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http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Business/2008/01/11/4766979-sun.html

Let 'em roll

Fri, January 11, 2008

The Town Car means some job security for 1,500 St. Thomas Ford workers.

By NORMAN DE BONO, SUN MEDIA





Ford workers check over the first Lincoln Town Cars to roll off the line at the St. Thomas assembly plant yesterday. (MORRIS LAMONT, Sun Media)

It has carried dignitaries and celebrities and been one of the flagship U.S. luxury automobiles and now it is made right here.

The Lincoln Town Car officially rolled off the line for the first time yesterday at Ford's St. Thomas assembly plant, but on the shop floor, the gleaming Lincoln was about something a lot more important than prestige.

"This is about our jobs, job security," said a beaming Mark McKellar, a superintendent overseeing the production line where every seventh car was a Lincoln.

"This is an excellent plant, excellent workforce. This is good for the community, for London and St. Thomas. There are great people here. You see it every time you come in. I love it."

The St. Thomas assembly plant will make about 25,000 Town Cars this year and anywhere from 115,000 to 125,000 Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis cars, depending on demand, McKellar said.




That is welcome news for the 1,500 workers at the assembly plant, which has seen more than 900 workers take buyouts, the plant reduced to one shift and media regularly speculate it is doomed for closure in 2010 when the model lineup ends.

"This is very important to us," said Scott Smith, plant chairperson for Canadian Auto Workers Local 1520. "We make top quality vehicles here, but we have to keep pressure on Ford to make an investment in this plant and provide more work for our people."

Mark Boldin, plant manager believes "it is too early to speculate" on the plant's future, but the landing of the Town Car is a good sign.

"It continues the tradition of quality at this plant. We are proud to have it here," he said.

The issue of new investment will be a top priority going into bargaining this year between the CAW and Ford, added Smith.

"We want investment and we want to become a flex plant. We will press Ford on this issue."

The first Town Car was delivered to John Stollery, co-owner of the St. Thomas Ford dealership.

"We made the request. We want the vehicle," he said., "This is huge for this community. We have friends and family who work here and we want to be tied to it."


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