Ford pushing buyouts with carrot and stick

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Ford Motor Co. is moving aggressively to sell its buyout program to its U.S. union workforce with enticements of tuition, health benefits and cash.

The buyouts that insiders say is an attempt to reduce the payroll by 8,000 to 10,000 workers even has the union's blessing, The Detroit News reported Friday.

"It's the most humane way to reduce the workforce," said United Auto Workers Vice President Bob King.

"We understand that the company has got to be viable for our membership to be viable," he said.

Ford is sponsoring job fairs and connecting workers to trade schools, franchises and universities. It has also added inserts in paychecks, trying to convince workers that this round of buyouts is their last chance.

The packages vary. In 2006, Ford offered eight different buyout packages. Recently, they increased a $35,000 offer to retirement eligible employees to $50,000, full benefits included.

For workers at former Visteon plants, the company is pushing harder. At assembly lines that have been sold, Ford is offering $140,000 and a boost to the wages paid by Neapco Drivelines LLC, the line's new owner.

"It's important for people to understand...this is their last chance," a Ford spokesman said.