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Authors, sign in!Ford Chairman Alan Mulally, announced that Ford Motor Company will be building a $490 million plant in China, building Ford products to sell globally. AP's Dan Strumpf filed this story:
Ford Motor Co. said Friday it plans to spend $490 million on building a third assembly plant in China, ramping up production to meet surging demand in this fast-growing market as the U.S. automaker expands in Asia.Now, I don't know about you, but I think that's a real slap in the face to American workers. I have no problem with Ford building their cars in China for the Chinese market. In fact, I believe that is required by Chinese law. In order for foreign companies to sell their products in China, the products must be produced in China.The factory, to be built in the central Chinese city of Chongqing, will make the next-generation Focus compact car, which Ford plans to sell globally. The announcement from Chongqing came the day after the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker unveiled a made-in-India compact car -- part of a plan to boost sales in Asia, a region the U.S. automaker has hardly dented but is counting on to drive growth.
"Today's announcement reinforces our commitment to the further expansion of our China operations to meet the continued rise in demand from Chinese consumers for world-class Ford products and services," Ford chief executive Alan Mulally said in a statement. ... (more here)
However, the part that gets me is that Ford will be building cars in China, at low Chinese wages, and selling them around the world. Why can't Ford build the cars for countries, other than China, in the United States, using American union workers, paying good union wages (although union wages aren't as good as they used to be) to middle class families Where are Ford's family values? Where is Fords' commitment to American workers? The answer is they don't have a commitment to America and American workers. Their commitment is to their shareholders and earning the highest profits possible. Also, they don't have to provide benefits to Chinese workers, like health care. Auto worker wages in China are $2-6 per hour. At that rate, how many new American jobs do you think will be created once Ford starts exporting cars made in China and selling an Indian made small car.
It appears that Ford doesn't have the same loyalty to American workers and America's economy that some people seem to think American consumers should have to American companies.
Published September 25, 2009 by Bruce Fealk |
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| Tags:
China
Economy
Employment
Globalization
Jobs
Outsourcing
Workers Rights
Comments (4)
Yes, and this is in a time when our own tax dollars are providing bailouts to the auto industry. For what? Chinese employment?
Posted by Pamela Jean
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September 25, 2009 11:27 AM
Posted on September 25, 2009 11:27
To be fair, Ford was the only auto company that didn't take government bailout money.
Posted by Bruce Fealk
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September 25, 2009 12:31 PM
Posted on September 25, 2009 12:31
I'd like to see UAW workers stop their unequivocal support of the Big 3 just because they're under collective bargaining agreements.
Every time I see a "Union" bumper sticker on a pickup with the tiny "do not display on an import" tag line, I wonder what these guys are thinking.
A multinational corporation based in the U.S. is still a multinational corporation, and whose only interest is profit first, last, and always. Workers, union or not, are disposable.
Posted by Will Corsair
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September 25, 2009 3:16 PM
Posted on September 25, 2009 15:16
OUCH! living in Michigan - boy can i identify! auto workers are layed off - income tax and sales tax is down in the state as there are so many people unemployed. government services are being cut or eliminated - state workers are being furloughed - and Ford expects us to buy their chinese products? be discriminating - buy what is made here - if you have a job.
Posted by gypsytoo
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September 25, 2009 9:04 PM
Posted on September 25, 2009 21:04