Here! - UAW 2209

Hall number:
(260) 672-2209
LOCAL VOICES
July - Aug. 2015
UAW Local 2209, PO Box 579, Roanoke, IN 46783
Fax: (260) 672-9220
Email us at:
[email protected]
July - Aug. 2015
Photo by Mark Newman
President’s Report
Stay Informed, Educated and Engaged
Brothers and Sisters, there
have been some major actions
that have taken place recently
that directly impact organized
labor. First, there was a letter
published by Joe Haggerty,
COO of United Way
Worldwide, that addressed
some members that were
taking part in an organizing
drive within United Way
Worldwide. In Mr. Haggerty’s
opinion, he stated that these
members unionizing would in
no way benefit them for their benefits and pay. This letter
broke the policy and memorandum of understanding that
has been in place with United Way Worldwide since 1979.
This action has put a serious strain on the relationship
between UW and Labor.
I have been in constant contact with our Local United
Way Labor Liaison, expressing the extreme dissatisfaction
with these actions. By the time you read this, I will have
met with the United Way and Central Labor Council to
have further discussion on our course of action and will
report back in the next issue. It is extremely important that
the programs locally still receive our support while we deal
with this issue.
The second action is Fast Track legislation and the Trans
Pacific Partnership or TPP. Fast Track will allow the
President to enter into a trade agreement with very limited
interaction from our legislators, only giving them the
ability to give an up or down vote on the agreement. They
will not be able to amend any of the language in these
agreements nor provide working Americans any job
protections. There haven’t been any trade agreements in the
past several decades that have benefitted working class
Americans. To push these agreements through, without any
scrutiny, will be catastrophic to our country. There have
been several requests to call your members of Congress
and ask them to oppose Fast Track and the TPP. To call
your member of Congress, dial 1-888-926-0045. This
process takes around 2 minutes.
It is our duty and responsibility as members of the UAW
to continuously be informed, educated, and engaged in the
issues that affect not only us, but the communities that we
live in. Legislation that is enacted directly affects, not only
our children when they enter the workforce, but all of us
immediately.
In Solidarity,
Brian Hartman
Financial Report for March
Local 2209 Hall Hours
Monday - Friday
6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Beginning Balance
Income
Total Expenses
$
$
$
Account Balance
$
Financial Report for April
Our Editorial Policy
To our readers: This newspaper is the voice of your Local
and International Union. This is our only vehicle for
bringing to you, on a regular basis, the views of the leaders
you elected, so you can evaluate them.
The newspaper also is the voice of the membership. We
welcome articles from UAW members and stories about
members.
All articles should contribute positively to the welfare of
this union and its members.
We will accept no attacks on any union leader or member.
We will accept a thoughtful discussion of all related issues
in the letters column.
We reserve the right to reply to those that seem to reflect a
misunderstanding of the union and its policies.
Thanks for your support, and we look forward to hearing
from you.
Beginning Balance
Income
Total Expenses
$
$
$
Account Balance
$
DEADLINE
for September – October issue of
LOCAL VOICES:
Friday, July 17
Submissions should be turned in to the secretary at
the union hall or emailed to:
[email protected]
2
3) Where do you work? What shift/dept? What do you
do?
I work in Final on 2nd shift, and I install the left side
headlight.
4) What are your interests outside of work?
I enjoy shopping, reading, traveling and spending
time with family and friends.
5) Are you a first generation UAW member?
No, my father worked at GM for 34 years before he
passed away, and 11 of his siblings all put in 35 years
or more.
6) Is there anything else you want people to know?
No, really I'm pretty much an open book.. I almost
forgot, it is my requirement that all my team members
can dance. Working 2nd shift, we need something to
keep us going most nights, so we dance.
SIX
QUESTIONS
with Shonda Skipper
1) Is Fort Wayne Assembly (FWA)
your first plant? If not, at what
other facilities have you worked?
No, I started off at Delphi in Anderson and was there
for five years. Then I transferred to Shreveport,
Louisiana for six years and here to FWA for the last five
years.
2) What is something that you enjoy about FWA or Local
2209?
I really enjoy the people I work with. I enjoy meeting
new people.
SIX QUESTIONS
was conceived and compiled by Amy Houston
Two Children of Local 2209 Members Receive Regional Scholarships
The UAW has always maintained a focus on education
— not only for our members, but also for our families and
the community at-large. UAW Region 2B developed a
scholarship program in 1962 and named it in honor of the
late UAW Vice President and Regional Director, Richard
T. Gosser. This year, eight $10,000 scholarships were
awarded and six $1,000 from the Region 2B Retired
Workers Chapter. The program has awarded over
$2,215,000 in scholarships to over 400 students since its
inception.
In 2012, the membership of Local 2209 approved the
Executive Board recommendation to become a contributing
participant in the Gosser Scholarship Program. For a onetime contribution of 60 cents per member, the children of
Local 2209 members are now eligible to apply for the
scholarship when they are a high school senior.
On May 20, Seth Cutler Johnston, son of James and Mitzi
Johnston, was awarded a $10,000 scholarship, which will
help to pay for his education at Hillsdale College this fall,
where he will study Biology and Pre-Med. Seth is currently
a senior at Carroll High School in Fort Wayne and is
ranked 28th out of 478 students. His father, James, is a
UAW 2209 member and works at Fort Wayne Assembly as
the UAW Quality Network Administrator.
In the short time that we have been enrolled in the Gosser
Scholarship program, scholarships have been given to three
children of UAW 2209 members. Last year, Noah
Patterson, son of Jeff Patterson, was awarded a $10,000
scholarship. This year, in addition to Seth Johnston, the
Region 2B Retired Workers Chapter awarded a $1,000
scholarship to Michael Bartz, son of Randall Bartz.
If you are interested in more information about the
Gosser Scholarship, contact us at the Union Hall or visit the
Region 2B website at uaw.region2b.org and click on “The
Richard T. Gosser Scholarship Program.”
Amy Richardson
Recording Secretary
L to R: Unit 1 Chairman Rich LeTourneau, James Johnston,
Seth Johnston (scholarship winner), Mitzi Johnston and
President Brian Hartman.
The Make-A-Wish Softball Tournament has been moved to Saturday, September
26. The deadline to sign up your team is Friday, August 28 and is limited to the
first ten teams with paid registration. If you have any questions, please contact
Andy Clark: 673-2504, [email protected]; Jon Wren: 673-2917,
[email protected]; or Adam Clark: 673-2758, [email protected].
We Welcome The New Members To Local 2209
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Rolling Into
Roanoke
Summer Jam
Sponsored by the Civil & Human Rights
Committee
Featuring DJ Smooth
July 25
July 18
Prizes, Food,
Fun and
Raffles
$5 in advance
UAW Local 2209 reserved space for our members to show
off their classic GM cars. Entry is $20 per vehicle. Call the
hall at (260) 672-2209 to reserve your space before they are
all gone. We look forward to seeing you there.
7 - 12 p.m.
at the Union
Hall
$7 at the door
Education Committee Scholarship Scramble
Sunday, August 2, 2015
3rd Annual Veterans Poker Run
Saturday, August 8
Registration: 10 a.m.
KSU: Noon
Last Bike In: 5 p.m.
Food: 5-6:30 p.m.
Band: 5-9 p.m.
Single Bike: $30
With Passenger: $45
Non-Rider: $30
Shirt Only: $20
Price includes entry, shirt, meal, beer and music
by Reckon.
Family Time
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Face Paining
Tattoo Parlor
Kiddie Midways
Teen Midways
Bounce House/Slide
Video Game Trailer
Location: Brookwood Golf
Club
10304 Bluffton Rd, Fort
Wayne, IN 46809
plant or at the union hall. Please
turn forms in at UAW Local
2209.
Questions: Contact Andy Clark
Four Person Scramble:
673-2504, [email protected]
$65 per person or $260 per
team (meal and drink included) or Jon Wren 673-2917,
[email protected]
Registration: 9:15am - 9:45
a.m. Shot Gun Start: 10:00 a.m.
Thank you for your continued
Deadline for entry: July 24
support to help fund our
Entry forms can be found in the scholarship program.
August 29
Nascar Giant Slide
Obstacle Course
Bungie Trampoline
Caricatures
DJ
Photo Booth
Adults Only
5 - 10 p.m.
This year’s solidarity day is special because
we are also celebrating 30 years of solidarity.
So, for the evening adult time we will be
taking it back to the decade where it all began
with an ‘80s fluorescent themed dance party.
Bust out your colorful ‘80s clothes and big
hair and join us on the dance floor. Musical
entertainment will be provided by Cougar
Hunter.
Food: Hot Dogs, Burgers, Chips, Cotton
Candy, Popcorn, Sno Cones,
NO ALCOHOL WILL BE SERVED
DURING FAMILY TIME.
Food, Beer, Booze, Pop and Water will all be
available.
Be sure to stop by the photo booth to capture a
memory that will last a lifetime from our 30th
Anniversary Solidarity Day event.
5
UAW Local 2209 has launched a new website
(www.uaw2209.org) with the intent of offering a single
online point of reference for all members, active and retired.
Considerable thought has gone into the design of the new
online resource in order to provide quick and reliable access
to the information assets produced for the membership.
President’s Reports, Chairman’s Reports, Committee action
flyers, along with Local Voices and other vital
communications will now also be published in a manner
that satisfies a hitherto unmet preference of many of our
members.
Although a great web presence our membership can be
proud of, this new service is only designed to amplify and
augment our ongoing efforts to instruct, inform and
persuade. The 2209 leadership aspires to provide a visible
link between content and creator. This clear association of
message with maker will empower our membership through
a direct point of contact to the relevant authority.
From this project’s inception, great attention has been paid
to keeping the construction cost low, while delivering real
value to the membership. Many additional functions and
features are planned for development and deployment in the
near future. We look forward to refining the current
manifestation and rolling out revisions that better meet the
needs and wants of the membership.
In Solidarity,
Ben Johnson
Webmaster
Work and Family … Matters
Child Care/ Elder Care/School-Age services, resources and referrals are still available within the Work/Family Program.
It is just in a different way! By calling 1-888-733-3702 you will reach a specially trained, master’s level specialist who
will provide a personalized search, evaluate your options and help you create an action plan. You may also submit a
request for an assisted search at our website: www.uawgmjas.org. The services are free, and you may request them as
often as needed.
Child Care
This service provides assistance with
child care, adoptions, and parenting
issues for newborns through school-age
children. Services Include:
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Family day care
Emergency/backup child care
Before/after school programs
Summer camps
Nurseries and preschools
Care for children with special needs
Nanny and au pair organizations
Parenting issues/sibling relations
Pregnancy
Adoption
Agencies/attorneys specializing in
adoption
 Home schooling
Elder Care
This service provides assistance with
issues affecting elderly persons and
disabled adults. Services Include:
 In-home care
 Adult day care services
 Independent living/retirement
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communities
Assisted living facilities
Alzheimer’s/memory care
Geriatric care management
Caregivers support
Medicare/Medicaid/funding
resources
Bereavement/grief support
Meals for seniors/transportation
State and community resources for
the aging
Pre/post-retirement information
School-Age Services
This service offers educational
resource tools, ranging from preschool
services to colleges/universities and all
educational offerings in between,
supporting and promoting positive
learning opportunities for any type of
education/training endeavor. Services
Include:
 Tutoring services
 Elementary, secondary, public and
private schools
 Selecting private colleges and
universities
 Financial aid/scholarships/grants
 Test preparation
 Educational consulting
For these and any other needs you may have, call the Work/Family office at (260) 673-2011 or 2951. We are here to help.
Work/Family EAP
6
Worldwide Award-Winning Whitetail Taxidermist
One of the best parts of working at a place with so many different
employees from so many different cities and backgrounds is meeting new
interesting people. I got a chance to learn about Neil Fowler who lives in
Greentown, IN, and has been with UAW-GM for 16 years. For 32 years,
Neil Fowler has been doing taxidermy and he recently had the opportunity
to attend the World Taxidermy Championships which was held in
Springfield, Missouri. This championship is held every other year because it
is such a big event to plan.
On May 8, 2015 at the awards ceremony, Neil was awarded the honor of
2nd in the World, overall Whitetail Deer. Neil missed winning to Paul Cales
from West Virginia by a .3 difference in score. It was the closest score the
panel of five judges ever scored. Fowler said, “I’m still honored to win 2 nd
in the World, considering the challenge.”
The requirements to compete are that the competitor must be a Master
Taxidermist, sculpt their own manikin, and cast their own mouth and nose.
Fowler went above the requirements and made his own reflective pupil
eyes. It was the favorite among all the spectators at the show.
Neil Fowler is a Master Taxidermist with several State, National,
International and World Championships, as well as artistic awards. Fowler
also judges in taxidermy competitions and gives seminars. Finally, you can
catch Neil on the Team Indiana Outdoors Television show which airs on
Comcast Cable Channel 2 on Sunday’s at 10 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Katie Knox
Newspaper Staff
Triathlon Tough
Congratulations!
Kyle Tolliver (far
left) and Chris
Waldo participated
in the Auto City
Toughman in
Richmond, Indiana
70.3 mile triathlon
on May 30. This
strenuous
competition starts
with a 1.2 mile
swim, then 56 miles
on a bike, finishing
with a half marathon
run (13.1 miles). Congratulations to both of them for competing and
completing the triathlon!
Congratulations to Jeff Greggo (right) for winning
his 3rd Fort Wayne Masters title.
Payless Little 500 presented by
UAW/GM
UAW/GM entered in as a sponsor in short track racing to
showcase the work of GM employees and to help raise
money for March of Dimes.
Sam Pierce Chevrolet donated a FWA built Silverado to
serve as the official pace truck for the 2015 Payless Little
500 presented by UAW/GM., and Local 2209 sponsored the
cost to have the truck wrapped with UAW/GM decals.
7
Community Action Program
The UAW Local 2209 CAP Committee and Local
Leadership organized a protest in April of Vera Bradley
and the outsourcing of their last manufacturing plant. The
protesters got up bright and early on the opening day of
the Vera Bradley outlet sale, not so they could stand in
line eager to purchase handbags, but to stand outside the
Coliseum in protest of Vera Bradley and their recent
announcement to close their New Haven factory.
In March, Vera Bradley announced their plan to close
the New Haven factory, which employed 250 area
workers. The factory closed its doors in May, and that
work has since been sent outside of the country. This
plant closing came just months after cutting their second
shift operations at the same New Haven facility. Vera Bradley can
now no longer tout 'Made in USA' tags on any of their
merchandise, as this was their last American manufacturing
facility.
As a union that prides itself on supporting American jobs,
working families, and our community, the news of Vera Bradley's
decision to close the last of their US manufacturing facilities was
deeply upsetting. We realized that we needed to make our
Photos by Damikco Stockard
feelings about Vera Bradley’s outsourcing known to the
community, so we decided to protest. The protest was organized
within a matter of two days, and even with short notice, organized labor from across Northeast Indiana showed up in
support. United Steelworkers, Northeast Indiana Central Labor Council, Communication Workers of America, Building
Trades, among others, all came out to help us deliver our message that outsourcing jobs for profits is not ok.
As a union, we work to educate our membership and the community on products that are made in the USA, so that we
can support American jobs and, in turn, help boost our economy. As a nation and a state, we are still recovering from the
Great Recession, and the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs in our community stifles that recovery. Hopefully Vera
Bradley reconsiders their choice to outsource the production of their products and brings their manufacturing back to
Indiana and supports area workers and the community where they got their start. Until then, we have a made in Indiana
alternative to Vera Bradley. Cinda B. bags are proudly made in Fort Wayne and they offer Local 2209 members a 30
percent discount (use code UAW30 when ordering).
Amanda Meier
Newspaper Staff
V-CAP Prize Winners
Ten Local 2209 members won V-CAP prizes for last year,
including the 2nd prize of $1,500. Congratulations to all the
winners. Prizes will be delivered in the coming weeks.
V-CAP Tickets for 2015 are available now from CAP
Committee members.
GET INVOLVED
To join the Local 2209
CAP Committee, stop
down at the Union
Hall and fill out an
application or send an
email to
[email protected].
2nd Prize $1,500 - L. Mills
$100 - T. Crabtree
$100 - C. Peabody
$100 - J. White
$100 - S. Tomkiewicz
$100 - D. Jones
8
$100 - J. Wren
$100 - T. Garber
$100 - K. Treat
UAW Watch - M. Livingston
UAW Watch - B. VanMatre
Lee’s Tae Kwon Do
Tuesdays & Thursdays
at the union hall
2 classes:
3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Open to ages 5 and up
$10 per month per family
Family oriented exercise, weight loss, self-defense and self-discipline
Instructors: Retirees Gerald McDonough (260-466-4422)
Sheldon Cherry (260-415-7937)
Friends of Bill Support Group
Looking for a convenient support group? Look no
farther. Friends of Bill support group meetings are
held daily on all three shifts during lunch. They are
in a private room in the cafeteria area. Please call
2011 from an in-plant phone for more information.
Sporting Equipment
 American Athletic (Russel) portable
and stationary basketball backboards
(UAW)
 Bell Sports (UFCW)
 BARE brand (USW)
 Standard Golf (IAM)
 Winchester Ammunition (IAM)
 Savage Arms (IAM)
 Doughboy Pools (PACE)
 Aqua Chem pool care products
(UFCW)
 Swimline Water Sports (IBEW)
 Lifetimer Boats (IAM)
 Vic Francks Boat Co. (IAM)
 Mercury Marine Power (IAM)
 Harley Davidson (IAM)
 Champions Choice (UFCW)
 MacGregor (IBB)
 Louisville Slugger (UAW)
 Top Flite Golf Balls (IBB)
9
Let's DITCH THE WORKOUT AND
JOIN THE PARTY. Bring your towel
and get ready to sweat. Be sure to wear
comfortable workout clothes and tennis
shoes.
Tuesdays & Thursdays at the union hall
3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
I am a licensed Zumba instructor.
After attending Zumba and falling in
love with it, I decided to join in the
party. Zumba fitness combines Latin
music and dance moves with fitness and
creates an effective, fun, and easy to
follow workout routine. Zumba classes
are sweeping the globe and it's time for
you to give it a try. Come on out and
join us!
Luvenia Hairston
Outdoor Protection
 Coppertone (USW)
 Bain De Soleil (USW)
 Claritin (USW)
 Chlor-Trimeton (USW)
Outdoor Furniture and Fixtures
 Klear-Vu chair pads/Cushions
(UNITE HERE)
 Stonco Outdoor Lighting (IBEW)
 Kim Lighting (IBEW)
 Architectural Area Lighting (IBEW)
 Richardson Seating Corp (Chemical
Workers and Novelty Workers)
 Algoma Net Company Hammocks
(UFCW)
Local 2209 was Well Represented at UAW Bowling Tournament
Local 2209 had four teams qualify for the UAW National Bowling Tournament that was held in Detroit on May 2.
Congratulations to each of them, and thank you for representing Local 2209 so well!
Extreme Couponing Quick Tips
How to Redeem a Raincheck
It’s so disappointing to walk into a store for a sale item
only to discover that the product you want is gone. Good
thing for rainchecks! I remember getting my first
raincheck and having no clue how to redeem it. If you’re
as clueless as I was, here are some tips to help. I hope they
help you feel more comfortable about taking advantage of
a sale, even when the product is out of stock.
1. Advance notice
Simply present the raincheck to the cashier along with the
corresponding product when you reach the register. Since
the cashier will need to manually enter the raincheck price,
make sure to let her know that you have a
raincheck before you start your transaction.
2. Group multiples
If you have several rainchecks to redeem in one
transaction, group those items together. Ask the cashier if
she would like them at the beginning or the end. This is
also a situation where you might want to let those in line
behind you know you redeeming rainchecks and coupons,
to give them a chance to pick another checkout lane.
3. Eyeing the expiration
Each store varies in policy regarding the expiration dates
of their rainchecks. Some don’t have expiration dates,
while others range from 30, 60 or 90 days from the issue
date. Always redeem your rainchecks within the stated
time. If the store is still out of the product at the
raincheck’s expiration date, have them write you an
additional one to extend the time you have to get the
product.
4. Keep in mind
You can use a valid coupon on the raincheck item (stores
require that the coupon still have a valid expiration date).
Also, most chain stores allow you to redeem a raincheck
issued at one of their store locations at another nearby one.
Regina Cartwright
G $ M COUPONISTA
10
Learning the Language
A key to understanding the Constitution and Bylaws
UAW Local 2209 Bylaws Article 6, Section 4
Duties of the Executive Board and Local Union Officers
What it says:
What it means:
Section 4
The Executive Board shall consist of the
following Executive Officers: President, Vice
President, Recording Secretary, Financial
Secretary-Treasurer, three (3) Trustees,
Sergeant-at-Arms, Guide and one Retired
member elected by the Retirees of Local 2209,
per the International Constitution. In addition
to the aforementioned officers, the
Chairperson of the Bargaining Committee, the
Zone Committeepersons and Chairperson of
any Amalgamated Unit shall serve on the
Executive Board. Should one or more of the
officers be absent, the absent officers(s) shall
be temporarily replaced by the next officer
present, following the above order of
hierarchy.
Section 4
Each elected Executive Board officer has roles and
responsibilities that are specific to her/his job. At
any such time that an officer is absent for any reason,
the next officer in line (as outlined in this section)
will take over the absent officer’s responsibilities
until they return.
A BIG THANKS to Financial Secretary Shane
Davis, Trustee Holli Murphy and Trustee Amy
Houston, who filled in at the April Membership
meeting, acting as President, Vice President and
Recording Secretary, respectively! You all did a
great job, as always, and you serve as an essential
part of the UAW 2209 Leadership Team!
Amy Richardson
Recording Secretary
L to R: Trustee Holli Murphy, Trustee
Amy Houston and Financial Secretary
Shane Davis
Photo by Cinde Mustaine
11
Justice was Served at Superheroes vs. Villains Kickball Tourney
The sun was shining on May 2 when over 150 superheroes & Villains descended upon the union hall to determine who
would take home the honor of being the Union Label Committee Kickball Champions of 2015. The competition was
fierce among the 13 teams in the double elimination tournament across all three fields.
In the end, Batman & Robins (left) were the
champions. Second place went to last year's
champs Evil Empire and team Fire Tom Crean
took home the Third place medals. Captain
America was playing hard, Poison Ivy was seen
serving drinks behind the bar and there were
plenty of She-Ra sightings throughout the day.
The Union Label Committee would like to thank
all of our amazing volunteers that help every
year with this fun event! We couldn't do it
without you! Start practicing, maybe next year
YOUR team will be the champions!
Amy Houston
Union Label Committee Chair
Photos by Margaret Roberts
and Amy Houston
12
March of Dimes Milestone
In over 13 years partnering with March of Dimes, this
year we reached a milestone — hitting a collective
fundraising total of over $100,000. We had another
amazing year! Our fundraising total this year was $21,601
— up nearly $3,000 raised from last year.
We could not have met this goal without YOU, our
hardworking brothers and sisters, giving your hard-earned
money, time and effort. THANK YOU!
We also want to thank the entire team. We couldn't do it
without the hard work of Santiago Martinez, Tony Depew,
Rooster Polke, Jeremiah Meyer, Danelle Hoffman, Jordan
Palm and Chrissy Mangrum.
We look forward to making next year bigger and better!
Krishana Lear, Stephanie Higdon and Heather Edwards
March of Dimes Coordinators
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5
Photos by Mark Newman, Assistant Director Rich Rankin and Amy Houston
The Local 2209 RAK’d (Random Acts of Kindness) group is working on a
summer project to make bags for veterans, women’s shelters and the homeless
for the winter months. We will be collecting items over the next couple
months. Our Goal is to make 200 bags. Can you help us get there? If you
would like to donate any of the items listed, please drop them off at the hall,
Join RAK’d on Facebook and make arrangements with a volunteer to pick
them up, or call/text Chrissy Mangrum (270) 792-1143.
Thank you for helping!
RAK’d 2209
13
Items Needed
 Toothbrushes
 Soap
(single packs)
 Shampoo
 Individual packs of  Conditioner
wet wipes
 Deodorant
 Combs
 Socks
Do you knit or
 Hand/foot warmers crochet? We also
Travel size
need scarves
donated.
 Toothpaste
Retirees
We Wish You Well
May Retirements: Debbie Bunch, Doug Jannish, Michael D. Kelley, Tim Mahnensmith
June Retirement: Michael Barnette, Rick L Meyer, Dwayne Myers, James R. Sheard
Retiree Report
Chapter Retiree Meetings
Meetings are held at 10 a.m. on the
3rd Wednesday of each month at UAW
Local 2209 Union Hall. Retirees,
retiree spouses, and surviving spouses
are welcome to attend the meetings.
The Retiree Chapter mails out a
monthly newsletter to each retiree and
surviving spouse that pays dues. The
monthly newsletter is timely and
includes information that is too late to
publish in the Local Voices.
A Benefit Representative is usually
at our meetings to provide health care
coverage updates and help with any
billing issues or questions. If you have
any billing issues please make sure to
bring all of your documents.
Retiree Dues
UAW Constitution Article 6,
Section 19—Membership: Any
member in good standing who is
retired, shall be entitled to a "retired
membership status" which, without
being required to pay membership dues
during the period of such retirement,
shall entitle her/him to all of the
privileges of membership except the
right to vote in elections conducted
pursuant to Article 19, Section 3;
Article 45, Section 2; and Article 50,
Sections 1 and 5. Appropriate cards
denoting such membership status shall
be prepared by the International Union
and furnished to Local Unions upon
request and at cost. The regular
July 15 Aug. 19 Sept. 16 Oct. 21 withdrawal-transfer provisions of this
Constitution shall be applicable if such
retired member returns to active
August 19 Chapter Meeting
employment.
We will have Tracey Troyer from
As UAW retired members, we have
Troyer & Good. She will present
our own structure which is financed
information in the area of elder care
through voluntary retiree dues. They
and estate planning.
help support the retired workers’
September 16 Chapter Meeting
The movie “Inequality for All” will programs at the International,
Regional, and this Chapter.
be shown and there will be free pizza
At the International the dues (40
and refreshments. RSVP needed.
percent) are on behalf of retired
In Memoriam
Bill Grant 1/30
Larry McWilliam 2/21
Frank Lindsey Sr. 2/22
Reagan Richardson 4/11
Dale Harger 4/14
Thomas Lewis 4/14
Jeffery Jones 4/25
Carroll Turner 5/15
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workers for collective bargaining,
legislation, communication, education
and representation on issues affecting
seniors and retirees. Legal support
helps to protect our pension rights and
health care.
This Chapter receives 35 percent of
the dues to help finance activities and
programs at the local level. They
include the monthly newsletter, allow
officers and other retirees to attend
UAW programs, provide social
activities, and more. None of the
officers receives any monetary gain for
their services. Some activities and
services are limited to just dues paying
retirees.
Retirees/spouses are encouraged to
increase their voluntary dues to $3, if it
is within your budget to do so. Spouses
and surviving spouses can also be
associate members. A form is included
below for retirees.
In Solidarity
Be Well and Be Safe
Gary Schepp
Retiree Chapter 2209 Recording
Secretary
Chapter email –
[email protected]
Thank You
I would like to sincerely thank each member of the UAW 2209
family who reached out to my brother Jarred and I after the passing
of our father, Reagan. Your concern and offers to lend an
ear helped to ease us through a very difficult time.
Dad was so very proud to be a UAW member and that he could help
his Brothers and Sisters over the years.
Amy Richardson
Recording Secretary
Gone But Never Forgotten
Local 2209 is deeply saddened by the loss of Brother Reagan
Richardson, who passed away on April 11.
Reagan hired in at the Leeds Kansas City plant in 1975 and transferred to FWA in 1991. Less than two years after
becoming a member of Local 2209, he was elected as Committeeman on 1st shift Final Line, a position he held for 15
years. Each time Reagan sought reelection, he ran unopposed, which was a true testament to his dedication in
representing the membership. After serving his first term as Committeeman, he was elected to the Shop Committee, in
1995. He served on the Shop Committee for 13 years and helped negotiate four Local Agreements. He was also elected
as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and Bargaining Convention several times. Reagan was then appointed to
serve as a Health and Safety Trainer in 2008, until his retirement in 2009.
Reagan was an essential part of Local 2209 for many years and has left behind a legacy that will live on forever.
Local 2209 Receives United Way Spirit of Giving Award
In May, members of the Local 2209/GM FWA United Way campaign team (below) attended a banquet where Local
2209 received the Spirit of Giving Award from the United Way of Allen County for our hard work, time and generous
donations to the organization, to help needy members of the community. Thank you to everyone that donates to help
those in need, and thank you to our United Way Campaign team that works tirelessly to solicit donation and provide
information to the membership. Great job, Local 2209!
Congratulations!
Retiree Ed Hans with one of
two gobblers he harvested
with his bow on opening day
of the Iowa Spring Turkey
Season. Congratulations, Ed!
15
RECYCLE THIS PAPER.
Pass it on
to a
non-union
acquaintance.
UAW Local 2209
5820 E. 900 N.
PO Box 579
Roanoke, IN 46783
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Permit No. 650
Layout and edit by:
Amanda Meier
& Brian Hartman
Your award winning
union paper has arrived.
Saving trees and
member dollars:
Get the electronic
version of Solidarity
magazine
Every issue of Solidarity magazine is
converted to an electronic version that is
posted on uaw.org. It contains the same
stories that are in the printed version. What's
more, the electronic version is usually
available two weeks before the printed
version lands in your mailbox. It also has
links to videos and additional content.
Delegates at the 36th UAW Constitutional
Convention recognized that advances in
technology make the mandatory mailing of a
printed version of Solidarity unnecessary for
the vast majority of our members. They
overwhelmingly voted to make the printed version available only to members who "opt-in" to
receive it.
They took this action to save our union the hundreds of thousands of dollars it costs to print and
mail the magazine. We understand that some members still like to have an actual hard copy of the
magazine to read. To continue to receive one, members can opt-in by going to uaw.org, clicking
on the opt-in icon (pictured at right) and completing the required information.
Local 2209 Supports Letter
Carrier’s Food Drive
Thank you to the Community Services Committee and the
other Local 2209 members that participated in another
successful Letter Carrier’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on
May 2. This year, the Summit City Letter Carrier’s collected
over 600,000 pounds of food, which was sorted at various
locations around the city. Thank you to everyone who
volunteered and to those who donated food at our collection
at the plant or left food at your mailbox.
16