Shop Chairman

Shop Chairman’s Report

By: Louie Schreuder

Shop Committee Members: Steve Rop, Zone/Recording Secretary, Marty Green, Mike Thompson, Al Nielsen, Duane Sprague, and Mike Yorton

Brothers and Sisters, just a quick note about keeping ourselves safe. No matter if it’s here at work or at home, make sure you pay attention on what is going on around you. There has been a lot of reports about people being overcome with fumes from generators and heaters at home. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer, so if you’re heating the house or barn or even the ice fishing shanty, make sure you have it vented adequately. Do not become a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning. Be safe folks, no matter what is going on around you. If you are driving on icy roads, please slow down. Your safety has always been and will be a concern of mine.

The new press is up and running, it is really something to watch. We would like to thank everyone who had something to do with getting it going, job well done! From the construction crew to the team who is now in charge of running it, you took a lot of pride in the work you do, and it shows. I had a chance a week ago Saturday to watch the team run the first part off, and I was impressed with what I witnessed. The team worked very well together to make it run. On Wednesday, February 15^th, Jim Wiemels, Vice President and General Manager of manufacturing was here to watch it run. He told me he like what he saw, and he is not worried about Grand Rapids because we seem to have it together. So once again brothers and sisters, from the employees who put it together to the employees now running it, another fine job done. I hope that this pride carries over into PP-3.

This is one of the measures that plants are based on in Detroit. Where we are with our teams is looked at very closely by the Division. I know that we still have problems in some areas, but having said that, we are also one of the leaders in the team concept. Based on where a plant is with teams determines who stays open and who gets work. This committee is not crazy about teams brothers and sisters, but as I have said before, securing your future is part of our job. I know we have a problem with our maintenance teams. I talked to the Plant Manager on February 16^th about the south maintenance team, and I want you to know that help is on the way, we plan on getting that team assistance so they can get back on track! I am also going to challenge the Plant Manager to let some of our more mature teams, like the production teams run more of their own show! Remember I told you last month that the new Vice President, Ken Lee, wants to come to Grand Rapids to see our plant and our teams. The bottom line is we need to do teams to survive as a plant!

As you know, things are starting to slow down and the layoffs are starting. Management has come to the Committee and told us they need to get our cost per die down. This Committee will work with Management as much as we need to make sure we keep building dies right here in Grand Rapids instead of anywhere else. We will come through this just fine, but remember we are dealing with a company that is in financial trouble. All our departments will stay in tack in T.D.O., but they do need to get leaner and meaner.

I have not been told anything by the International yet as to how many we are going to get. However, I have been in touch with the International and told them to justify the numbers. I will let you know as soon as I know.

I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all my brothers and sisters who helped me in any way through the death of my father. It could of been a phone call to let me know you were thinking of me, or coming to the funeral home or funeral. Maybe it was flowers or a donation to the Holy Family Church! Whatever you did it was truly appreciated by my family and myself, once again thank you and God Bless you.

I would also like to thank my Committee from Steve who filled in for me to the Committee people and Alternates who covered for me while I took care of my dad and family matters. I want you to know how truly appreciated you are, on behalf of my family and myself, thank you all very much.

It is with deep sympathy that we say good-bye for now to our brother from T.D.O., Don Smith, that left us on February 12^th. I worked with Don a lot of years and he was a pleasure to work with. Until we meet again, God Bless you and your family Don.