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Top UAW Officers Comment on Ford's Agreement To Purchase Volvo

1 February 1999

Top UAW Officers Comment on Ford's Agreement To Purchase Volvo's Passenger Car Business

    DETROIT, Jan. 29 -- UAW President Stephen P. Yokich and Vice
President Ron Gettelfinger, who directs the UAW National Ford Department, said
today that Ford Motor Co.'s agreement to purchase the passenger
vehicle business of AB Volvo holds the potential of benefiting workers in both
the United States and Europe.
    Yokich said, "Although we have not yet had the opportunity to discuss
these developments with the Ford Motor Co., we believe the agreement between
Ford and Volvo could prove to be beneficial to workers for both companies in
the U.S. and Europe.  Both companies have over-all track records of
constructive relations with the unions representing workers who build Ford and
Volvo cars.  If sensitivity to the needs and concerns of the workers is
continued as an integral part of the future growth and operations which result
from the acquisition of Volvo, this can be a good deal for all stakeholders."
    Gettelfinger said, "The UAW has worked well with the management of Ford
Motor Co. over the course of our union's longstanding contractual relationship
with the company, and we expect this tradition to continue.  UAW members at
Ford share common goals and interests with their counterparts at Volvo, who
are members of Svenska Metall (the Swedish Metalworkers Federation).  Workers
at both Ford and Volvo, on both continents, are justifiably proud of the high
quality work that they perform in building some of the finest vehicles in the
world, and they share common interests in maintaining and improving their job
and income security for the future."
    The UAW represents more than 100,000 workers at Ford facilities in the
U.S.