Union Spirit UAW Local 2488 Celebrating 25 Years
Transcription
Union Spirit UAW Local 2488 Celebrating 25 Years
Union Spirit UAW Local 2488 Mitsubishi & MPW Units Volume 25, Issue 2 March & April 2014 4 1 0 2 9 8 9 8 8 4 2 l a c o L s r a W e Y UA 5 2 g n i t a r b e l e C 1 Twenty five years is a milestone. To acknowledge this, I have combed the archives and reprinted some Union Spirit articles that span some of this time. These articles are peppered throughout this edition of the paper. — Editor 2014 Constitutional Convention Delegate Election Information on Page 10 UnionSpirit Page 2 Volume 25, Issue 2 UnionSpirit Chairman’s Report rights. If you know of any members who lost their recall rights and have interest in returning as a new hire, have them contact the UAW office. Overtime for March will be heavy. Four of the five Saturdays are confirmed for production, along with a By: Roger Goodwin continuation of 10 hour days. Don’t The company finally recalled the last 2 expect this to continue after March. of the 12 they wanted when they The current schedule shows very little started this recall in December. This overtime until after the July 4th holibrings the number of recalled members day. Of course, this is subject to to a total of 50, resulting in a mere 16 change. left on the laid off list. The company has contacted these remaining 16 to Two important deadlines are fast apgauge their interest in returning. Six proaching. The Company must anresponded positively, but the company nounce the days required for summer has yet to inform us what their next shutdown by the end of March. Also, step is. Their original plan when con- any associate required to work any tacting the final 16 was to bring back days during the shutdown period must two or three. It’s unknown if that is be notified by May 1. still their plan, or if they would like to Another deadline approaching conexhaust the list. cerns carryover PTO. Any carryover The possibility of bringing in new PTO, in excess of 16 hours, must be hires increases with the fact of a used by the end of April or you will be shrinking number of members with paid out for it. That payout will be no recall rights. Language does exist that later than the second pay period in says the company will consider rehir- May. ing members who lost their recall Our current Collective Bargaining Agreement with Mitsubishi expires in August of 2015. This may seem like a long way off, but time manages to slip by faster and faster these days. No one can predict what our future holds for us. Your Bargaining Committee requests that everyone put themselves in a position to defend their well being, no matter the situation. A well prepared team is a successful team. Grievances: 3rd Step – 21 Pre-Arb – 9 Arbitration – 2 Manpower: Production – 836 Maintenance – 140 Layoff – 16 Supplemental – 48 U.S. Sales: January—1838 Exports: January —4162 Veterans Committee Super Bowl Raffle Winners First Prize: 50" LGE Plasma TV -----Vicki Diebel (Washburn) Second Prize: 42" LGE Plasma TV -----James Davis (Marion, IN) Third Prize: ZVOX Soundbar Home Theatre-----Greg Stapleton (Carlock) Fourth Prize: Samsung BD-F5100 Blu-Ray Player-----Bob Rice (Maintenance) Fifth Prize: $50 Cash-----Linda Randle (Bloomington) Sixth Prize: $50 Cash-----Jim Stubbs (Maintenance) Seventh Prize $25 Cash-----Bob Rice (Maintenance) Eighth Prize $25 Cash-----Linda Seten (Creve Coeur) Page 3 Volume 25, Issue 2 UnionSpirit Page 4 Volume 25, Issue 2 Union Spirit President’s Report office at the February membership meeting. CHILDREN’S EASTER PARTY Get the kids together for our annual Children’s Easter Party from 1pm until 3pm on Saturday, April 5th at the Union Center. After a one-year hiatus, the Rec Committee has put together an exciting event. Join the Easter Bunny By: Jerry Harcharik for an Easter egg hunt, games, balloon animals, face painting and so much 25 YEARS…WOW! more. Get the kids and grandkids This year marks the 25th anniversary of signed up today by contacting Ron or representation by the United Auto Johnna in the Union Benefits office. Workers at our facility. I hope you enLET’S THINK GOLF joy a look back at some of our history in this edition of the Union Spirit. Shake off the winter doldrums and Sometimes it doesn’t seem like 25 think Spring by assembling your team years since we assembled in the trainfor our 3rd Annual Gary Nichols Charing building on the south end of the ity Golf Scramble to be held on Saturplant. The interview process culmiday, June 14th at the Den at Fox Creek nated with the testing of our artistry in in Bloomington. Sign-up is underway. the drawing of a chair. It was certainly You can pick up a form at the UAW a WTF moment for me! For some, this Benefits office, at the Union Center or job was a stepping stone in our work download it off the web at history. For many of us, it was the first www.uaw2488.org. experience at working in a facility of this size. For some, it was the first SUPER BOWL PARTY REAL experience in the work world. In any case, we have had the opportu- The Veteran’s Committee Super Bowl Party was a huge success once again. nity to “grow up” together…as indiThe game itself wasn’t very competividuals and as a UNION. tive but it did not dampen the spirit of NORWOOD ELECTED MPW the party-goers. Congratulations to all COMMITTEEMAN the prize winners including Vicki Diebel of Washburn who walked away Congratulations to our newest elected with the grand prize of a 50-inch LGE official here at Local 2488. Aubrey Plasma TV. A complete list of prize Norwood was recently elected by the winners is included in this edition of 1st shift workers of our MPW Unit to the Union Spirit. Most importantly, all represent them as 1st Shift Committeemoney raised in this wonderful event man. Aubrey proudly took the oath of Page 5 goes right to the veterans who need it the most. NATIONAL CAP CONFERENCE Your CAP delegates had the great opportunity to attend the National UAW CAP Conference in Washington DC. We talked with members of congress about topics that have a huge impact on us and working families everywhere. Topics included extending unemployment insurance, strengthening social security, raising the minimum wage and our opposition of Japan’s inclusion in the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) as it relates to the automotive trade imbalance which currently exists. One car is allowed to be imported by Japan for every 130 cars they export. Without strict guidelines, we cannot support the President on this “free trade” agreement. The TPP has been described as NAFTA on steroids. We all know how well that worked for manufacturing in the U.S. We talked with Congressman Rodney Davis from the 13th Congressional District who would not support us on any of our issues. Congressman Bill Enyart from the 12th Congressional District supported the UAW across the board and Congressman Aaron Schock from the 18th District was too busy to take time to meet with the UAW. Imagine that! DIRECTOR MCINROY VISIT I would like to thank Region 4 Director Ron McInroy and International Servicing Rep Rick Doty for meeting with President Report cont. on page 4 Volume 25, Issue 2 Union Spirit President Report cont. from page 3 the UAW Local 2488 leadership group to help explain the half-hour dues increase proposal which will be voted on at the 36th Constitutional Convention in June. Additionally, Rick Doty was in attendance at the February membership meeting to answer questions. If anyone has a question or an idea, please let me know. I will relay that information to Ron and Rick. On a related issue, nominations for convention delegates will take place at the March 19th membership meeting. (Check the official notice in this Union Spirit.) FINAL THOUGHT party that screams for less government intervention tried to intervene in a worker’s choice to join the UAW. It is hard for me to conceive that members of a political party would try to interfere in the free process of a worker’s right to organize by threatening to withhold future financial incentives for Volkswagen if those workers chose the UAW. I find it unimaginable that outside parties would invest millions and millions of dollars in anti-worker campaigns designed to keep workers from having a say in their workplace and fighting for a livable wage and benefits. Furthermore, it is inconceivable to me that workers would succumb to this intimidation and vote against their own self-interest. There are days when I wake up and wonder why I live in Illinois. The Then I reevaluate my earlier thought. weather is so totally unpredictable. The snow, ice and arctic cold this winter I live in a state where Governor Quinn have been brutal. and the state legislature have worked to bring jobs to the state of Illinois. But then I see things happening in Our governor has always been a great other places…like Chattanooga, Tenfriend to the UAW and has vowed to nessee. It’s a place where the political continue working to bring our facility more product. In spite of what has happened in Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana and Michigan…our state has fought off the evil attempts by those who don’t want us to have a voice in the workplace… and thumbed its nose at freeloader “Right to Work” for less legislation. I work at a facility where the workers (without outside interference) chose to embrace the United Auto Workers 25 years ago. Through the good years and the lean years, we have persevered and have come out the other side a much better and wiser workforce. On second thought, I know exactly why I live in Illinois. This is right where I belong. I’ll be seeing you on the shop floor. Children’s Easter Party Saturday April 5, 2014 1:00pm—3:00pm Local 2488 Union Center Cost is $3.00 per child (12 & under only) Bring your camera & Easter baskets Page 6 Volume 25, Issue 2 UnionSpirit Page 7 Volume 25, Issue 2 Union Spirit Benefits Report questions relating to eligibility for FMLA. We will try and Please take note that the dates the Worker’s Compensation give you some general answers. The company uses a rolling calendar year when determining eligibility for FMLA. lawyers are at the hall has changed. Richard Johnson will be at the Union Hall on the fourth Tuesday of each month What that means is they look at the date the FMLA is being requested for and whether the member has worked at least from 10am to 5pm. Chris Mose will be at the Union Hall 1250 hours in the previous one year period. We always the first Wednesday of each month from 10am to 5pm. need to keep in mind that time out of the plant for PTO, These dates are March 5 and 25 and also April 2 and 22 holidays, opting out, leaves of absence, unexcused days, furloughs and other reasons can leave us short of the 1250 Keeping Beneficiaries Up-to-date Many times changes in life require us to update our records hours of actual work needed to qualify. We should also as it relates to beneficiaries with our benefit package. It is keep in mind that the company takes FMLA hours from our bank of time if we are out of the plant on a paid disability very important when we have an event take place that we leave or a worker’s compensation leave. A member qualiidentify the proper beneficiaries for our 401(k), Group fies for 480 hours of FMLA during a rolling calendar year. Life Insurance and Voluntary Term Life Insurance. Unless you have made changes in the past, those who you Those hours can be taken in increments of 1 hour at a time or up to 8 hours each day. named many years ago will still be the beneficiaries MMNA has on file. It makes sense to review records and Need a doctor? make sure we put corrected changes in as they happen. We encourage you to try to stay within the PPO network. Make sure you do these things on an annual basis. Staying within the PPO network gives us a much better Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Moving? benefit. Going outside the network leaves us open to a We would like to remind members and retirees that if they much larger out-of –pocket, higher co-pays and possibly no move to please notify MMNA and the Union of your ad- benefit at all (office visits, for examples). If you have ques- dress change. This will help keep you informed and up-to- tions whether a doctor or facility is in the PPO network you date on issues and make sure that you get important docu- can call Blue Cross/Blue Shield at 1-800-227-6592, go to ments, such as W-2’s, in a timely manner. Questions regarding FMLA Now and then we have members who contact us and ask their website at www.bcbsil.com or call the UAW Benefits office at 309-888-8008 for Johnna Jackson or 309-888-8015 for Ron Dixon. 3rd Annual Gary Nichols Charity Golf Scramble Sign up is now underway—to be held at the Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington on Saturday June 14, 2014 There is an 8:00am shotgun start—the $85 entry fee includes range balls, golf, cart and lunch Prizes & games include raffles, longest drive, longest putt, closest to the pin, a hole-in-one giveaway plus more All proceeds will benefit the United Way of McLean County & the UAW Local 2488 Scholarship Fund Don’t miss out! Tee times will fill up fast. Get your team signed up today. Registration forms are available at the Union Hall, UAW plant Benefits office or online at www.uaw2488.org. Turn in forms & fee to Ron Dixon. Page 8 Volume 25, Issue 2 UnionSpirit Page 9 Volume 25, Issue 2 Union Spirit Page 10 Volume 25, Issue 2 UnionSpirit In The Paint by Pat Kennedy Last issue I was emphasizing the divide between those in power...both business and government and their effects upon the middle class. We have seen the export of manufacturing at an astonishing rate robbing our nation of the ability to create wealth for everyone. A recent number I saw was 120,000 facilities closed since 2001. The top few percent have amassed great wealth as our nation becomes impoverished with debt mounting at an alarming rate. This nation was to have a concerted effort by all those who are able of body and mind. “Ask not what the country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” as JFK spoke so long ago, has gone by the wayside. Recently a friend told me about the McLean County Democrat’s “Honoring the Roosevelts” dinner. On the back of the program was Franklin D. Roosevelt’s January 11, 1944 State of the Union address (in part) as printed in the Grand Prairie Union News: We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and established for all—regardless of station, race or creed. Among these are: prosperity can be The right to a useful and remunerative job (rewarding job) in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation; The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation; The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living; The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home and abroad; The right of every family to a decent home; The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health; The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident and unemployment; The right to a good education. All of these rights spell security. And after this war is won we must be prepared to move forward, in the implementation of these rights, to new goals of human happiness and well-being. America’s own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into for all our citizens. For unless there is security here at home there cannot be lasting peace in the world. Obviously this has achieved lukewarm results over the last seventy years. Those claiming to lead us into the “promised land” have entered into their own promised land and left many out. We’ve had carpetbaggers, snake oil salesmen, and an occasional elected official that wants to do the right thing, but is shouted and worn down. “The nail that sticks up gets pounded down,” is an old Japanese saying. But sometimes the nail sticks up because the wood has dried and cracked. “A divided house cannot stand and the blind shall lead the blind and both shall fall into a ditch.” (paraphrase of Matthew 12:25 and Luke 6:39) We that remain in the shrinking middle class need to shout from the rooftops and gather in the market square and stem the tide of want and despair. Active participation, we use phones for everything at all times. Your representatives, senators, governor and president are but a click away. Get a list, check it twice, find out who has been naughty or nice or will we go blindly into that goodnight? Page 11 Volume 25, Issue 2 Union Spirit Lessons Learned by Tom Shrier, CAP Delegate Not everyone follows politics, but most Americans know of the government shutdown of 2013. A federal budget was not passed in the fall of 2013 and the US government came to a grinding halt. National Parks were closed, federal monuments were closed, and government employees were told to stay home. All of this is the indirect result of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). As Congress moved from one last minute crisis to the next, a small fraction of the Republican Party, known as the Tea Party, dug in their heels and took a stand. They refused to pass any federal budget that included funding for Obamacare. The result of this action was the government shutdown of 2013. UnDemocratic. Quite simply majority rules, Obamacare is the law, like it or not. It was passed in Congress by a majority vote. To attempt to halt legislation by simply refusing to pass a budget that funded a majority passed bill is undemocratic. UnJust. This stunt the Tea Party conducted not only shut down the government, it hurt America. It hurt the small shop owners in Washington DC who depend on government employees for revenue. It was unfair to anyone trying to visit a National Park or monument. And it hurt the American economy as a whole. So why was the government shutdown so wrong? Let me list the ways: UnResponsible. Ironically, the political party (Republican) who claim to be the fiscally responsible party cost the US taxpayers a whopping $24 billion. UnConstitutional. With the checks and balances of three branches of government afforded us in the Constitution, nowhere does it state that one small fraction of one branch has the ability to totally shut down the government. I am quite sure both Hamilton and Madison, while writing the “Federalist Papers”, could have never foreseen the empowerment of this small fraction. UnAmerican. An argument can be made that any group that would intentionally harm the American economy and American citizens can be considered domestic terrorists. How can elected representatives who take an oath to protect the interest of the US, also intentionally harm the US economy because they didn’t get what they wanted? 1773 rebelled against a British tax on tea. The American colonist rebelled against a colonial government, which did not allow voice or vote in taxation policies. The current Tea Party fought within and against its own government. They attempted to stop Obamacare by any means possible, including shutting down the government, stalling any economic recovery and costing the US taxpayers $24 billion. Bringing harm to the American people is not, by any means, patriotic. Abraham Lincoln once said the best way to repeal a bad law is to enforce it strictly. Like it or not, Obamacare is the law. Maybe we should give it a try. If it is as bad as the Republicans claim it will be, then the American public will call for its change or removal. But maybe, just maybe, the American public will come to enjoy the many benefits associated with this legislation. But to take over 40 votes in the House to repeal Obamacare knowing it will never get through the Senate, is a total waste of taxpayer’s money. And to refuse to pass a budget and close down the government should be considered an act of treason. Maybe Congress can learn something from this needless confrontation. UnPatriotic. The Tea Party borrows their name from the colonist who in Congratulations Retirees! Terry Abernathy Dale Bender Stephen Collins Eddie Dobson Page 12 Gary Fern Sally Kinsinger Margerie Knoblauch John Lowery George McCleave Kevin Schoenwetter Edwin Woods Volume 25, Issue 2 UnionSpirit ‘Letters to the Editor’ In My Opinion Pat Kennedy, I salute you. Using reference to the classics and poetry, no less, you started the new year of “In the Paint” by painting an accurate picture of where we are that might well have been titled “In the S**t!” Let’s leave off blaming each other’s political parties; it just gets in the way. This pile has been years in the making and we should have climbed out years ago. It wasn’t destiny or fate that turned us into “sheeple”, as Pat Kennedy calls us. We let it happen, shrugging our By Rebecca Logue (Plastics) shoulders and ignoring the stink. Pat is telling us that the pile keeps getting deeper and more crowded because the people who own the greener pasture on the other side always want a bigger pasture. Like thousands of like-minded people, I don’t know where to start, but I do know we are NOT in quicksand. Struggling to get out won’t make us sink deeper faster! I also have an idea of what to do when we get out. I’ve long wondered why our side can’t take a hint. Dictators of the past proved it, right wing extremists practice it and FOX News is among others who perpetuate it. If you repeat something loud enough, long enough, you drown out the opposition. They are the loudmouth ranters while we stand by, nearly silent. We need to climb out of the muck, shed our sheeple’s clothing and reveal the wolves underneath, howling loud, long and often. The method isn’t wrong and the message needs to be right. I may not know where to start. I may need a little help, but I would make a first-rate loudmouth (howler)! 25 years of Union Spirit; Lost in Translation? It was with great sadness that I read that home delivery of our paper, the Union Spirit, is being eliminated to local dues paying Union members and their families! Why? Because a digital format of the Union Spirit is quicker and cheaper. Of course if you wish to get one of the few limited hard copies of the Spirit, they will be available in the Plant Office. What happened to service to the membership? When the local started the digital/ email addition of the Union Spirit, the intent was to supplement the newspaper, not eliminate it. We added that option for those who chose to share their email address, though some chose not to share, and still others simply didn’t use email. Solidarity is achieved Page 13 in part by communication. It is important to reach out to all members, not just those that are tech savvy. This decision will cause a partial distribution of the newsletter. Members have been referred to the Local’s Facebook page as another source of information. This is a good tool to supplement the Local’s communications, but having the Union Spirit delivered to homes is a much more accessible way of providing information to members and their families. A good example of the importance of a print copy/home delivery is the changes in our healthcare benefits due to the Affordable Care Act, and the reminder to have our 19-26 year old dependents signed up. When a By Ralph Timan, Fascia Sequencing member and their family receive a print copy, they see it and say ‘hey we need to get that taken care of!’ I can remember countless times receiving phone calls from Union members who were out of the plant and spouses asking about things they read in the Union Spirit. The paper has been a significant part of the local for 25 years. The cost to print and mail the Union spirit to homes is not that significant when considering the value of communication. The next time you see an Executive Board member, let them know how you feel about what they decided to do, because the membership, the highest authority of the Local Union, sure didn’t have a choice. Volume 25, Issue 2 UnionSpirit Page 14 Volume 25, Issue 2 UnionSpirit Enough Is Enough "You don't know where you’re going, if you don't know where you've been." I heard this quote often this week, and it is so true. Dennis Williams reflected on some of the history of the UAW and some of the drastic steps they had to take in order to be successful. "It's time to fight! He said. With the membership behind him, the UAW can take on some of the challenges that we have been facing over the years. By Kelli Harrison sion will be something of the past unless we stand up and fight to continue these benefits!! Workers in this country are working more efficient and making less money while those at the top continue to enjoy their standard of living. While the working men and women continue to struggle in this country, this cannot be acceptable! We need to hold our Representatives accountable for their votes! Take a look at their voting history. If I attended the women's breakfast. Minority leader Nancy they are voting with labor 10% of the time you may want to Pelosi was the key note speaker. Speaker Pelosi is passion- re-think how you vote. Every benefit we have can be taken ate about our issues, and is willing to work with the Presi- away by the swipe of a pen. dent. I was touched by listening to Vice President Cindy What do we need to do as Union members? We need to Estrada. She talked about pay inequality, cuts in food activate our base!! Call, walk ,write, organize and contribstamps, eliminating unemployment for millions of Ameriute to V-CAP. It is that important!! We need to keep and cans and paid time off. "Enough is enough!" These are our get more Union friendly representatives in government. children!! As a mother, I can relate to how horrifying that must be to not be able to feed my children. As an organized The Illinois Governor's race is very important! Labor canautoworker, I have not had to face the struggles as some not afford to lose Governor Quinn! He has brought funding women. I have job security, a safe work environment, vaca- along with the President into the state for Chrysler, Ford, tion pay, health benefits, etc. I am so grateful and I do not and Mitsubishi. The UAW is in constant contact with the take this for granted. However, Unions are under attack!! Governor’s office and is always trying to get funding for The benefits that those before us had struggled to get are more product. We are looking forward to re-electing him in starting to become something of the past. A defined pen2014. Page 15 Volume 25, Issue 2 UAW Local 2488 10226 East 1400 North Road NON-PROFIT ORG. ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Permit No. 622 Bloomington, Illinois 61705 Phone: 309/828-2880 Fax: 309/829-2128 E-Mail Contact for the hall: [email protected] Retiree Meetings Schedule Meetings are scheduled on the second Tuesday of every month and all meetings will start at 10:00 am. March 11 Meeting at the hall April 8 Meeting at the hall UAW Local 2488 Union Spirit Policy The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of UAW Local 2488 or its Communications Committee. Items submitted to the Editor, UAW Local 2488 or Communications Committee become the property of this Local and Committee. All submissions must be signed and must contain your group name and a telephone number. We reserve the right to edit and/or reject any material submitted. Any use of materials appearing in our publication is prohibited, except with the written consent of the Editor and/or the Local President. Page 16 U.S. Postage Paid Bloomington, IL Please remember to keep the Union informed of your current address and phone number. Follow us on: Facebook — UAW Local 2488 Twitter—– @UAWLocal2488 Contact Us Editor: Linda Hickey Contact us by postal address or e-mail us at: [email protected] Workers’ Compensation Attorneys Katz, Friedman, Eagle, Eisenstein, Johnson and Bareck will be at the Union Center on the following dates to answer questions about Workers’ Compensation. March 5 & 25 April 2 & 22 10:00am—5:00pm 10:00am—5:00pm Downstate Injury Hotline: 1-800-444-1525 Volume 25, Issue 2
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