SAFETY FIRST       

Our safety numbers are down and that’s the way I like it brothers and sisters.  Be aware of what is going on around you in the plant, so that we walk back out the doors the same way we walked in. 

Also, with summer on the way, vacations, and all the things we are into, keep a focus on what you’re doing.  No matter what it is, be careful and stay safe along with family and friends.

RETIREMENTS/BUYOUTS

As you well know, the biggest thing on the agenda right now is retirement, pre-retirement, or buyouts. 

·        Make sure to take your time and think this through. 

·        Make sure you work with your Benefit Rep and see what if any works for you! 

·        Please be patient with the people in Benefits.  They are working the best they can and as fast as they can. 

Please, if you have any questions, ask the Benefit Reps.  They are the experts on your questions for retirements or buyouts.  When you ask a benefit question, you need to make sure you have the right answer and they are trained to provide that.

TOWER

As you may have noticed, they are coming to the end with tearing down the tower.  The company that is taking this down is suppose to be out of the plant by the 28^th of April, and it looks like everything points to that and they will be done by that date with no problem. 

NEW BUILDING

They are getting ready to send bids out on putting up the new building.  By next month’s meeting, I should be able to tell you who is going to do it and what the dates and times will be.  I will also tell you then what our role will be, but like I told you brothers and sisters in the beginning:

“If it’s work we can do, we expect to do it.”  The committee and myself will oversee this project and we will not let you down.

SMALL PRESSES

By now you have seen that they moved the small presses from O-Line into Metal Assembly.  Even though management did not want this work to stay in Grand Rapids, the committee worked together with the International to make sure this work did indeed stay in our plant.  I would like to say thank you to the committee for this.

NEW WORK

Last month when DeLuca came for a visit, he came on union meeting day and the first two meetings were over by the time he got here to tell Grand Rapids about some new work.  He told us that:

·        Grand Rapids was receiving a right and left hand motor compartment rails in Metal Assembly. 

·        This work will replace the 800 pan, which is scheduled to stop running in 2007. 

·        The Motor Compartment will start up in 2009 and run around 500,000 parts per year. 

·        Each one will cover 40,000 square feet. 

·        The parts will go on Buick, Saturn, Pontiac, Pontiac Convertible, and Chevy Sedans. 

·        The run span for this line will be five to eight years. 

So congratulations brothers and sisters, because Mr. DeLuca told the committee that climate, relationship, and performance is what got us this work!

Securing your future and this plant’s future!

Louie Schreuder, Shop Chairman