A Message From Local 249

Bargaining Chair

My name is Jeff Schmidt and I am the newly elected Bargaining Chair of UAW Local 249.  I currently represent approximately 4,700 Ford Motor Company employees at the Kansas City Assembly Plant.  I’ve been a member of Local 249 since April of 1978 when I was initially hired by Ford Motor Company.  I began at Ford shortly after I graduated from high school. My stepfather Wally Guyer retired from Multi-Level in June of 2002. I was the third generation in my family to work at Ford so I was brought up union.  My brother did several stints as a temporary employee before he was hired permanently in 1991.  I married my high school sweetheart when I hired in at Ford in 1978 and we had our first child in 1979.  My wife Sherry was hired by Ford and became a member of Local 249 initially in 1979 and was indefinitely laid off, as I was, in 1980.  I was recalled to Ford after being laid off for three years in 1983.  While on lay-off we moved to Abilene, Texas and had our second child in 1982.  In 1994 Sherry was rehired by Ford and is now a final quality inspector in the Pre-Delivery department of KCAP’s Truck system with 14 years of service.  In February of 2003 my son, Tom, became a fourth generation Ford employee and member of Local 249.  He currently works in the Truck Body Shop.  After returning from lay-off, I became more involved in our union and in 1987 I ran for District Committeeman of Passenger Chassis in my first election and lost to the incumbent by 14 votes.  The next year I was elected as the Alternate District Committeeman of Passenger Chassis.  After losing my second election for District Committeeman in 1989, I went to the day shift and won the Alternate District Committeeman spot in Passenger Chassis.  After four terms as alternate, I was elected the District Committeeman of Passenger Chassis in 1994.  After five terms as District Committeeman, I ran in my first plant wide election for Bargaining Committee and was elected to three terms. After negotiating two local contracts and the COA, I resigned from my Bargaining Committee position during my third term to seek the office of Bargaining Chairperson.

I hired in on the Passenger Chassis Shortline and worked in all but two chassis zones.  I took a non promotional transfer from General Utility to the labor pool in 1992.  I was returned to the Shortline for two years before being elected to my first full time position as District Committeeman for Passenger Chassis #2 shift.  Marlin Ditamore was the District Committeeman in Passenger Chassis prior to me and I credit him with teaching me the ropes.  He gave me a huge advantage over my peers because he was on the part time Bargaining Committee during his last years as Committeeman.  This made it possible for him to be at an arms length should I need help or direction.  I hit the floor running as District Committeeman as a result.  Marlin took one of the work standard appointments and retired a few years later.  Marlin taught me a lot of things during my years as his alternate.  I think the most important advice he gave me was not to lie to or deceive anyone and not to candy coat anything.  This may give people false hope and will most likely cause problems for all involved later on.  I have lived by those words and they have served me well.

In closing, I would like to thank the membership for allowing me the privilege  of leading our local through these tough times.  I will do my best to make your choice the right one and not let anyone down.