Pay Raises at Ford

Late last week, Reuters reported that Ford Motor Co. will reward its salaried workers in the United States and Canada with bonuses and merit-based raises -- the first time that's happened since the recession hit.

The automaker will offer an average 2.7% performance-based salary increase, a Ford spokeswoman told Reuters.

The raises will be effective April 1 and bonuses will paid in March, according to the article.

It's just more evidence that the U.S. auto industry is regaining its sea legs -- in spite of a wobbly economic recovery.

As a sidenote, IndustryWeek inducted Ford CEO Alan Mulally into the IW Manufacturing Hall of Fame in December. In my conversation with Mulally in December, it was easy to see why Ford has built such positive momentum over the past year or two.