Topnotch

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...d=aAYS7JUyb5Ec


Oct. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co.’s Mustang plant in Flat Rock, Michigan, is among six factories to reject contract concessions the automaker is seeking to match those the United Auto Workers granted its U.S. rivals.
The vote at UAW Local 3000 was 73 percent against the concessions, said Tom Spears, the local’s president. The factory employs about 2,200 people, is jointly owned with Mazda Motor Corp. and also builds the Mazda6. At an Ypsilanti, Michigan, parts plant, 52 percent voted against the revisions, according to the Web site of Local 898, which represents its 690 workers.
“There are concerns about our plant’s future because we have no product beyond 2011,” Spears, who backed the contract changes, said in an interview.

The automaker is offering workers a $1,000 bonus tied to quality and productivity targets and pledges of new production at some factories to help win approval of the deal. The Flat Rock plant was promised continued Mustang production only “through the current life cycle,” which ends in 2011, according to UAW highlights of the agreement.

Knight Rider

I'm confused TN. Can you explain it for me?

classix_stang289

me too

07S197

I'm very nervous now.... what does this mean? or is it being miss understood???

EagleStroker

It means the UAW drove Mustang production out of Detroit, if I'm reading it correctly. Probably to the state of the art plant in Brazil, which once again Ford can't build here because of the UAW. And it could also mean a new car in 2012!

2k7gtcs

It means they'd rather not have a job after 2011 than give Ford the concessions GM got.

This is the reason why unions suck. It's their bed though, so when the time comes they can lie in it.

Red Jay

i thought mustang production was already out of production in detroit since the end of the new edge SN95...

Clino

Interesting I guess, although I'm not sure what to make of it exactly. There is pressure offered by the competition now, but it seems pretty early to offer a new model...if that's what it means. Why would they bother putting the 5.0 in the current chassis (ie testing engineering etc) if there is going to be a whole new car a year later. I would think they would just hold onto the 4.6 for another year with some more tweaks and then debut the 5.0 with the "supposedly" new model in 2012.

houtex

Amen.

I have utter respect for unions when they're needed, and utter contempt when it's obvious that they've overreached and have been getting too much in concessions, and then hold the companies hostage to keep getting stupid amounts.

We already had the $70/hr to put tires on a car discussion, so I won't rehash it.

/partly because it's not that much, but somewhere around $40/hour total per worker, averaged, with benefits included.
//still pretty dang good to throw lugnuts on... 8 hours, 5 days, 50 weeks = $80,000
///know plenty who don't come close to that and work *really* hard.

instigator311

The original rumor that I heard a long ways back was that Ford's GWRD platform was supposed to debut in 2012. We know that platform is cancelled now, but I guess it's possible that they are going off of an old schedule still?

cdynaco

The way I read it is that the 10 & 11 "life cycle/body style" will morph into something different. The '10 isn't that well received and Ford surely has heard the feedback.

MARZ

I don't know if your assessment of the 2010's styling is completely substantiated. Aside from the rear end woes, most everyone I've talked to seems to like the new styling. Virtually all of the reviews I've read, too, give the Mustang kudos in the "looks" department. I'm sure the information contained within the article above has more to do with the way "new Ford" operates rather than as a result of how the Mustang's been received by the public thus far.

cdynaco

Remember all the sour threads about the '10 pre-TMS crash? I do. The cartoonish sleepy eyes, the crease on the rear quarters, the soft tail lights with whatever is up with the diaper... its almost like they were trying to slant towards the Camaro cues. No thank you. Not for me. And I think the Q agrees by tweaking away from stock looks. IMO of course.

Boomer

Wasn't there a rumour a while back the Mustang may be leaving flatrock?

I don't know why at all, but I remember reading that rumour on a site.

MARZ

I remember a few bemoaning the new 'Stang for what you mention, but I also remember quite a few praising its new found asthetic aggression. Actually, if I remember correctly, most people were upset that the redesign didn't go far enough -- that the 2010, unless you were looking for it, could easily be mistaken for an '05-'09 model.

As is the case with any new Mustang, because it is such an icon, you're not going to please everyone with each successive redesign. I remember a lot of people complaining about the 2005's too vertical front end, plain-jain hood devoid of scoops, bulbous rear end, they deviated too far from the concept cars, etc.

IMO, just like anything, just because you're the most vocal, doesn't necessarily mean you're in the majority.

EDIT: Maybe I missed something, but who or what is "the Q?"

uofh2005

Well since the Mustang is built alongside the Mazda 6 and since Ford isnt in bed with Mazda as much as they were maybe someone has to move out. Whose plant was the Flatrock plant anyway? Pretty sure they were building the Mazda 6 there before the Mustang.

Adam

Unions are the downfall of the automotive industry.

xlover

maybe through calendar 2011 which will be the 2012 model year. so maybe a year off or another half year of 2013 model year cars then inventory sell down for a calendar 2013 release of all new 2014 model for 50yr... i dunno my theory would make more sense if i could account for that missing calender 2012 year in the middle.

stangfoeva

You just saved me 5 min of typing. Thanks MARZ

Flagstang

I wonder how much of the sales price of each mustang goes to the union?