Ford investigates leak to press
Officials say internal report on Mexico venture was released to humiliate Fields and Gettelfinger.
Link to article about Mexico plan
US:Ford's real plan
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
DEARBORN -- Ford Motor Co. is investigating how an internal document outlining a proposal for investment in Mexico was leaked to a newspaper this week, according to people familiar with the situation. Company insiders and outside observers said the document appears to have been timed to embarrass Mark Fields, president of Ford's Americas group, and United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger.
"The drama here is really amazing," said David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.
A report on the leaked document was published Wednesday in the Oakland Press of Pontiac, the same day Gettelfinger was re-elected to a second four-year term as head of the union. Wednesday was also the day Fields gave a speech in Washington on the importance of investment in the United States.
The Oakland Press said the document was faxed to the newspaper by a "disgruntled worker."
Ford sources told The Detroit News the document was prepared by Ford of Mexico for a meeting in April and said it was purposely leaked, possibly by a company insider, to embarrass the company and the union.
But Cole said it came too late to do much damage to Gettelfinger.
"If it was three months ago, it might have caused a much more serious problem," he said, adding that Gettelfinger's second term was already assured by the time the document was made public.
Cole said Fields has likely made some enemies in Dearborn as he moves to shake up the old guard and makes good on his promise to tear down Dearborn's entrenched bureaucracy.
Ford officials would not comment on the investigation.
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