Hi,

 

Well, here we are moving right along in the month of March.  We’ve had some pretty decent weather so far.  I hope it lasts.

 

I have been hearing from some of our Florida members.  Some are back and others will be returning the first of April.

 

On the job front…..

We are still losing jobs to Mexico and overseas.  Greenville is really taking it on the chin with Electrolux gone and Tower Manufacturing is talking about moving out.  I don’t know when our representatives in Washington will start to see the effects this is leaving on our economy.  They should be waking up pretty soon, or all the horses will be out of the barn and there won’t be any jobs or wages left to pay taxes on.

 

If you drive through Greenville, you will see a lot of houses for sale with people looking for jobs….but where do they go?  With both GM and Ford cutting back, Flint and Lansing are hurting as well.  Grand Rapids and Coopersville are hanging on the edge of things and it doesn’t look good around here either.

 

Another reason we should keep on our representatives is the fact that our kids and grandkids are out there with not much of a future to look forward to.  School will be out in a couple months or so, and where are the jobs for our young people to keep them off the streets during the summer.  Many need these summer jobs because they too have cars, gas, and insurance to pay for. 

 

UAW Intl President Ron Gettelfinger

Brother Gettelfinger states that amid all the coverage over Dubal Port World operating major U.S. ports, here’s a story you may have missed.  In 2005, the trade deficit in goods and services soared to a record high of $725 billion, or nearly $2 billion a day.  Yet the Bush administration’s reaction to the fourth record busting trade deficit on his watch is essentially, “What’s the problem?”  The problem is our nation’s ever widening trade balance is wiping out our jobs by the thousands and intensifying downward pressure on wages and benefits of American working families.

 

This new bill they’re working on in Washington, the F.T.A. trade agreement with Thailand, would enable foreign automakers to use facilities in Thailand as a backdoor to gain duty free access to this U.S. market.  This would jeopardize jobs for over 40,000 UAW members assembling pickups and another 50,000 who produce engines, transmissions, and stamping for these trucks.

 

Write or call your representatives.  We need these jobs!  Not only for current working families, but for our sons, daughters, and grandchildren if we want to keep our economy going.

 

Spring Safety

By the way, we should remember this is tornado season.  Make sure your family knows where the safe place to go is located in your home where your family will be kept safe.

 

Retirees Picnic - Thursday, July 27^th

Mark your calendars for the last Thursday of July.  Our annual retirees’ picnic is scheduled for 12 noon at Douglas Walker Park.  There will be lots of prizes!

 

In Closing

So long for now and remember our meetings are at 12 noon the last Thursday of each month at the union hall.  Please say your prayers for our sick and the families of our deceased.

 

In Memoriam

3-03-06        Chrusciel, Frank J.

3-06-06        DuBois, John W.

2-19-06        Parm, Robert

2-27-06        Scharphorn, Donal L.

2-25-06        Slone, Charles

2-12-06        Smith, Donald L.

2-24-06        Youmans, James

 

Retired March 1, 2006