Magzine
Transcription
Magzine
SPRING 2015 Looking Ahe ad at the uaw- Chrysler National Tr aining Center Volume 12 • Number 5 www.uaw-chrysler.com Warren Belvedere 259 miles 231 miles Sterling Heights 265 miles Detroit 244 miles Windsor 245 miles Brampton 459 miles Toledo 186 miles Maranello 4,641 miles Melfi 4,982 miles Modena 4,638 miles Tipton 15 miles Saltillo 1,582 miles Toluca 2,079 miles Tofas 5,538 miles in memorium General Holiefield Sunrise, June 6, 1953 – Sunset, March 9, 2015 A beacon of love, hope and solidarity General Holiefield was a big man with an even bigger heart. He made the world a better place, always putting others’ interests above his own whether representing UAW members, fighting for social justice or lifting up the downtrodden. Never forgetting his roots on the shop floor, the burly 6-foot-3-inch Holiefield rose through Local 961 ranks at Detroit Axle and eventually became a two-term Vice President and Director of the UAW’s Chrysler Department. He retired last June. More than 1,000 well-wishers from all walks of life attended his March 17 funeral at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, paying tribute to his prowess as a labor negotiator and compassion as a humanitarian. When the nation’s economic crisis threatened Chrysler’s existence, Holiefield rose to the challenge and is considered by many to be “the man who saved Chrysler.” “I firmly believe that God gave the UAW Chrysler Department a General to get us through our darkest hour,” UAW Coordinator Shawn Fain said of Holiefield’s pivotal role in helping the company survive bankruptcy in 2009. “General had giant shoulders that carried an entire membership, along with many communities, as he helped forge a future for the company under the worst of possible circumstances.” UAW President Dennis Williams concu rs,“With his leadership and dedication, Chrysler regained its footing.” FCA US Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne put it this way: “I strongly believe (Holiefield) changed Chrysler’s history and probably also the UAW’s 2 history. He was a true partner and a key force behind the transformation of our company.” He said Holiefield played a critical part in creating nearly 15,000 new UAW jobs in the last six years. UAW Vice President Nor wo o d Jewell, current Director of the Chrysler Department, called Holiefield “a giant within the labor movement,” and said that, “As a result of his passing, there is now a void in the heart and spirit of our team.” This “gentle giant,” whose bear hugs became his calling card, touched the lives of countless others through his social activism and humanitarian efforts. His Leave the Light On Foundation targeted the needs of at-risk youth. “I have a tenacious love for children who deserve a fighting chance to succeed in today’s society,” Holiefield had said. He was the anchor of a large family and a mentor for the younger generation. “General was about love,” said his wife, Monica Morgan-Holiefield, an international photojournalist whom he married in 2012. “That is who he was; he was the patriarch.” Such was the essence of an extraordinary man with an unbridled lust for life, cut short at 61 by pancreatic cancer. “You could tell right away that General Holiefield was a guy who cared about people,” said Macomb County (Michigan) Executive Mark Hackel. “We will forever miss him but never forget the tremendous value he added to our lives.” To learn more about Holiefield’s life and legacy, read the upcoming online issue at www.tomorrowextra.com. ■ tomorrow spring 2015 www.uaw-chrysler.com cover story UAW-Chrysler National Training Center 2211 East Jefferson Avenue Detroit, MI 48207 313.567.3300 Fax: 313.567.3048 Email: [email protected] www.uaw-chrysler.com Joint Activities Board Norwood Jewell Vice President, Director Chrysler Department UAW Co-Chairman Alphons A. Iacobelli Vice President Employee Relations FCA North America Co-Chairman Nancy Adams Johnson Top Administrative Assistant to Vice President Jewell Michael R. Jessamy Director, Labor Relations and Medical Operations FCA US LLC KTP Plant Manager Ray Anderson (left) and UAW Local 685 Vice President Jerry Price are pleased, having added 2,000 new workers in less than three years. Miguel Foster UAW Co-Director UAW-Chrysler NTC Michael Brown Chrysler Co-Director UAW-Chrysler NTC Virdell King UAW Associate Co-Director UAW-Chrysler NTC Patrick Gibson Chrysler Associate Co-Director UAW-Chrysler NTC “General honored all of us in the trade labor movement. His legacy will never die.” Dennis Williams UAW President “General stood up for us. We are the union, the mighty, mighty union.” Barbara Jackson UAW Local 961 Retiree “He helped turn the impossible into the possible.” Sergio Marchionne FCA US Chief Executive Kokomo is world’s transmission and die-casting leader K okomo, Indiana, is known as the “City of Firsts.” They began in 1894 when resident Elwood Haynes successfully demonstrated a horseless carriage prototype – two years before Henry Ford’s Quadracycle turned a wheel under its own power. That same year also saw creation of the country’s first pneumatic tire at the Kokomo Rubber Tire Company. Local historians believe that the aluminum die-casting process was perfected in 1895 in a Kokomo foundry. Haynes was building automobiles in quantity by 1898, before he pioneered cobalt-based Stellite alloy for cutlery in 1906 and stainless steel flatware in 1912. Kokomo inventor John Powell created the first mechanical corn picker in 1920, followed by the Kemp Brothers Canning Company innovation of canned tomato juice in 1928. Chrysler Corporation entered the picture in 1937 when it began production of cast-iron three-speed manual transmissions in the former Haynes production facility on Home Avenue. Kokomo’s sk i l le d a nd enthusiastic workforce prompted Chrysler executives to break ground in 1955 on an all-new plant, dedicated to building three-speed automatic transmissions. Since 1937, the Kokomo region has produced more than 120 million gearboxes, making it the undisputed transmission capital of the world. Also home to the Kokomo Casting Plant, the world’s largest and most productive die-casting operation, the city is now a global FCA US production hub employing more than 8,000 people. Kokomo workers have demonstrated unwavering commitment to FCA US and the company has in turn made unprecedented investments of more than $1.9 billion in Kokomo-area production facilities since 2009. New and upgraded facilities and a dedicated UAW workforce represented by Locals 685, 1166 and 1302 are now embracing World Class Manufacturing (WCM) principles to produce fuel-efficient six-, eight- and nine-speed transmissions. Indiana Transmission Plant II and the Kokomo Transmission Plant were recently awarded Bronze status in WCM audits for increased productivity, sparkling cleanliness, safer working conditions and overall output quality. This issue of Tomorrow celebrates the plants, the people, the products and the processes that have driven the Kokomo region to global transmission production and die-casting leadership. Kokomo, this one’s for you. ■ The FCA US Kokomo Complex and UAW locals have a culture of community service and big hearts for charity. Look for an article highlighting these activities in the upcoming online issue at www.tomorrowextra.com Kokomo photography by Frank Kidd. 3 cover story t n e m e g a n a M , s r e d a e w L o l r a r c o o m L UAW Mayor face To and the To better understand the uniquely collaborative relationship between the UAW, FCA US LLC, and the city of Kokomo, Tomorrow pulled together: • Local 685 President Carl Greenwood • Local 1166 President Tyler Sanders • Local 1166 Skilled Trades Committeeman Steve Stahl • Local 1302 President George Maus • FCA US General Manager, Head of Transmission, Casting and Components Division Bob Varsanik • Kokomo Complex HR Manager Jerry Gilliland • Mayor Greg Goodnight The mayor’s City Hall conference room served as venue for this lively discussion. Tomorrow: What does being “the transmission capital of the world” mean to residents of Kokomo and the surrounding area? George: Security. Steve: Jobs. Carl: Money. Tyler: Pride. Jerry: A way to better one’s self, through education and learning. Bob: Opportunity. 4 Carl: Here in Kokomo and in Howard and Tipton counties, it means security and a sustained standard of living. Tomorrow: Mayor Goodnight, since you took office in 2008, violent crime in Kokomo is down by 24 percent. Vehicle theft alone is down 47 percent. Please describe the correlation between an improved employment picture at FCA US, its investment in Kokomo and a safer community. Mayor: When you look at the FBI crime statistics for Kokomo over the last seven years, there are many factors. Local government is similar to manufacturing, in that we try to establish our goals by taking a longterm perspective. We aim to maximize the investment that business and industry have made by reinvesting in our community. We do our best to clean up our neighborhoods and spread that investment out. We’ve invested in lighting. We’ve invested in our parks. We’re creating job opportunities. People want to live in a safe, clean community, with a good public school system for their children. Increased police patrols and targeted code enforcement have helped, too. Tomorrow: Other perspectives from the table? Carl: To see the positive direction for Kokomo, take a look at Anderson, tomorrow spring 2015 www.uaw-chrysler.com Newcastle, Muncie and other Indiana cities where you can see the vacuum created by a major manufacturer closing up shop. Crime is increased due to the lack of jobs, more empty houses and young people fleeing. All that is left are retirees and a service economy. Tomorrow: How did Kokomo end up in the sweet spot, compared to those other towns? Carl: It’s because of the UAW and FCA working together. We are maximizing the investments made in our plants here. It’s FCA top management and UAW leadership being cheerleaders for the Kokomo region. The result is a stronger community with a stabilized tax base. People are more confident in their future here. Tyler: Agreed. C a r l : It’s m o r e t h a n n e w construction across Sycamore Street from City Hall. Kokomo residents can enjoy their parks and facilities. Downtown, even the alleys have ample lighting and park benches. Mayor: One of the biggest drivers of our local economy is the confidence of our residents, combined with the confidence of companies like FCA that have invested here. Confidence engenders commitment. Bob: Coming back to Kokomo after a 10-year absence, this progress is very apparent to me. When I started here in 1986, I lived in Kokomo’s downtown Historic District. It’s great to see sustained preservation and how well Kokomo has integrated heritage with progress and new construction. Tomorrow: Speaking of history, diecasting and transmission production go hand-in-hand, right? Bob: It now even goes beyond transmissions. Locally, we’re now casting and machining engine blocks for several high-volume V-6 engines. Tyler: Currently, about 800,000 engine blocks a year. We’re also supplying blocks to Ferrari and Maserati, so Kokomo is truly a global casting supplier and a benchmark for other facilities. Mayor: When the auto industry was at the early-2009 low point, Washington made some strategic decisions, acting swiftly to keep the auto industry on track. While there were sacrifices, such as plant and dealership closings, the measures taken at the time are paying dividends now. George: I’ve lived here since the early 1970s and have witnessed the growth that the mayor talks about. I believe that without Chrysler, Kokomo could be another economic hole in central Indiana. Carl: It was more than the existing infrastructure. It’s the manufacturing expertise that we have here. It’s the casting expertise we have here. And it’s supportive management of people who grew up or came of age here in Kokomo. Without local guys on the management team advocating for the Kokomo region, it would be harder to bring new products and more production here. Jerry: As residents, we all have a vested interest. It’s a team effort. Carl: It’s the culmination of many factors. We’re all pulling together. Tomorrow: So it’s infrastructure, a highly technical workforce, location and supportive management. Tyler: Not just a skilled workforce, but a proud workforce. Bob: World Class Manufacturing (WCM) was brought to us by Fiat. It called for lots of learning, on everyone’s part. I’ve personally seen WCM involve the UAW membership and management together as one common team with a shared vision. Do we still face issues? Of course we do. But the shared desire to be world class brings us together to achieve a common goal. Through WCM and kaizens, the employees on the floor – the real experts – now have a much louder voice. We address as much as we can, with follow-up communication. In my 29 years with this great company, WCM is proving to be the strongest program with the utmost consistency among every single one of our facilities. Carl: I’ve come to appreciate WCM because, after an audit is conducted, the standards achieved must be maintained. The next audit starts over again at square one, so performance must be sustained. In past programs, your score became the baseline for the next evaluation. Bob : You hit the nail on the head. The audit process, based on 10 technical and 10 managerial pillars, is conducted by auditors from our other global facilities. It’s rigorous and it drives accountability. Tomorrow: Tyler, can we get a casting perspective on WCM? Tyler: Long-term workers have seen many programs come and go, so it’s difficult to achieve 100 percent buy-in, 100 percent of the time. In light of the production we are tasked to achieve, it’s sometimes difficult to embrace every facet of WCM in the casting environment. Our goal is to get high-quality castings out the door on time. That said, I can tell you that conditions in our plant have been greatly improved under WCM and investments made by the company. We’re now getting gas-fired heat to replace boilers, meaning greatly improved air quality and working conditions. It’s because of managers seeing firsthand what conditions are like and making the investment in improvements. Morale goes up, not just from improved conditions, but because workers see management’s commitment under WCM. A cleaner, safer casting facility is a win for all concerned. Bob: There will always be issues, but that’s what continuous improvement is all about. WCM is about the ongoing pursuit of manufacturing excellence and achieving perfection in every aspect of our business. Steve : The casting facility is unique. There was no audit format for die-casting, so we started from zero. Now, we’re shooting for Bronze recognition. Jerry: The casting facility is a global benchmark. Top, left to right: Greg Goodnight, George Maus, Steve Stahl, Carl Greenwood, Tyler Sanders, Bob Varsanik, full group, Jerry Gilliland. Inset: Greg Goodnight. 5 Amanda Heath, Die Casting • 2½ years of service (left) cover story Facility Facts “I’m confident about the future.” Wendy Stout, Die Cast Inspector • 20 years of service (center) “The high quality of the parts we produce here.” Kokomo Transmission Plant Opened: 1956 • 3.1 million square feet • 110 acres Employment: 3,402 (3,013 hourly, 389 salaried) UAW locals: 685 and 1302 Naj Strayhorn Die Casting • 4 years of service UAW Local 1166, Kokomo Casting Plant Indiana Transmission Plant I “The way our team works together to get the job done.” Points of Pride Opened: 1988 • 1.2 million square feet • 223 acres Employment: 2,660 (2,355 hourly, 305 salaried - combined with ITP II ) UAW Local: 685 what makes you proud as an FCA employee? Indiana Transmission Plant II Opened: 2003 • 600,000 square feet • 61 acres Employment: 2,660 (2,355 hourly, 305 salaried, with ITP I) UAW Locals: 685 and 1302 Kokomo Casting Plant Opened: 1965 • 625,000 square feet • 35 acres Bill Robertson, Electrician • UAW Local 1166, Kokomo Casting Plant • 22 years of service Christina Kruemmer, Department 6400 Machining • UAW Local 685, Indiana Transmission Plant II • 3 years of service “I’m proud of our teamwork, a result of the family atmosphere on the shop floor.” “Taking machines back to basics and making better processes, in order to create higher quality products.” Damon Johnson, Department 6900 Assembly • Indiana Transmission Plant II • 18 years of service David Dukes, Plant Manager • Tipton Transmission Plant • 18 years of service “The people I work with. My team is more than 70 people, and I think I have the best group a supervisor could ask for.” “In 2014, we were able to attain our aggressive launch curve. This was achieved by the teams utilizing the WCM tools and methodologies.” Deana Hill, Valve Body Assembly • UAW Local 685, Tipton Transmission Plant • 23 years of service Frank Stedry, Tool Engineer • UAW Local 1302, Kokomo Transmission Plant • 4 years of service “I’m proud of how World Class Manufacturing has improved our products.” “The cost savings our team delivers for our plant and the company.” Issac White, Valve Body Testing • UAW Local 685, Kokomo Transmission Plant • 21 years of service Mike Boyer, Millwright • UAW Local 1166, Kokomo Casting Plant • 6 months of service “I’m responsible for the valve body. It’s the ‘brain’ of the transmission.” “Casting world-class products, right here in Indiana!” Ray Anderson, Plant Manager • Kokomo Transmission Plant • 18 years of service Rich McClory, Valve Body Sub-Assembly • UAW Local 685, Indiana Transmission Plant I • 19½ years of service “We’re a 59 year-old facility that is world-class competitive.” “I am proud that the ITP I workforce was qualified enough to bring nine-speed transmission production here to secure jobs.” Tina Moore, Production Control • UAW Local 685, Indiana Transmission Plant I • 2½ years of service Jeremy Keating, Plant Manager • Indiana Transmission Plant I • 17 years of service “I am proud of Kokomo as a community and as a workplace because people pull together to help others in times of need.” “I am proud of the teamwork, commitment and dedication of the people and the way we work together to accomplish our goals.” Employment: 1,313 (1,162 hourly, 151 salaried) UAW Locals: 1166 and 1302 Tipton Transmission Plant Opened: 2014 • 781,500 square feet • 93 acres Employment: 708 (651 hourly, 57 salaried) UAW Local: 685 Kokomo’s Greatest Hits terrific transmissions providing mobility for millions •Cast-iron three-speed manual transmission: From 1937 to 1956, more than 5 million were produced at Kokomo’s Home Avenue plant. • A-466 Torque-Flyte automatic: Robust cast-iron construction, three speeds and push-button controls made it a mid-century benchmark. • A-727, the automatic transmission invariably found behind big-block Mopar muscle cars. More than 11.5 million built. • A-904, a lightweight automatic, usually mated to slant-six engines to deliver legendary durability. More than 15 million produced. • A-404, Chrysler’s initial automatic transmission for transverse-engine, front wheel drive applications. Launched in 1977, more than 13.5 million built. 3 4 • A-604 four-speed: More than 17 million produced, used in Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager minivans. • A-606, launched in 1992. This was the exclusive transmission used in LH “cab-forward” full-size sedans. More than 3 million were produced. • 42RLE, a fuel saving transmission with overdrive. This automatic was developed for rear- and four-wheel drive vehicles with longitudinal engine configurations. • 845LE, an advanced automatic transmission with eight-speeds, first debuting in the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger. •948TE, the ground-breaking nine-speed automatic transmission for frontwheel- and all-wheel-drive applications. With nine forward gears, it’s an industry exclusive. A Kokomo Legacy: Linda Purvis merchant tells her family’s 126-year story 6 tomorrow spring 2015 www.uaw-chrysler.com 6 8 9 • 62TE, launched in 2006. This six-speed automatic used electronic controls and was adapted for all-wheel drive use. More than 2.9 million built. • 66RFE, a heavy-duty automatic used most frequently for Ram truck applications in both rear-wheel and four-wheel drive. I am a third-generation employee. In 1940, my grandfather, William “Elliot” Purvis, was hired at the old Home Avenue Plant in Kokomo as a machine repairman. He retired in 1968, after 28 years. In 1942, shortly before being drafted into the Army, my father William “Ernest” Purvis was hired at the Home Avenue Plant. After the war he pursued farming. By 1965, financial responsibility for five children brought him back to the UAW and Chrysler at KTP. Retiring in 1990, he was credited with 28 years. My brother Larry started at KTP after turning 18, retiring after 32 years. Brother Denny began as a skilled tradesman at KTP, later transferring to ITP I where he currently works. He has logged 21 years. As a UAW Local 685 member, I’ve worked here for 17 years and build valve bodies at KTP, previously serving at ITP I and ITP II. Chrysler and the UAW have provided us with a comfortable living. In return, I’m proud of the hard work that my family has contributed. ■ 7 difference maker g n i s i a r d n u F g u l p k r spa F or Sterling Stamping’s Latoshia Smith-Halty, inspiration came from the convergence of two events. The first was losing her aunt – her best friend – to cancer. The second was her transformative realization that Breast Cancer Awareness month in October went unrecognized at her Sterling Heights, Michigan, facility. “Connecting these dots compelled me to take action, inviting co-workers to think pink,” says Smith-Halty, UAW Communications Lead for her plant. Fortunately, she had a community service program called Hearts of Steel already in place. It grew out of a 2011 charitable collaboration among Sterling Stamping, Mt. Elliott Tool & Die in Detroit and UAW Locals 1264 and 212. After recruiting more employees from both facilities to jointly participate in volunteer activities, Smith-Halty attended a UAW Region 1 International Women’s Committee meeting and learned of a partnership between the union and the American Cancer Society (ACS). She realized that the union’s ACS relationship could help her to make Breast Cancer Awareness a much bigger thing at Sterling Stamping. ‘think s e t i n g i member 4 6 2 1 tamping S l a g c n i o l L r e uaw gn at St i a p m a c pink’ So it was that Hearts of Steel evolved into Pink Hearts of Steel. Starting slowly, Smith-Halty personally paid for pink T-shirts worn by supporters from within the plant. Volunteers work employee gates and the company store, passing out pink rubber bracelets and photographing supporters and even those just pausing to listen to their message about breast cancer. Donations earn recognition for supporters who appear on TV monitors throughout the facility. Under a rallying call to “Pink Out the Plant,” the campaign has expanded to include Pink Bake Sales, Pink Movie Nights, a Pink Halloween Skating Party, a Pink Game Day and a Pink Zumba dance fitness program. Each event is coordinated by a Pacesetter volunteer, fulfilling SmithHalty’s objective of engaging workers and the community. Pacesetters are the busiest and most productive fund-raisers for the cause. In addition, she has signed up more than 100 participants in the annual “Making Strides” ACS walk event in downtown Detroit and made breast cancer awareness a critical component in plant health and safety events. rides to and from my treatments. When you receive a cancer diagnosis, it’s devastating. The company and union benefits people not only told me what to ask my health care providers, but how to ask the right questions. They held my hand and walked me through the entire process. The compassion I experienced from teammates was overwhelming. Hearing the stories of others who had faced the same situation was a big help. While I was off work, I could pick up the phone and get moral support from people here. I never felt isolated. Knowing that my job was waiting for me when I returned was a huge confidence builder and improved my attitude and my outlook. It kept me “Latoshia’s passion has made Sterling Stamping the UAW leader in American Cancer Society fund raising for the last three years,” says ACS representative Felicia McMullen. “More than $64,000 has been raised in support of the cause. We’ve asked Latoshia to share best practices for worker engagement with other locals and facilities. She has a knack for recruiting Pacesetter volunteers, who find joy and bring joy to the fight against cancer.” ■ “In addition to identifying and recruiting the next generation of Pink Hearts of Steel leaders, my goal is to make our American Cancer Society outreach even more fun and accessible to all,” she says. “But for me, the most rewarding part of this campaign has been hearing the stories of cancer survivors among the Sterling Stamping family.” tomorrow spring 2015 www.uaw-chrysler.com By Sharon Campbell Top left: Connie Leak, UAW Women’s Committee, honors Latoshia Smith-Halty. Bottom right: Pink Hearts of Steel group at “Making Strides” walk. What’s next for Smith-Halty? 8 Support system makes difference for cancer survivor “ I never felt isolated.” W ithout the UAW and my job waiting for me in recovery – physically and mentally – I would not have survived. Support from the UAW was a key element in my recovery and survival after a cancer diagnosis in the late summer of 2011. First, the company and UAW benefit package provides excellent health insurance coverage. Fabulous health insurance eased my financial worries, which gave me confidence. Next, the support and compassion I felt from my union sisters and brothers helped me recognize that I wasn’t facing this alone. This support included people calling regularly to check up on me, connecting with cancer survivors who had returned to the plant, and even positive and optimistic, which really helps when you are self-consciously wearing a wig or missing breasts. In recovery and just back to work, my UAW Local 1264 coworkers have helped make it easier for me to readjust. You just can’t imagine the powerful emotions I have experienced as a survivor seeing a pink ribbon on the sign out front and walking back into the plant when everyone is showing their support by wearing pink. Thank you all. ■ Sharon Campbell is a Materials Handler at Sterling Stamping. Readers react It was a privilege to be included in the November 2014 Veterans Issue of Tomorrow magazine. Our stories need to be told, not just for historical reference, but to show the uniqueness of serving in the United States military. What sets us apart is our oath to protect and preserve our Constitution, protecting our rights as citizens to freedom of speech, the right to peacefully assemble and so forth. Our military has the distinction of being a very diverse group, representing every socio-economic background, all races, creeds and religions. Our diversity strengthens us, as we pursue our common goal of protecting and preserving the Constitution of the United States of America. Its opening words, “We the people,” are truly representative of our military forces. George Farrell UAW Local 889 Mopar Center Line (Mich.) Complex On behalf of the UAW Local 12 Jeep Unit workforce at the Toledo Assembly Complex, thanks to Tomorrow magazine for sharing our proud military heritage stories and Veterans Memorial display with the UAW membership. The Toledo Jeep workforce is proud of our military veterans and thank them for their sacrifices, paving the way for the past, present and future America. We want to pay our respect to veterans of all ages for preserving our way of life and exhibit our pride in building Jeeps in Toledo for the past 74 years. Mark Epley Chairman: UAW Local 12 Jeep Unit “ Thank you very much for the article about me in the most recent Tomorrow Veterans Issue. My coworkers and family members really enjoyed reading about my military service and even asked for my autograph. That made my day!” Beatrice “Bea” Herring UAW Local 723 Dundee Engine Plant (Mich.) 9 health and safety T he continuing growth of FCA US LLC and its UAWrepresented workforce is today creating a new dynamic throughout the company – the culmination of enduring experience, new energy and advanced education. And among the best examples of th at dyn a m ic is the UAWChrysler National Training Center’s (NTC) Health and Safety Specialist Certification Program. The program, an intensive 240-hour educational regimen for UAW H&S reps, trainers and ergonomic analysts, as well as company health and safety managers and administrators, is now in its 20th year. And participation is ballooning as new hires and old hands join in the effort to protect every worker. This past winter, 75 employees from across the country converged on the UAW-Chrysler Technology Training Center in Warren, Michigan, for a new session of the certification training program. Among them were dozens of participants already on their way to earning certification and – reflective of the burgeoning FCA US workforce – 29 who were new to their health and safety roles. UAW Local 140 member Angela Parker is an ergonomic analyst at Warren Truck Assembly. She was appointed to the job last October, although she has worked at the plant for 21 years. She’s had several jobs over those years, the last 10 adding radiator fluid to trucks moving along the line. Parker says ergonomics is particularly important in that job, “dealing with heavy machinery and moving equipment, while on your feet all day.” Despite all her experience, Parker says she picked up plenty of new knowledge at the conference, such as how to “make equipment adapt to the worker, rather than make the worker adapt to the equipment.” Jovaun Royal hasn’t been with the company long – he began working at the Jefferson Avenue Assembly Plant as an intern in 2013 and only recently became a full-time management safety specialist. But he came to the conference with an academic background to kickstart his training. Royal, who has a bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and health management, said he was impressed by how “in-depth” the training was. “I learned a lot of things I didn’t know and was able to refresh a lot of the things I learned in college,” he says. “I was able to take advantage of classes in some of the technical areas that weren’t my strengths, like ventilation and electrical safety, and to refresh my knowledge in lockout/tag-out and some environmental courses, too.” That’s how it’s supposed to work. “This training is a win-win experience for all participants,” says Kevin Waszak, management Health and Safety Coordinator at the NTC. “Attendees improve their knowledge base, and take that knowledge back to their facilities for application. That creates a safer and healthier work environment for all employees.” UAW H e a l t h a n d S a f e t y Coordinator Loreese Lee agreed. “As veteran UAW employees work with newly hired college grads in the health and safety field,” she says, “they provide a wealth of experience and knowledge to effectively address health and safety issues, identify their root causes and implement countermeasures using the hierarchy of (hazard) controls.” ■ Read more about how health and safety champions benefit from training provided by the NTC in the upcoming issue at www.tomorrowextra.com. The bottom line •Since the program began, more than 600 employees have taken courses toward certification • Nearly 400 have completed the course work • Certified Health and Safety Specialists continue to train and must complete 24 hours of course work each year to remain certified 10 tomorrow spring 2015 www.uaw-chrysler.com real people d n a m s a i s u h t n e s t , l e u c s n e e r i Exper n deliver H&S educatio What’s it like to be a guest at the President’s State of the Union address? Just ask this JNAP worker special-needs students. I started on JNAP’s afternoon shift in June of 2010, continuing my DPS day job for another year. Those were grueling 17½-hour workdays. What challenges did you face? As a single mother, balancing my finances, the clock and my emotional health represented quite a struggle. Then what? I’m open-minded. I would consider either UAW employment or a management opportunity with FCA. What is your message to fellow UAW members? It has been my honor and privilege to represent the UAW, in front of our entire country. Please tell us about your children. Melvin is now 24, Tachae is 20 and Raven is 14. What did you say in your letter to the President? I personally thanked him for his role in saving our company, which in turn created the UAW-Chrysler opportunity for me. The response to my letter was an invitation to sit with Michelle Obama for the President’s speech. U AW Local 7 member Tiairris Woodard had an once-in-alifetime experience on Jan. 20 when she sat in the box of First Lady Michelle Obama for the 2015 State of the Union address to Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The Jefferson North Assembly Plant (JNAP) worker was invited to watch President Obama deliver the address after she wrote a letter thanking him for his support of the auto industry in Detroit. Tiairris responded to questions from Tomorrow about herself and her special moment in the national spotlight. What was your job experience prior to hiring in at Jefferson North? I served the Detroit Public Schools (DPS) for eight years, working with What has your 15 minutes of fame been like? Certainly my family is very proud of me. It’s nice as co-workers congratulate me and take pride in my State of the Union role. This is all very “out of the box” for me, as I’m normally a very private person. What is your current job at JNAP? As a floater, I serve wherever I’m needed at that particular time. You are a UAW-Chrysler Tuition Assistance Plan student, right? Yes. This is a wonderful benefit that I encourage everyone in the UAW to use to their fullest advantage. I’m currently taking online classes with Macomb Community College. What are you studying? My goal is earning a bachelor’s degree in business management. 11 UAW-Chrysler National Training Center 2211 East Jefferson Avenue Detroit, MI 48207 This magazine is printed by a union printer on union-made recycled paper. Artists at Work show celebrates creative diversity It’s time for FCA US employees to unleash their creativity off as well as on the job: Artists at Work is back. The UAW-Chrysler National Training Center once again will provide an opportunity for employees to enter paintings, sculpture, photographs or other original visual media in this popular program that showcases the diverse artistic talents of the workforce. The 2015-2016 Artists at Work Competition and Exhibition is open to UAW-represented and non-bargaining unit employees based in the U.S., including those who are temporarily working outside the country. Family members, FCA US retirees or contract employees are not eligible to enter. The deadline for submitting entries is July 3. Eligible employees will receive a letter from the NTC that provides information about how to enter the competition as well as details about contest rules and deadlines. “FCA US, the UAW and NTC are proud to sponsor this program for the 10th time, because it brings union and tomorrow SPRING 2015 management employees together on common ground to earn recognition for their multiple talents,” said NTC Co-Directors Miguel Foster and Michael Brown. The first phase of judging is based on photographs of artwork submitted by an employee. An independent panel of experts from Detroit’s professional art community judges the entries. A second phase of judging determines first-, second- and third-place award winners and honorable mentions, based on an evaluation of the actual artwork selected for the exhibition. All employees with work chosen for the new show will be guests of honor at an Opening Reception on November 19. Top prize winners and honorable mention recipients will receive special recognition at the reception. The artwork will become part of an exhibition at the NTC and the World Class Manufacturing Academy in Warren, Mich. Further information is available by contacting Marilyn Finkel & Associates, which serves as professional advisor to Artists at Work, at (248) 358-3555 or [email protected]. www.uaw-chrysler.com
Similar documents
l#,/tiy`.a*t7. q, %otz Ja
Agreement and were incumbent Ford employees working at Saline when the facility was
originally transferred to Visteon ownership. ACH leases these seniority employees from
Ford Motor Company and upo...
2007 media fact book
The past four years have been incredibly challenging for America’s autoworkers.
Since we negotiated our last contracts with Chrysler, Delphi, Ford, General Motors
and Visteon in 2003, each of these...