Alex Santana—Shop Chairman • Mike Haineault—1st Shift Zone • Jeff Hall—2nd & 3rd Shift Zone
Kevin Sautter • Colie Lynch • Erin Schumacher • Luther Page • David Blackwell • Billy Flynn
John Hanning • Greg Hill • Jerry Gray • Stan Bowers • George Mellinger
Doug McKeithen • Kevin McCray • Darrell Shanklin • Dwayne Hawkins • Turnage Corr • Quinten Bowens
Larry Garrison • Howard Newson • Stephen Ying • B.J. Hutto • James Hunter

Volume III, No. 13 • April 11th, 2008

Educate Yourself

National Agreement

(192) An eligible employee shall be entitled to a percentage of vacation entitlement shown in Paragraph (191) based on the number of pay periods the employee works in the eligibility year, in accordance with the following:

UAW Constitution

ARTICLE 35: Amalgamated Local Unions

Section 1. Any two (2) or more units which are not a part of an Amalgamated Local Union may petition the International Executive Board for the formation of an Amalgamated Local Union. Such petitions must be approved by the membership of the units desiring an Amalgamated Local Union in a specially called membership meeting for that purpose. Upon receipt of such petitions the International Executive Board shall investigate the feasibility of an Amalgamated Local Union and if their decision is that an Amalgamated Local Union be set up, the Regional Director shall without delay set up an Amalgamated Local Union comprising the units as determined by the International Executive Board.

Shop Talk

The battle still continues...
Management will recognize the strong support of UAW Local 2166 membership. Your dedication and commitment has made us who we are today. Thank you to each and every one of you!!

Downtime: No downtime scheduled as of April 11, 2008.

American Axle: UAW members and supporters will rally at 11:30 am on April 18th at Detroit’s Hart Plaza to support striking workers at American Axle.

More than 3,500 UAW members from UAW Locals 235; 262 and 2093 in Michigan and UAW Locals 424 and 826 in New York have been on strike since February 26th to protest unfair labor practices.

“The support our members have received during this strike is overwhelming,” said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. “We’ve heard from members of the clergy, from local businesses, from community leaders - and of course from UAW members and the entire labor movement.”

“Our rally on April 18th will be a great time to show solidarity with American Axle strikers, and to demonstrate support for keeping manufacturing jobs here in the United States,” said Gettelfinger.

“Even business publications, like the Automotive News, can’t understand how American Axle can justify giving pay raises to executives while demanding pay cuts from workers,” said UAW Vice President James Settles Jr., who directs the union’s American Axle Department.

“In addition to their unjustified economic demands,” said Settles, “AAM has refused to provide us the information we need for bargaining, and has illegally cut off disability payments and health care for injured workers, as well as compensation — including health care– for laid off workers. That’s why this is an unfair labor practices strike.”

“Our members at American Axle are standing up for what’s right - and we’re inviting our entire community to stand with us on April 18th at Hart Plaza.”

Paragraph 192: Under this paragraph you are only entitled to the percentage of hours of vacation entitlement by number of pay periods worked (i.e. if entitled to 100 hours for 26 pay periods worked but only worked 20 pay periods the entitlement is 76% of 100 hours which equals 76 hours).

Amalgamated Union: We will be looking for approval by the membership in order to petition the International Executive Board desiring an Amalgamated Local Union.

Vacation Applications: Vacation applications will be handed back to the employees no later than Monday, April 21, 2008.

Veterans Day: This year Veterans Day holiday observance will be on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 together with Thanksgiving Holidays.

H3T: It has been confirmed from marketing that the H3T will be in the next transformer movie.

Negotiations: Both union and management have mutually agreed to suspend contract discussions in our formal sub-committees until further notice. The week of April 14, 2008 the Shop Committee will meet with management in order to set dates to re-enter negotiations.

Transfers: Arlington, TX; Fairfax, KS; and Lake Orion, MI have requisitions in for people. As of April 11, 2008, there have been one hundred six (106) people accept transfers to Fairfax, KS.

As a result of the SAP, we do not know how many available openings, if any, will occur in other facilities but if there is one you may want to transfer to, submit your transfer application. Replacements due to the SAP will be back filled by Appendix “A” first then followed by Appendix “K”.

Due to our current layoff status anybody may apply to transfer including those of you that recently transferred here. If the corporation owes you any monies and you leave prior to your anniversary date you will forfeit what is owed to you.

Layoff: As of Thursday, April 11, 2008 approximately one hundred nine (109) people are still on indefinite layoff in production, Division I. There have been nineteen (19) accept transfers to Fairfax, KS which would leave approximately ninety (90) on indefinite layoff at time of report. The number increased from one hundred seven (107) to one hundred nine (109) due to two (2) people returning from sick leave.

Currently in the skilled trades, Division II there is approximately forty-three (43) skilled trades’ people indefinitely laid off. Of those forty-three (43) nine (9) chose to go to Division I, leaving 34 on indefinite layoff.

Clothing Store: Due to taking inventory the clothing store will be closed Friday, April 18, 2008.

Red Shirt Day: Wear a red shirt on Friday to support our troops!!!

Meeting: Union meeting this Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

“The essence of trade unionism is social uplift. The labor movement has been the haven for the dispossessed, the despised, the neglected, the downtrodden, the poor.” (quote from A. Phillip Randolph)