Saving some Ford factories on table

[1931Chevy]

With contract talks between Ford Motor Co. and the United Auto Workers poised to enter the final stage, the automaker is prepared to scale back plans to close six plants already targeted for closure in exchange for more favorable contract terms, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Ford has said it will close 16 factories in the United States and Canada by 2012 as part of its North American restructuring plan. Six have already been idled, and plans to shutter four others have been announced. But the automaker has not named the other six publicly.

Now, Ford has shared its plant closing list with the UAW. And it has made it clear to the union that some of those plants could be saved if the automaker can get better contract terms than those negotiated with General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC.

Ford wants a lot -- more restrictions on its jobs bank program, a broader definition of "non-core" jobs that would allow more positions to be filled by lower-wage workers and more favorable funding terms for the union-run trust that is expected to assume responsibility for retiree health benefits.
But Ford is also prepared to give a lot in return, potentially sparing some of the factories targeted for closure. The closure list includes both assembly and parts plants.




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