http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20070222/1052995.asp
Ford Motor Co., which had a record loss in 2006, "is in great shape," the head of the United Auto Workers said Wednesday after a labor economist suggested that the automaker may ask the union to accept reduced pay and benefits.
"They went through this huge financing, they have a ton of cash," union President Ron Gettelfinger said on Detroit radio station WJR-AM. "They have great leadership at the top. That company is in great shape. They made some tough choices. So have we."
The union leader was responding to comments yesterday by Sean McAlinden, an analyst at the Center for Automotive Research. McAlinden said at a labor-relations seminar in Ypsilanti, Mich., that Ford is in a "meltdown" and may ask for a 20 percent cut in wages and benefits in this year's contract talks.
Ford, the second-largest U.S. automaker, posted a net loss of $12.7 billion last year as it spent money to cut jobs and close plants and yielded more domestic market share to Asian rivals led by Toyota Motor Corp. The Dearborn, Mich.-based company hired a new chief executive officer, Alan Mulally, from Boeing Co. in September.
The automaker also borrowed $23.4 billion late last year to prepare for what it expects will be a $17 billion cash drain from this year through 2009. Ford is scaling back in North America, the main source of its losses, under a plan to return to profit in the region in 2009.
Ford Motor Co., which had a record loss in 2006, "is in great shape," the head of the United Auto Workers said Wednesday after a labor economist suggested that the automaker may ask the union to accept reduced pay and benefits.
"They went through this huge financing, they have a ton of cash," union President Ron Gettelfinger said on Detroit radio station WJR-AM. "They have great leadership at the top. That company is in great shape. They made some tough choices. So have we."
The union leader was responding to comments yesterday by Sean McAlinden, an analyst at the Center for Automotive Research. McAlinden said at a labor-relations seminar in Ypsilanti, Mich., that Ford is in a "meltdown" and may ask for a 20 percent cut in wages and benefits in this year's contract talks.
Ford, the second-largest U.S. automaker, posted a net loss of $12.7 billion last year as it spent money to cut jobs and close plants and yielded more domestic market share to Asian rivals led by Toyota Motor Corp. The Dearborn, Mich.-based company hired a new chief executive officer, Alan Mulally, from Boeing Co. in September.
The automaker also borrowed $23.4 billion late last year to prepare for what it expects will be a $17 billion cash drain from this year through 2009. Ford is scaling back in North America, the main source of its losses, under a plan to return to profit in the region in 2009.