Thank You’s/Congratulations

·        First I would like to thank everyone for their concern, sympathy, and prayers during our family’s recent loss.

·        I would also like to thank all elected officers for their service to the membership.

·        Congratulations to the newly elected committeepersons.  Service to our membership is what it is all about.

Elections

·        We need to take into consideration for future elections that times need to be extended so we can get our ballots and candidate booklet prepared and printed, and to have more time on postings.

Membership Survey

·        Survey for Membership Commitment and Satisfaction will be distributed May 20.

·        Sign up of leadership to hand out surveys.

·        Members will have three working days to return surveys to Collection Boxes located at the Work Center, Benefit Office, and Union Hall.

·        The college will be working on survey results over the summer.  We should hear the results and recommendations sometime in September 04.

General Information

·        Quality Network Rep Posting

·        Veterans’ Breakfast Friday, May 21 5:30 to 10:30 a.m.

·        Phone Card Collection for replacement and extended soldiers, sailors, and air persons.

Town Hall Meeting held at Region 1D

I would like to share the following information that was presented at a  Town Hall Meeting held May 12, 2004 at Region 1D Headquarters.  The International Executive Board was present including UAW International President Ron Gettelfinger and Vice President Dick Shoemaker.

The International Executive Board meetings are being held in different regions.  They toured Local 135/American Seating May 12.

Ron Gettelfinger praised Don Oetman for his work with the members of Region 1D.  A good example of this is the amount of time and effort he put forth on behalf of the Electrolux workers.

Politics:  What about…..

·        All the promises broken by George W.

·        There are problems in all the states; not just Michigan.

·        Our federal deficit has reached $500 billion

·        Manufacturing employment is at an all-time low.

·        There are 275,000 manufacturing jobs lost each month.  These are jobs that have gone and are not coming back.

·        Who has our union endorsed and why did we take so long?  We asked our membership, we watched the field narrow, and we picked John Kerry.

John Kerry on Trade today?  We need to address. 

·        Will review all trade agreements.

·        Protection from import surges.

·        On CAFÉ, a conversion tax credit.

·        Produce advanced production.

·        Eliminate weight standard on CAFÉ standards.

·        Consumer confidence is low.

·        Let’s stay focused.  We have to stand up and tell our members what’s up.  There is no greater equalizer than the voting booth. 

·        We were the next to the last International Union to endorse John Kerry.  We need to know he was with us on CAFÉ and trade, and he is there for us and with us.  You can check the facts at:  UAWwire.com

Don Southwell, President