Teeters Tidbits
Local 730, UAW Retiree Chapter
By Harold Teeter, Trustee
Hi,
Here we are in the middle of July. Our annual picnic at the park is on us or maybe over by the time you get this issue. I hope you all made it. We have the shelter, so rain or shine we will be there. I am finally on the mend after four weeks in the hospital and three weeks in therapy. All seems to be going well now though. I have been spending some time at the lake between doctor appointments.
IN THE NEWS
I see in the news where the Bush administration has negotiated a new free trade agreement with South Korea. The UAW is strongly opposing this trade deal because it will jeopardize tens of thousands of automotive jobs in the United States, and because the agreement fails to include meaningful protection for workers. Korea is the fifth largest producer and third largest exporter of vehicles in the world and automotive trade between the United States and Korea is totally one sided. In 2006 Korea exported 54,000 vehicles to the United States, in contrast to the United States was only allowed to export 4,000 vehicles to Korea. As a result, the U.S. had an 11.6 billion auto trade deficit with Korea. The trade agreement would be fazed out over ten years. We should write our congressmen on this issue.
A strong majority of casino dealers at Bally’s voted in favor of UAW representation in a National Labor Relations Board supervised election on June 2, 3. Full and part time dealers and employees voted 628 to 255 to become members of the union. Also, dealers at Tropicana Casino and Resorts filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board for a union representation election and a strong majority of the approximately 1,000 dealers and keno and similar employees have signed authorization cards requesting representation of the UAW. We need this to bolster our membership.
Remember this is the year for our contract to be negotiated and we will have to help out by supporting our union – especially our Local. It’s going to be tough. I see the big thing this time around will be concessions. Looks like new hire’s may be the big target and they could very well be your own sons or daughters.
Please mark your calendars for the following upcoming events:
August 17 Area Retirees’ Picnic at Region 1D
August 30 Monthly Retiree Meeting at the Hall
September 3 Labor Day Parade and Picnic at John Ball Park
Well, I have rambled along long enough, so until next time, here are the newly retired and deceased:
Local 730 would like to extend their deepest sympathy and condolences to the family and friends of our departed members: Felix Garncarz Jr (5-28-07), Steven Green (7-2-07), Vance King (5-12-07), Ronald Mitchell (5-21-07), Harold VanTatenhove (4-6-07)
Officially Retired July 1st: Larry Cook, Erick Cooper, Alecia Lewis, Donald Partee, Clyde Reed, Joyce Shabazz and August 1st: James Delaphiano, Beverly Dykstra, David Everts, Michael Krieger, John Kurtz, Gail Schmidt, and Luanne VanderLaan
HT:gvlnretjul07