Detroit-based MPS Group Partners with Ford Kansas City Paint Shop
Innovative Contract Meets with Success
August 9, 2007, Detroit, MI – Seeking greater competitiveness in a global market, Ford Motor Company has selected Detroit-based MPS Group for an innovative partnership. A three-year contract between the automaker's Kansas City Truck Assembly plant and MPS's Facilities Management Division transfers responsibility for paint shop maintenance from UAW employees to MPS's non-unionized staff.
“MPS Group was selected as the result of a competitively bid contract,” explains MPS Group's Operations Manager Phil Rodgers. “Twelve MPS employees maintain the plant's painting booths to a high level of cleanliness by regularly servicing the spray guns, mopping the floors and cleaning the floor grates. Their work is vital to the assembly process because the booth must be completely free of dust and debris.”
In late 2006, responding to industry-wide economic challenges, Ford Motor Company offered buyouts to a significant number of unionized employees. More than 38,000 workers accepted the time-limited proposition leaving many functions open. Through UAW-approved experimental contracts, such as the one with MPS Group, Ford has subcontracted activities not directly related to building automobiles to non-unionized employees.
“Our work with Ford's Kansas City Truck plant assists the company with its over-arching goals of becoming more competitive, keeping the facility open and, ultimately, retaining American jobs,” notes Rodgers. “Because the cooperative contract has been a success, MPS Group will soon be phased into maintaining the paint shop for the Kansas City SUV Assembly plant as well.”
