Teeters Tidbits

Teeters Tidbits

Local 730, UAW Retiree Chapter

By Harold Teeter, Trustee

Here we are in the middle of July and summer isn’t here yet. We have had plenty of rain and wind, the lake is holding its own. We had a bad storm here last week-end and had to go to the shelter at the Park. Some of our neighbors from St. Johns, which is near Lansing said they had a lot of wind damage over there. Also, a couple from Grandville had a lot of water damage. The weatherman says we will be getting some nice weather in the next few days, I hope so.

I see where oil prices dropped to $136 a barrel. I wonder how long it will take for the gas prices to go down. It’s funny that every time oil goes up a dollar gas prices rise, but when oil goes down the gas stays the same. Just a word about the gas problem. Due to the high cost of gas we will be seeing a lot more motorcycles on the road and also those little mo-peds. They can sneak up behind you awful fast and are hard to see. So please be careful.

I saw in the news where G.M. is looking into shedding some of their brands. They are looking at the Hummer, Buick, Saab, and Saturn. I don’t know how that will affect our plant. Maybe we’ll find out at the retiree’s meeting this month. By the way, our meeting this month is our picnic and it will be held at the Union Hall this year, not at the park as it has been in the past. It will be potluck, so if your name begins with A-M bring a hot dish, and if it begins with N-Z bring a cold dish. I’m having trouble with my knees and my hips make me get around a little slower, but I have been able to make it to our meetings.

I heard that Northwest airlines are cutting 2,500 jobs by June. With that and the gas prices that sure isn’t going to help our economy any. We will have to let our grass grow or buy an old red hip mower, if they still make them.

I’m sorry to hear that we are going to lose two of our hard working union members due to retirements. First, Mike Bieber our Assistant Director has done a lot for our retirees at the Region. He was always at our Area Council 1 meetings, and is always there whenever we need him for whatever the cause. Also retiring is his brother Ken. Ken worked hard and tirelessly on organizing for Region 1D. We will miss both of them. I’m sure they will still be active in the retiree group. Their father, Owen is still very active at the Council level and also at the International.

UAW Local 730 would like to extend their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families and friends of our departed members: Robert Gooch Jr 5-9-08 and Harvey G. Hamstra 5-1-08