NEW WORK

On Tuesday, December 13, Jim Deluca made a plant visit to Grand Rapids.  On that day, because of the people on the floor and the cooperation of the UAW Committee (which I will explain later), he announced some Metal Assembly work coming to our plant.  We have twelve Metal Assemblies and two Stampings, which are made up of:

Six Rocker ASM

·        Two GMX 211/365/367

·        Two GMX 231

·        Two Service

One #4 Bar ASM

·        One GMX 231

Four Fender Rails

·        Two GMX 211/231

·        Two GMX 365/367

One Dash Panel

·        One GMX 211/231

Two additional CSI Stampings

·        Rocker

·        Dash

We are also going to get some work from Pittsburgh and maybe by the union meeting I will know exactly what it is.

In a letter to the committee and myself, Deluca told us, “I am also looking forward to another such announcement in the near future, which I will be making for some significant additional work in Metal Assembly department at Grand Rapids. 

This time frame should be late January or early February.”  I fully expect he will announce some brand new work on a future car for Metal Assembly. 

He told us he likes what he sees when he goes on the floor tours and interacts with the people.  So pat yourself on the back folks for another job well done and the reward he gave you!

STEEL DOOR AND ASRS BUILDING

About two months ago Deluca asked this committee if we could put a steel door on the east wall of Steel Stores and redo the ASRS Tower so we could use it to store racks.  Because of the status of the company, they would not approve anything that would require full utilization. 

After very much thought and much lost sleep, this committee told Deluca we would go by Paragraph 183 and work we have historically done we will do.  We sat down and drew up a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which is specific to this project only and shall have no precedent relative to future work at Grand Rapids Metal Center. 

Any one of you is welcome to see the MOU or the Addendum to the Memorandum.  I ask that you read Paragraph 183 A thru E.  It can be found on page 137 of the National Contract dated September 18, 2003.  What does all this mean? 

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If historically it’s our work, we are going to do it; but on the other hand, if it’s not, we will not.

Brothers and Sisters, this was our hardest decision yet as a committee.  All ten committee members signed the MOU, but if you want to blame someone, then come after me.  I asked them in a time that they are shutting down plants and it’s not a good time to say no. 

Two other plants were asked to do pretty much the same thing.  One plant that has all sorts of floor space said yes, and they got new work.  On the other hand, one plant said no, and they have no new work at all! 

By now you know how I run this committee and when there is a vote, we use all 10 committee members and they all voted to do this, because it’s the right thing to do for all the people and this plant.  We will sit down with management in January and agree on what we are going to do before a bid goes out. 

The bottom line Brothers and Sisters, if the work is ours, we will do it and the MOU states just that.  But if it is not historically our work, the contractors will do it.  I don’t expect everyone to agree with us, but like I said, this was a very hard decision and this committee stands behind their decision.  Do us (the committee) a favor and put yourself in our shoes and understand the decision we had to make!

NEW PEOPLE

Until we get this Delphi thing behind us and get some more people, we are just getting bits and pieces.  Having said that, we will be getting seven people I believe all from the Lansing plant in January.

Please welcome them to Grand Rapids, because like I always say, they are all Local 730 folks now.

PENSION BILL

Monday at 9 a.m. I have to go out to the Region and be briefed on what happened on the Pension bill.  So I should have some information on Tuesday, which is union meeting day.

DEER HUNTING

I would like to thank our committee for sticking together until we got this vacation for deer hunting thing worked out.  I love it when time-after-time this committee can stick together on issues so we can take care of the people on the floor.  Every time I have asked for backup, they have been there to do just that!  It took a while, but we talked management into doing the right thing and take care of the people on the floor!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

As I asked you last year, remember our men and women that are serving around the world.  I spent one Christmas on an aircraft carrier overseas in the 70’s and it was a very lonely time. 

Thank you for your support this year for our committee and have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Also, remember the Brothers and Sisters that are sick in your prayers!

Your Chairman,

Louie Schreuder

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