Ford Salaried Workers to Get Sizeable Bonus Checks

Last year in North America the Ford Motor Company made a profit of nearly $9 billion. Because of the outstanding showing about 50,000 hourly workers will get bonus checks averaging about $8,800 each. The checks will be available in March. Topping the sales list last year for the automaker: the Escape, Fusion and the line of F-Series pickups. The profit sharing arrangement is a part of the contract deal worked out with the United Auto Workers and the Big Three. G.M. and Chrysler are expected to announce detailed profit sharing numbers soon.