Ford Motor Company has 350,000 employees worldwide, each of whom will soon
have a Hewlett-Packard personal computer in their home, thanks to an aggressive
effort by Ford and the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. The program is part of a
UAW plan to ensure all auto workers are provided with the most important and
versatile tool available for business and personal information needs.
Under the Ford plan, employees will begin receiving computers in the second
quarter, complete with printer. They will have unlimited access to the Internet
for just $5 a month. One motivating fact in the program was the desire by Ford
chairman Jac Nasser to enable all of his employees to receive his weekly
newsletter that is distributed electronically. But factory and other non-office
workers rarely have access to computers at work. So by putting the machines in
their homes, Ford will be able to communicate company information, including
updates on retirement investment program to all workers.
Reportedly, the UAW is also in discussion with automakers Daimler-Chrysler
and General Motors about making PCs available to their workers as well.
"It's a good idea. It's the way of the future," said UAW President
Stephen Yokich.