Ford Boosts Overtime for Escape, Mariner Production
January 28, 2008

Union workers at Ford's Claycomo, Mo., plant have agreed to increase their mandatory overtime work so the automaker can boost production of its popular Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner and their hybrid versions without adding another shift.

They also agreed to increase overtime for the redesigned 2009 F-150 pickup truck.

Employees voluntarily increased the number of Saturdays they will work from six to 21 this year. It is a major test of the new, more flexible Ford-UAW contract that allows Ford to save money to expand or contract hours without laying off or adding workers.

Ford sold 165,596 Escapes last year, a 5.2 percent increase over 2006. Mariner sales increased 2.7 percent to 34,844.

Photo by Ford

Ford CEO Alan Mulally (right) and UAW Vice President Bob King celebrate the launch of the 2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner with employees of the Kansas City Assembly Plant, where the vehicles are built, in January 2007.

Posted by Michelle Krebs at 6:41 AM under Ford | Comments (0) | digg this | Seed Newsvine