So i just got off the phone with a good friend of mine and he had this story to share:

His dad is a road racing instructor at Road America and as a perk for volunteering his time there he gets free track time and gets to tour automotive facility's free.
He just got back from visiting a Ford truck plant somewhere (i forgot where lol) and he says that he saw on the bulletin board in the break room a notice to all employees that if they did not drive a Ford Manufactured product, then they would be required to park in lots "E" and ''F'' while American cars would have lots "B","C"& "D" Managerial and clerk staff to have lot "A".

That's not all, he even said that when he toured a GM plant a few years ago they had a similar setup but allowed Chrysler and Ford cars to be mingled in Lot "C" while GM in "B" lot.

I haven't heard anything like this about Chrysler but I'm sure it happens there too.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Should the employees be allowed to park wherever they like or does a good company image and an "employee trust" factor outweigh the previous option?

To me, from a business standpoint, i wouldn't want the competitions product to be marketed in my Business so im all for it in that respect. But im also against it thinking of the people that bought the minivan a few years before they were hired on by Ford, GM, and Chrysler. TMK, Ford offers a good discount for their employees on all new model years while manufacturing them so after some small saving up im sure they could "upgrade" (downgrade in my HO) to a Windstar or Freestar minivan.

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quote Originally posted by pontiackid86: Also what does yoga and farming have to do with eachother?

Sounds right. You are working for a major manufacturer and driving another brand of vehicle. Might as well go work for them if you like their product so well.

quote Originally posted by Ramsespride: Managerial and clerk staff to have lot "A".

So does that mean management (and office staff) can drive whatever they please with no recriminations? If so, it seems that there's a set of rules for "white collar" workers and a separate set of rules for the "blue collar" riff-raff.

Although I don't work in the automotive industry, I can understand the policy (assuming that it is a policy). All of the auto manufacturers give huge employee discounts to their folks. I can see how a policy like this could irritate some employees but, it's their choice on what they drive still. It's also the employer's private property and I'll bet the employer can rightfully set parking guidelines. I also wouldn't be surprised if the Unions didn't go along with such a policy afterall, it would be in their best interest to ensure more business for their own workers.

Wouldn't surprise me at all.

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Ron

Let me field this, since I am a ford family member. My Dad worked at the Torrence Ave assembly plant in Chicago. You could drive whatever kind of car you wanted to work, but there was no guarantee someone would not trash your rice-burner while you were inside. Company pride is A-1, so to speak. My dad had a 87 Nova import.. he was a well loved member of that place, so no one messed with it too much, but there was some fun-spirited pranks done to his car. "Chevy Rice" written in ketchup on his windshield. Also big parking ticket stickers applied as a joke. (Water transfer.. you cant see out the window to drive home!)

As for policy, any job I have ever worked for told me where I had to park. Its their right. Perhaps parking lots visible to the street are to demonstrate their product, and if you are driving a jap-trap, then park it out back so everyone driving by does not think we make that piece of crap.

Personally I dont understand why anyone who works for Ford doesnt drive their products. Good quality AMERICAN products. They are not poor wage slaves, they make good money. Have some pride and AT LEAST get a used one! Now, if they demanded only NEW Ford cars in certain parking lots, that would be a bit too far. At least they are providing them a place to park those imports/ GMs.. could be worse.
And yeah, the A plan is very good for employee pricing. I bought a $24k MSRP F-150 for $13,500 on the A plan. Basically just a hair over cost.

[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 02-09-2011).]

I work at Boeing, but I don't buy Boeing products.

Just sayin'

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1986 SE 350 V8

A couple of GM plants up here were doing the same thing 10 years ago. I recall it made major media news when they started it and was a big flap with the unions, but I haven't heard much of it since.

<edit>..Its not just the auto industry. One of the companies I was doing contract repair work last year VERY STRONGLY "suggested" that if I wasnt using at least some of their brand appliances at home (meaning buy a few grand of sheet from them) then I should be repairing another brand, and they werent interested when I told them I had no need to replace what I already had since it was working and fairly new. I no longer take work from them as I wasn't interested in dealing with the arguments and pressure to buy their stuff every day.

There was also a Pepsi driver fired for having a Coke (or vice versa) on his own time but in uniform a few years ago (iirc, he stopped at a store and grabbed on on his way home), and several years ago I got written up for drinking a competing brand slush drink when I was fixing freezers for a certain brand.

Companies are getting really strange about brand loyalty from their staff, which I disagree with--but they ARE the one writing the cheques.

[This message has been edited by MidEngineManiac (edited 02-09-2011).]

quote Originally posted by tbone42: Let me field this, since I am a ford family member. My Dad worked at the Torrence Ave assembly plant in Chicago. You could drive whatever kind of car you wanted to work, but there was no guarantee someone would not trash your rice-burner while you were inside. Company pride is A-1, so to speak. My dad had a 87 Nova import.. he was a well loved member of that place, so no one messed with it too much, but there was some fun-spirited pranks done to his car. "Chevy Rice" written in ketchup on his windshield. Also big parking ticket stickers applied as a joke. (Water transfer.. you cant see out the window to drive home!) As for policy, any job I have ever worked for told me where I had to park. Its their right. Perhaps parking lots visible to the street are to demonstrate their product, and if you are driving a jap-trap, then park it out back so everyone driving by does not think we make that piece of crap. Personally I dont understand why anyone who works for Ford doesnt drive their products. Good quality AMERICAN products. They are not poor wage slaves, they make good money. Have some pride and AT LEAST get a used one! Now, if they demanded only NEW Ford cars in certain parking lots, that would be a bit too far. At least they are providing them a place to park those imports/ GMs.. could be worse. And yeah, the A plan is very good for employee pricing. I bought a $24k MSRP F-150 for $13,500 on the A plan. Basically just a hair over cost.

Yep, what he said.

When I worked at the Ford Motor Company Warehouse back around 92, there were no policies or papers put up anywhere, but you did not bring a non-ford car into the lot without something happening to it. If you did, you at least parked it at the furthest end of the parking lot. The pay was extremely good and they gave real good discounts for you to buy a Ford. The only way this didn't happen was if you sucked at saving up any money LOL. (such as me). Luckily my car was left alone because it looked like such a piece of crap already LOL. It was a $300 74 Firebird with a 350 in it, and used to smoke my best friends brand new Ford Probe on the way home each and every night.

I wonder the legality of this. I understand the desire to buy what you build, but lets say your family was big into collecting Fieros and you love the auto industry and you were able to get a job at Ford. Do you stop driving your Fiero to work because you build Fords? Maybe your spouse drives the new Ford to her job. Just thinking.

Now, about that '87 Chevy Nova it was built by union workers at a GM plant and sold by a GM dealer.... I say that is a GM car. But to some, if it isn't big, loaded with chrome, then it isn't a GM vehicle

So if they drive a Mexican built Lincoln, do they have to park out back ?

As a computer repair tech for 34 years I had to service many GM plants in my area.

You could not park ANY vehicles other than GM vehicles in any visitor / vendor lot.

Each plant provided a lot (which was usually at the farthest end of plant property) for all "non-GM" vehicles.

I could park my "Toyota in disguise" Pontiac Vibe in the vendor / visitor lots just fine, but if I had a Ford or Chrysler it had to go the the 'back 40" lot.

This was more a UAW demand than a GM requirement in this area.

[This message has been edited by FrugalFiero (edited 02-09-2011).]

The UAW I know of had a sign telling people with "foreign cars" that they couldn't park in their lot. Hmmm...

This is new news to you guys?

It was that way when I worked for them 20 years ago.

What is wrong with having a little pride in what you build and buying something made by your fellow GM, Ford, Chrysler, workers product.

Are you going to work for apple computer and use an IBM at work?

By the way it was only brand new imports that they really were upset about. Drive in with a brand new Toiletota and you better park it way out back. Used cars no one really cared to much about.

Steve

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Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 02-09-2011).]

quote Originally posted by Patrick: So does that mean management (and office staff) can drive whatever they please with no recriminations? If so, it seems that there's a set of rules for "white collar" workers and a separate set of rules for the "blue collar" riff-raff.

Correction: White collar riff-raff.

I don't see the problem.

From what the OP says its not like they're saying "Leave your non-Ford cars at home!" or "If you don't drive a Ford, don't bother working here!", they're just giving preferential parking to those employees that choose to drive the Company car. I see it as little different then "employee of the month" parking.

PRIDE .. plain all and simple... my dad was a gm mech for all my life... gm cars/trucks parked in our driveway... still that way 40 years later, however no more as it is now "government motors" (and lol he retired)... i feel no pride or loyalty to that brand EXCEPT MY FIERO!!! that stays....

-todd-

quote Originally posted by OKflyboy: I don't see the problem. From what the OP says its not like they're saying "Leave your non-Ford cars at home!" or "If you don't drive a Ford, don't bother working here!", they're just giving preferential parking to those employees that choose to drive the Company car. I see it as little different then "employee of the month" parking.

I wonder what the policy at KIA/Hyundai is?
Park your Ford in the ocean?

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Drive safely!

quote Originally posted by 84fiero123: ... Are you going to work for apple computer and use an IBM at work?

Funny thing about this: Apple dropped their server line, so almost ALL apple employees use a non-apple back-end server infrastructure now. And yes, I think it's hilarious.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: ........there's a set of rules for "white collar" workers and a separate set of rules for the "blue collar" riff-raff.

Welcome to "factory life", Patrick. That is exactly how it is.

quote Originally posted by tesmith66: I work at Boeing, but I don't buy Boeing products.

If you arrive for work one day in an Airbus, will they let you park it on the ramp?

In ohio theres a big Chevy plant. Off a road named Chevy boulevard. Ever since I was 5 years old on the fence facing the road there are sings that say." Foregin cars park in the rear of lot" So for over 20 years that has been a common practice.

quote Originally posted by Ramsespride: So i just got off the phone with a good friend of mine and he had this story to share: His dad is a road racing instructor at Road America and as a perk for volunteering his time there he gets free track time and gets to tour automotive facility's free. He just got back from visiting a Ford truck plant somewhere (i forgot where lol) and he says that he saw on the bulletin board in the break room a notice to all employees that if they did not drive a Ford Manufactured product, then they would be required to park in lots "E" and ''F'' while American cars would have lots "B","C"& "D" Managerial and clerk staff to have lot "A". That's not all, he even said that when he toured a GM plant a few years ago they had a similar setup but allowed Chrysler and Ford cars to be mingled in Lot "C" while GM in "B" lot. I haven't heard anything like this about Chrysler but I'm sure it happens there too. What are your thoughts on the matter? Should the employees be allowed to park wherever they like or does a good company image and an "employee trust" factor outweigh the previous option? To me, from a business standpoint, i wouldn't want the competitions product to be marketed in my Business so im all for it in that respect. But im also against it thinking of the people that bought the minivan a few years before they were hired on by Ford, GM, and Chrysler. TMK, Ford offers a good discount for their employees on all new model years while manufacturing them so after some small saving up im sure they could "upgrade" (downgrade in my HO) to a Windstar or Freestar minivan.

As the employer, they technically have the right to tell you where to park. This was covered on AutoLine Detroit a couple of years ago with John McElroy, and I believe the person he was interviewing stated that these policies were instituted by the union management.

Personally, I have no problems driving a Ford. I have two of them, and they're both awesome.

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Todd,
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4x2
2002 Ford Explorer Sport 2dr 4x2
2002 Ford Crown Victoria LX
1987 Pontiac Fiero SE / V6
1973 Volkswagen Type-2 Transporter

quote Originally posted by 84fiero123: Are you going to work for apple computer and use an IBM at work? Steve

I worked tearing apart a Gateway building in Kansas City, (sales and support). You would not believe how many Dells were lined up in there.

There used to be a truck stop up in Mount Vernon that told it's employees they had to get gas there. If they filled up anywhere else they would be fired.
They got no discount, and from what I understand the owner was pretty serious.

Brad

quote Originally posted by Patrick: So does that mean management (and office staff) can drive whatever they please with no recriminations? If so, it seems that there's a set of rules for "white collar" workers and a separate set of rules for the "blue collar" riff-raff.

When I worked at [redacted] (big 3 automaker), the rule applied to ALL workers. I would have had a pass for the "white collar" garage, but because I drove a competitor's product (also big 3) I was relegated to the back of the parking lot. Didn't bother me too much.

quote Originally posted by Isolde: Correction: White collar riff-raff.

I hope you realize my reference to the blue-collar workers as "riff-raff" was a joke in regards to the pressure on them (and apparently not on the office staff) to buy company cars. It seems that not only do the management and office staff get to park in the "A" lot, but there also appears to be no restriction (from what was originally posted) as to what kind of car they can drive and park there.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: So does that mean management (and office staff) can drive whatever they please with no recriminations? If so, it seems that there's a set of rules for "white-collar" workers and a separate set of rules for the "blue-collar" riff-raff.

AntiKev, I'm glad to hear that the "company car" rule was at least fair among all workers, both white and blue collar.

quote Originally posted by AntiKev: When I worked at [redacted] (big 3 automaker), the rule applied to ALL workers. I would have had a pass for the "white collar" garage, but because I drove a competitor's product (also big 3) I was relegated to the back of the parking lot. Didn't bother me too much.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 02-09-2011).]

When i worked at GM in the 80's it worked the same way: drive a foreign made car on the lot it wont be there when you get off work. I don't have a problem with it really since one should support American made goods and you CHOOSE to work there, but back then it was easier to know what was domestic and what was foreign built, now its pretty gray..

I consider this ironic given just how much interownership there is between all the auto brands in the world. Everyone owns a piece of everyone else to one extent or other.

quote Originally posted by jaskispyder: I wonder the legality of this. I understand the desire to buy what you build, but lets say your family was big into collecting Fieros and you love the auto industry and you were able to get a job at Ford. Do you stop driving your Fiero to work because you build Fords? Maybe your spouse drives the new Ford to her job. Just thinking. Now, about that '87 Chevy Nova it was built by union workers at a GM plant and sold by a GM dealer.... I say that is a GM car. But to some, if it isn't big, loaded with chrome, then it isn't a GM vehicle

Just call it preferential parking for those loyal to their employer-problem solved! I believe the 87 Nova was built overseas in Asia(Korean Daiwoo(sp?).

quote Originally posted by 84fiero123: Are you going to work for apple computer and use an IBM at work?

I can understand only allowing domestics to park in the main lot and having foreign cars in another, but trashing someone's car because it's the the brand you're building is wrong.
Sure, make them park out in the South 40, but leave a person's property alone. If you want to be a big man and trash the car - wait until the owner's there to watch you do it.

quote Originally posted by tesmith66: I work at Boeing, but I don't buy Boeing products. Just sayin'

Do they have an employee discount plan so you can at least buy one cheaper?

[This message has been edited by tbone42 (edited 02-09-2011).]

quote Originally posted by User00013170: When i worked at GM in the 80's it worked the same way: drive a foreign made car on the lot it wont be there when you get off work. I don't have a problem with it really since one should support American made goods and you CHOOSE to work there, but back then it was easier to know what was domestic and what was foreign built, now its pretty gray..

About that time I heard that a worker at a St. Louis auto plant found his Honda doors welded closed one evening.

If I worked there, and owned the Crown Vic my neighbor has, I'd have to park it across the street to. It was made in Canada.

The Chrysler transmission plant(s) in Kokomo have been that way for years. You get preferential parking if you drive a Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth/Ram vehicle. The rest ("foreign" and "domestic") park farther away. I don't have a problem with that. With the money they make and deep discounts they get, I'd buy one of whatever brand I was working for. If you don't like it, quit. Not everyone needs a $60k/year factory job anyway.

quote Originally posted by carnut122: I believe the 87 Nova was built overseas in Asia(Korean Daiwoo(sp?).

Fremont, California at the NUMMI plant.

quote Originally posted by css9450: Fremont, California at the NUMMI plant.

Until the facility's closure in April 2010, 4,700 workers were employed.[9] NUMMI employees were represented by The International, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) Local 2244.

So the Corolla/Nova was a UAW manufactured car.... and you would think UAW workers would know that, but then again....

[This message has been edited by jaskispyder (edited 02-10-2011).]