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Chicago UAW/Ford Workers Earn Record Profit Sharing

28 January 2000

Chicago UAW/Ford Workers Earn Record Profit Sharing

    CHICAGO, Ill., Jan. 27 -- Over 4,000 local UAW/Ford employees
from the Chicago Stamping Plant and Chicago Assembly Plant will receive a
record average $8,000 in profit sharing for 1999.  The profit sharing
distribution will bring an extra $32 million dollars worth of income into the
Chicagoland area.
    "For Ford, 1999 was an outstanding year and I want to thank every employee
whose dedication contributed to our success," said Jac Nasser, Ford President
and Chief Executive Officer.  "They are part of an inspired team."
    "We achieved record results in North America last year and successfully
launched great new products, including the Ford Focus, Excursion and Taurus,
the Mercury Sable and Lincoln LS," Nasser said.  "We also identified
innovative ways to connect with consumers using the Internet and e-business.
We have tremendous momentum as 2000 unfolds."
    The 1999 profit sharing checks will be distributed nationally to
approximately 109,000 workers on March 3rd.  This year's profit sharing amount
surpasses Ford's 1998 average of $6,100.  This will be the 14th payment made
under the company's Profit Sharing Plan since it was first agreed to by Ford
and the UAW in 1982.  When added up, the 14 payments total $40,575.
    In 1999, for the first time, only hourly workers will be covered under the
Profit Sharing Plan.  Salaried employees will be compensated through the
Performance Bonus Plan, which went into effect in January 1999.  Checks under
that plan will be distributed under a similar timetable.