I read an article called "Ford workers ratify new contract with UAW" by Dee-Ann Durbin and Tom Krisher from the Pioneer press on 10/18/2011. Ford Motor Co.'s US factory workers have approved a new four-year labor contract. The contract promises profit-sharing checks and billions in U.S. plant investments but keeps the company's labor costs under control. A local union in Kentucky was one of the last votes and ensured that the agreement will go into effect. The contract promises more than 1.2 billion dollars in investments and new products at the two Kentucky assembly plants. The agreement covers 41,000 Ford workers in the U.S. The UAW talks are watched because they set the pay for 112,000 workers at the Detroit Three. Ford has promised 4.8 billion dollars in new investments and 5,750 new jobs through 2015. A simple majority of voting is needed for a contract's adoption.
I think that this is amazing! It says in here though that the St Paul factory is supposed to be shut down. So some jobs in the twin cities will be lost. But in Kentucky almost 6,000 jobs will be opened. Overall, more jobs will be opened in the future.
http://www.twincities.com/ci_19141636
This job dilemma has always confused and frustrated me. If so many jobs have been lost over the past few years, including the jobs that are about to be lost in the Ford plant in St. Paul, then are they really making enough jobs to have it be considered more new jobs? I feel as if the U.S. has already cut so many jobs that this is just another attempt to replace/ put back some of the jobs. For instance, let’s say I took 10 red apples out of your fridge, apologized, and then gave you 5 green apples back; this is essentially what is happening in the U.S. It is great that “more jobs” are coming out with the Ford plant industry, but looking at the bigger picture makes me worrisome again. Europe is about to fall through the cracks with their economy as well, so I am looking forward to seeing how higher officials take action with this economic downfall.
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