Ford Hands Out Profit-Sharing Checks to Workers Nationwide; $6,700 Average

    ROMEO, Mich., March 7 More than 103,000 Ford Motor Company
hourly workers across the United States received profit-sharing
checks today, with the average payout of $6,700.
    Workers at Ford's Romeo Engine Plant received checks for the work they
performed in 2000 making world-class powerplants for the Ford Mustang, F-
Series and Expedition, Lincoln Continental and Navigator as well as a host of
other vehicles.
    "Ford workers around the nation are receiving $733 million today -- the
second-highest payout in the 18 years of having a profit-sharing program,"
said Scott Gegesky, director of manufacturing for Powertrain Engine
Operations.
    "Our employees worked hard for this day," said Gegesky, who helped hand
out checks.  "But our customers are beneficiaries of this program, too.  They
have these fabulous Romeo engines under the hoods of their vehicles, built by
highly skilled and motivated workers."
    Ford has more than 103,000 hourly workers on roll in the United States.
Because of retirements and new hires during 2000, the number of people
receiving checks today was about 110,000.
    The record average check at Ford was $8,000 for 1999, paid last year.
    The total of the average payments over the 18 years is $47,275.
    Ford's Profit Sharing Program was negotiated by Ford and the UAW in 1982.
It is designed to reward workers based on the sales and profits of Ford's U.S.
operations, excluding certain non-automotive subsidiaries.  Individual amounts
are based on the amount of pay earned by each worker during a calendar year,
which means that pay scales and overtime are figured in.
    Of the more than 103,000 active U.S. hourly workers on the rolls at the
end of last year, 79,000 work at Ford sites and 24,000 are hourly Ford
employees working at Visteon Corp. in the United States.  When
Visteon became independent, the hourly workers at UAW-represented Visteon
plants in the United States remained Ford employees.
    Ford announced the average amount of the year 2000 checks on Jan. 19.
Following is a list of average Ford profit-sharing payments, by year:

    2000 (distributed today) $6,700
    1999:  $8,000
    1998:  $6,100
    1997:  $4,400
    1996:  $1,800
    1995:  $1,700
    1994:  $4,000
    1993:  $1,350
    1992, 1991 and 1990: 0
    1989:  $1,025
    1988:  $2,800
    1987:  $3,700
    1986:  $2,100
    1985:  $1,200
    1984:  $2,000
    1983:  $400