Ford plant offers new round of buyouts for employees

Approximately one third of the remaining UAW union members at Ford's St. Paul plant are eligible for a new round of buyouts.

The auto maker is offering the most senior workers up to $50,000, plus their earned pensions and benefits, if they leave the company.

It is unclear how many workers Ford would like to cut with the buyout program. Workers approved for buyouts would leave Ford as of February 1.

The plant, which manufactures Ranger pickup trucks, has been scheduled for shutdown in 2011. Local union president Roger Terveen says he's not aware of any change in that plan.

"I have no idea if they have accelerated to close sooner or to stay open longer or meet the deadline of 2011. All I know is right now, they are slated to close in 2011," Terveen said.

Ranger sales were down about 9 percent in 2008. Meanwhile, Ford saw about a 20 percent drop overall in its car and truck sales last year.

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