dont pay you and the way it was done appears that the gobshites that initiated this were not following policy and justifiably will be sacked saving Fords a heap of cash.

I am annoyed at the blasé attitude many have taken to the announcements of imminent closure instead of finding alternative employment they are 'fighting' a lost cause to retain jobs that will not exist in the very near future.

Have Fords offered skill retraining courses? If not they can be got (well they used to be).

I have followed this tale at arms length and it is an oh so predictable ending to all dynastys.

The US has had a massive downturn in car and truck sales and more so when the price of gas went to $4/gall, an all time high. They have to make cuts somewhere and Fords choice is in Swaythling.

Spit at me as much as you like but it doesnt detract from that cold statement. Fords is closing at Swaythling. It is over.


Go and find alternative employment and do it all again. Get over it.

What do all you Clever Clogs want?
Move all Industry out of the UK? Pay poorly educated workers that do crap jobs crap wages - because thats all you think they deserve?

I love this attitude. Apparently, unless we all fall to our knees praising the brave soldiers at Ford Swaythling, we're The Enemy(tm) twirling our moustaches and guffawing all evil-like, hell-bent on ruining the UK. Mua-hah-hah-hah-hah.

First of all may I pass on my good wishes to ALL employees who face an uncertain time at the moment. We have to face up to the fact that anyone's job could come under scrutiny in todays troubled climate . It will be of no comfort to anyone to learn that up to 700 jobs are at risk at the Getrag Gearbox plant which is situated next to the Jaguar (previously Ford) plant at Halewood, Liverpool.

Ford's at it again. Dad would be spinning in his grave, if we'd buried the begger. He worked for Briggs Motor Bodies who Ford's took over, rose through the union ranks to Works Convener and when he moved on Ford stamped his file 'NOT to be re-employed under ANY circumstances'.
The Union's fought long and hard to get the management to behave responsibly, but now with off-shoring as a new threat the management have a new, if somewhat blunt, weapon.
Fear not, Ford don't really care about striker's, the Union rep's and stewards will be dealt with first, usnless the workforce Unite from Managers down to cleaners they (Ford) will divide and rule...