February 28, 2013 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
· Reminder: Today is the last day to submit a vacation application form. Vacation replacements will be hired based on the amount of vacation time that has been requested.
· The March schedule is out and the daily production target remains unchanged at 272 per shift, 544 a day (excluding team meeting days). There are no Saturdays scheduled for the month of March.
· From the Knoxville News: The United Auto Workers Union is laying the groundwork for a possible third union representation vote at the Nissan plant in Smyrna. Plant employees turned down the union by a 2-1 margin in 2001. A 1989 UAW attempt to organize the plant also failed. The Nashville Tennessean newspaper reported hundreds of Nissan workers attended meetings Tuesday at the Smyrna Town Center, at which union representatives made their case. The UAW message resonated with Michael Thompson of Smyrna, who said he has worked at the plant for a decade. "There's more support for it now than I've ever seen," he said. "I think it's very necessary." Ed Ensley of Mt. Juliet said he has worked at the plant for nearly 28 years and supports a representation election. "Nissan is probably going to make a profit of 7 or 8 billion dollars this year, and we haven't had a raise in over seven years." For Robert Bruhn, who makes a 94-mile round trip from Smithville to work, the issue is fair wages. Bruhn works for Yates Services, which supplies about a third of the plant's workers as temporary employees. UAW Representative Gary Casteel said Smyrna Nissan workers contacted the union and asked for a new drive at the plant, probably because of an effort to organize Nissan's plant in Mississippi. "Workers here have seen all the activity going on around Canton, and they began to ask us to see what we might be able to do in Smyrna," Casteel said. Nissan spokesman Justin Saia said the decision about who represents employees is theirs to make. Saia said the company is aware of the meetings. "I can't speculate on the motives of the UAW," he said. "Nissan employees are well paid and enjoy some of the most secure jobs in the state of Tennessee. Since Nissan has been in Smyrna, employees have chosen to represent themselves in a relationship with the company that is based on transparency and mutual respect."
· From the Benefits Department: Employees who were recently hired or rehired into the hourly workforce will automatically be enrolled in the Personal Savings Plan (PSP) at a 3% contribution rate and they may increase, decrease or cancel this enrollment election at any time by accessing gmbenefits.com or contacting the GM Benefits & Services Center at 800-489-4646. The first payroll deduction into the PSP will occur on April 12, 2013. Employees who are automatically enrolled in the PSP and do not have an election on record for their investment option will have their contributions invested into the Pyramis Active Lifecycle Comingled Pool with a target retirement date closest to the year that the employee will attain age 65. The impacted employees are being mailed an automatic enrollment letter with details and instructions beginning this week. It is important to note that employees may increase or decrease their deferral rate prior to the first contribution. Additionally, employees may cancel this enrollment before it becomes effective as long as they do so by 4 p.m. EST on April 2, 2013. Finally, employees who are automatically enrolled in the PSP will have the opportunity to request to have their contributions refunded, if such request is made within 90 days of their first contribution. The return of such contributions will be adjusted for gains and losses and, therefore, the actual refund may be more or less than the actual contributions. Such employees who wish to request a refund must speak to a Customer Service Associate at the GM Benefits & Services Center by calling 800-489-4646 within the first 90 days following their Automatic Enrollment. After the 90 day period, normal Plan distribution rules are applied to these contributions.
· Consumer Reports came out with their annual pro-foreign car Autos issue rankings yesterday, and their bias seems to have gone to new heights. Nary a domestic brand vehicle was a top pick in a category. You might think pickups would be a good category for us, but CR claimed they had to exclude that category due to the influx of new products – really! For the record, in the brand rankings, Japanese brands took the top 7 spots and all Japanese brands finished in the top 13, with Cadillac leading the way for domestics at #14. A look at Toyota’s Scion brand seems to provide the best evidence of CR bias. Scion finished 7th out of 27 brands. The 2 main components of CR’s ratings are their road test score and the reliability ratings. Scion’s road test score was the second worst of all brands at 61 (only Jeep fared worse). So presumably the reliability of Scion vehicles must be top shelf. Not according to the recent JD Power Dependability study of 3-year-old vehicles. Scion came in 18th, 10 points poorer than the industry average and worse than every GM brand as well as Ford, Lincoln and Ram. In fact, according to JD Power, 4 Japanese brands finished behind all GM brands and below the industry average. How in the name of Akio Toyoda can that be? That’s because JD Power surveys different vehicle owners every year, not the same group year after year.
Tom Brune
UAW/GM Communications Coordinator
Wentzville Assembly
636-327-2119
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
State of the Union February 25, 2013
February 25, 2013 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
We have been informed that the production schedule will be up to 9.5 hours for 1st shift and up to 12 hours for 2nd shift, in lieu of working Saturday, to make up the lost production due to the winter storm. Per the National Agreement (pg. 239-12: Emergencies) “The provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding that limit or restrict the right of Management to require employees to work daily overtime or Saturdays or Sundays shall be suspended in any plant whose operations are interrupted by emergency situations such as…..acts of God for a period of time necessary to overcome such emergencies.” Additionally, eligible 2ndshift employees will get 8 hours short work week for Thursday.
There will be a Community Services committee meeting Thursday, Feb. 28 between the shifts in the cafeteria.
Weekly build options: 117 E-26 vans; 646 cutaways (24%); 546 slider doors; 93 r/h door deletes; 164 15-pass vans; 21.7% 07 loop; 211 diesels; 101 YF7s; 44 brake deck spare tire; 434 Onstar; 6.0% AWD; .67% tan interior trim; 99 exports (70 Israel, 28 Mexico); 21 CNG vans; 24 Enterprise rent-a-car; 145 U-Haul; 110 AT&T; 84.8% white vans.
General Motors today announced a broad global strategy to deliver a new generation of connected cars and trucks with embedded 4G LTE mobile broadband, the largest deployment in the automotive industry to date. The first GM cars, trucks and crossovers to get 4G LTE will be most 2015 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac models available in 2014 in the United States and Canada delivered through AT&T. GM will announce more carrier and supplier relationships in coming months to expand 4G LTE capabilities in markets around the globe. With mobile data speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G technologies, increased responsiveness, and the ability to support simultaneous voice and data connections, a built-in 4G LTE connection will enable advances in a wide range of in-vehicle communications and entertainment capabilities. Expected benefits for GM customers could include in-vehicle Wi-Fi hot spots, new infotainment options like streaming video entertainment in the back seat, real-time updates and faster application downloads. These enhancements build on OnStar’s existing portfolio of built-in connected services, first introduced in GM vehicles in 1996. The built-in 4G LTE structure is specifically designed for in-vehicle use as it is integrated into the vehicle’s electrical system and includes an external antenna to maximize coverage and connectivity. Customers will not be required to have a smartphone to use connected services.
“In addition to allowing consumers to bring in and connect to personal mobile devices, the vehicle will also act as its own mobile device, enabling embedded vehicle capabilities,” said Mary Chan, president, Global Connected Consumer, General Motors. “Turning this vision into a reality starts with enabling fast, reliable and responsive connectivity within the vehicle. Through this built-in 4G LTE connection we have the opportunity to reinvent the mobile experience inside a vehicle.” Over time, applications of widespread in-vehicle 4G LTE connectivity will enable vehicles to interact directly with their environment to enhance safety, efficiency and convenience for drivers and passengers. 4G LTE will make services such as real-time traffic and navigation updates possible, pulling information from the cloud. GM and AT&T will immediately begin work to develop 4G LTE connectivity for GM vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. AT&T’s 4G LTE network is expected to reach 300 million people in the U.S. by the end of 2014, and its network performance and deployment strategy have been lauded by industry analysts and other experts.
Tom Brune
UAW/GM Communications Coordinator
Wentzville Assembly
636-327-2119
We have been informed that the production schedule will be up to 9.5 hours for 1st shift and up to 12 hours for 2nd shift, in lieu of working Saturday, to make up the lost production due to the winter storm. Per the National Agreement (pg. 239-12: Emergencies) “The provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding that limit or restrict the right of Management to require employees to work daily overtime or Saturdays or Sundays shall be suspended in any plant whose operations are interrupted by emergency situations such as…..acts of God for a period of time necessary to overcome such emergencies.” Additionally, eligible 2ndshift employees will get 8 hours short work week for Thursday.
There will be a Community Services committee meeting Thursday, Feb. 28 between the shifts in the cafeteria.
Weekly build options: 117 E-26 vans; 646 cutaways (24%); 546 slider doors; 93 r/h door deletes; 164 15-pass vans; 21.7% 07 loop; 211 diesels; 101 YF7s; 44 brake deck spare tire; 434 Onstar; 6.0% AWD; .67% tan interior trim; 99 exports (70 Israel, 28 Mexico); 21 CNG vans; 24 Enterprise rent-a-car; 145 U-Haul; 110 AT&T; 84.8% white vans.
General Motors today announced a broad global strategy to deliver a new generation of connected cars and trucks with embedded 4G LTE mobile broadband, the largest deployment in the automotive industry to date. The first GM cars, trucks and crossovers to get 4G LTE will be most 2015 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac models available in 2014 in the United States and Canada delivered through AT&T. GM will announce more carrier and supplier relationships in coming months to expand 4G LTE capabilities in markets around the globe. With mobile data speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G technologies, increased responsiveness, and the ability to support simultaneous voice and data connections, a built-in 4G LTE connection will enable advances in a wide range of in-vehicle communications and entertainment capabilities. Expected benefits for GM customers could include in-vehicle Wi-Fi hot spots, new infotainment options like streaming video entertainment in the back seat, real-time updates and faster application downloads. These enhancements build on OnStar’s existing portfolio of built-in connected services, first introduced in GM vehicles in 1996. The built-in 4G LTE structure is specifically designed for in-vehicle use as it is integrated into the vehicle’s electrical system and includes an external antenna to maximize coverage and connectivity. Customers will not be required to have a smartphone to use connected services.
“In addition to allowing consumers to bring in and connect to personal mobile devices, the vehicle will also act as its own mobile device, enabling embedded vehicle capabilities,” said Mary Chan, president, Global Connected Consumer, General Motors. “Turning this vision into a reality starts with enabling fast, reliable and responsive connectivity within the vehicle. Through this built-in 4G LTE connection we have the opportunity to reinvent the mobile experience inside a vehicle.” Over time, applications of widespread in-vehicle 4G LTE connectivity will enable vehicles to interact directly with their environment to enhance safety, efficiency and convenience for drivers and passengers. 4G LTE will make services such as real-time traffic and navigation updates possible, pulling information from the cloud. GM and AT&T will immediately begin work to develop 4G LTE connectivity for GM vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. AT&T’s 4G LTE network is expected to reach 300 million people in the U.S. by the end of 2014, and its network performance and deployment strategy have been lauded by industry analysts and other experts.
| Manufacturer | January 2013 |
December 2012 Transaction Price |
January 2012 Transaction Price |
% Change January 2012 to January 2013 | % Change December 2012 to January 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chrysler (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat) | $28,251 | $30,011 | $29,177 | -3.2% | -5.9% |
| Ford (Ford, Lincoln) | $32,598 | $33,010 | $31,769 | 2.6% | -1.2% |
| GM (Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC) | $32,846 | $33,219 | $32,971 | -0.4% | -1.1% |
| Honda (Acura, Honda) | $26,898 | $27,062 | $26,022 | 3.4% | -0.6% |
| Hyundai/Kia | $22,471 | $22,547 | $21,339 | 5.3% | -0.3% |
| Nissan (Nissan, Infiniti) | $27,702 | $28,127 | $28,014 | -1.1% | -1.5% |
| Toyota (Lexus, Scion, Toyota) | $28,403 | $28,576 | $27,258 | 4.2% | -0.6% |
| Volkswagen (Audi, Volkswagen) | $33,479 | $33,914 | $33,096 | 1.2% | -1.3% |
| Industry | $30,812 | $31,228 | $30,512 | 1.0% | -1.3% |
Tom Brune
UAW/GM Communications Coordinator
Wentzville Assembly
636-327-2119
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
State of the Union February 19, 2013
February 19, 2013 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
•Union meeting is after 2nd shift tonight and tomorrow at 7:15 am, 1 pm and 15 minutes after the longest 1st shift line time.
•On February 14, GM announced a maximum profit sharing payout of $6,750 for eligible hourly employees who accrued 1,850 or more compensated hours during 2012. Eligible hourly employees who accrued less than 1,850 compensated hours will receive a pro-rated share ($3.65 per hour) based on the number of accrued compensated hours. Here is some more information about the payout, some of which has already been published:
UAW battles for human rights in organizing drive at Mississippi Nissan plant
Seizing advantage of a widespread complacency about the suppression of labor rights in the United States, employers have conducted a scorched-earth war against American labor since the 1950s, driving down private-sector unionization to a mere one-fifth of its peak level of 35%. This war essentially spread from its base in the former slave states of the South, where elites maintained tight control over workers through anti-labor "right-to-work" laws that helped to foster a national race to the bottom on wages and to suppress unionization.
But in an innovative appeal, the UAW is boldly asserting that union rights are crucial human rights, driving home this point in a battle to organize as many as 4,500 workers at Nissan’s expanding auto plant in Canton, Miss.
The battle is taking place in one of the most fervent bastions of anti-unionism. Mississippi has enshrined the anti-labor "right to work" concept with a provision in its constitution, a step led by arch-segregationist Governor Ross Barnett in 1960. For its part, Nissan is running the standard high-pressure management campaigns that are unique to the United States among advanced democracies. The tactics include subjecting workers to interrogations about their sympathies, forcing them to attend one-on-one meeting with their supervisors where immense pressure can be applied, and hinting that a pro-union vote could lead to the plant closing.
Meanwhile, workers are chafing over stagnating wages, the emergence of a large, low-paid segment of contract workers, assembly-line "speedups," sharply rising healthcare costs, and the absence of any worker voice in decisions at the Canton plant.
The plant, which is expanding from 3,300 to 4,500 workers, was built with $373.8 million in taxpayer funding from the country's poorest citizens—Mississippi ranks dead last in per-capita income—and a 30-year exemption from local taxes in Canton.
The South is supposedly rocky soil in which to plant the seed of unionism and social justice, especially when the pay is relatively high, topping off at $24 an hour at Nissan. But by emphasizing that union rights are human rights, the UAW has established strong roots among the workforce at Canton, about 80 percent of who are African-American. Union supporters find it degrading that Nissan has been unwilling to accept a union in Mississippi when it has worked with unions across the world, from its home in Japan to a union representing primarily black workers in South Africa. Mississippi NAACP President Derrick Johnson, in an interview on MSNBC's "The Ed Show," asked: "If workers in Brazil can organize, who work for Nissan, if workers in Japan who are Nissan workers -- if workers in South Africa at their Nissan plant are organized and able to collectively bargain, why shouldn't Mississippi workers be able to organize?”
The environment of fear cultivated by Nissan should offend all Americans who value human rights and the right to choose freely, he stated. “We in the NAACP believe that workers should have a voice in the workplace free of intimidation and retaliation. But we’ve got workers who feel intimidated if they support organized labor. The company has been very sophisticated in alluding to the possibility of the plant closing.”
Many African-Americans and white progressives retain the vivid memory of Martin Luther King Jr. merging civil rights with labor issues. On March 18, 1968, just days before his assassination on April 4 while in Memphis supporting striking sanitation workers, King gave a speech outlining the interrelationship between the parallel struggles for rights: "All labor has worth. … Don’t despair. Nothing worthwhile is gained without sacrifice. The thing for you to do is stay together. … Let it be known everywhere that along with wages and all of the other securities that you are struggling for, you’re also struggling for the right to be organized and be recognized."
That spirit—for the right to full recognition of one's humanity and for the right of free association—is animating the fight for unionization at Nissan in Mississippi. Tom Brune
UAW/GM Communications Coordinator
Wentzville Assembly
636-327-2119
•Union meeting is after 2nd shift tonight and tomorrow at 7:15 am, 1 pm and 15 minutes after the longest 1st shift line time.
•On February 14, GM announced a maximum profit sharing payout of $6,750 for eligible hourly employees who accrued 1,850 or more compensated hours during 2012. Eligible hourly employees who accrued less than 1,850 compensated hours will receive a pro-rated share ($3.65 per hour) based on the number of accrued compensated hours. Here is some more information about the payout, some of which has already been published:
- Payment is scheduled to be included in active employee paychecks received on Friday, March 1 (Roll 9 - pay ending Sunday, February 24, 2013). Eligible retirees will receive their payment Friday, March 22
- Payment, including profit sharing deferrals into the Personal Savings Plan (PSP), will be FICA taxable >li> Cash payment will be taxed at Federal with-holding tax rates based on individual W-4 elections and will be subject to applicable state and local taxes. Any employee wishing to turn in a new W4 must have it filled out and faxed to Xerox processing center at 866-741-7415 no later than February 20th, 2013 in order to ensure processing for Roll 9.
- Union dues, for UAW-represented employees, will be deducted at a rate of 1.15% from the payment. Paycheck notation for the dues deduction will reflect as “UNION LUMP SUM DUES”
- Cash payment paystub notation will reflect as “PRO SHR”
- Deferral paystub notation will reflect as “PROFSHR DEFER”
- Employees growing into retirement under a Special Attrition Program are eligible to receive a profit sharing payment based on their compensated hours
- Payments for deceased Profit Sharing Plan participants will be paid to their surviving spouse or estate
- Workers Compensation hours (40 hours for each complete calendar week) will be added to eligible compensated hours if employee was actively at work for at least one complete calendar week in 2012
- Eligible Local Union leave hours will be credited up to a maximum of 40 hours per week
UAW battles for human rights in organizing drive at Mississippi Nissan plant
Seizing advantage of a widespread complacency about the suppression of labor rights in the United States, employers have conducted a scorched-earth war against American labor since the 1950s, driving down private-sector unionization to a mere one-fifth of its peak level of 35%. This war essentially spread from its base in the former slave states of the South, where elites maintained tight control over workers through anti-labor "right-to-work" laws that helped to foster a national race to the bottom on wages and to suppress unionization.
But in an innovative appeal, the UAW is boldly asserting that union rights are crucial human rights, driving home this point in a battle to organize as many as 4,500 workers at Nissan’s expanding auto plant in Canton, Miss.
The battle is taking place in one of the most fervent bastions of anti-unionism. Mississippi has enshrined the anti-labor "right to work" concept with a provision in its constitution, a step led by arch-segregationist Governor Ross Barnett in 1960. For its part, Nissan is running the standard high-pressure management campaigns that are unique to the United States among advanced democracies. The tactics include subjecting workers to interrogations about their sympathies, forcing them to attend one-on-one meeting with their supervisors where immense pressure can be applied, and hinting that a pro-union vote could lead to the plant closing.
Meanwhile, workers are chafing over stagnating wages, the emergence of a large, low-paid segment of contract workers, assembly-line "speedups," sharply rising healthcare costs, and the absence of any worker voice in decisions at the Canton plant.
The plant, which is expanding from 3,300 to 4,500 workers, was built with $373.8 million in taxpayer funding from the country's poorest citizens—Mississippi ranks dead last in per-capita income—and a 30-year exemption from local taxes in Canton.
The South is supposedly rocky soil in which to plant the seed of unionism and social justice, especially when the pay is relatively high, topping off at $24 an hour at Nissan. But by emphasizing that union rights are human rights, the UAW has established strong roots among the workforce at Canton, about 80 percent of who are African-American. Union supporters find it degrading that Nissan has been unwilling to accept a union in Mississippi when it has worked with unions across the world, from its home in Japan to a union representing primarily black workers in South Africa. Mississippi NAACP President Derrick Johnson, in an interview on MSNBC's "The Ed Show," asked: "If workers in Brazil can organize, who work for Nissan, if workers in Japan who are Nissan workers -- if workers in South Africa at their Nissan plant are organized and able to collectively bargain, why shouldn't Mississippi workers be able to organize?”
The environment of fear cultivated by Nissan should offend all Americans who value human rights and the right to choose freely, he stated. “We in the NAACP believe that workers should have a voice in the workplace free of intimidation and retaliation. But we’ve got workers who feel intimidated if they support organized labor. The company has been very sophisticated in alluding to the possibility of the plant closing.”
Many African-Americans and white progressives retain the vivid memory of Martin Luther King Jr. merging civil rights with labor issues. On March 18, 1968, just days before his assassination on April 4 while in Memphis supporting striking sanitation workers, King gave a speech outlining the interrelationship between the parallel struggles for rights: "All labor has worth. … Don’t despair. Nothing worthwhile is gained without sacrifice. The thing for you to do is stay together. … Let it be known everywhere that along with wages and all of the other securities that you are struggling for, you’re also struggling for the right to be organized and be recognized."
That spirit—for the right to full recognition of one's humanity and for the right of free association—is animating the fight for unionization at Nissan in Mississippi. Tom Brune
UAW/GM Communications Coordinator
Wentzville Assembly
636-327-2119
Thursday, February 14, 2013
State of the Union February 14, 2013
February 14, 2013
online at www.uawlocal2250.com
Message from Joe Ashton and Jim Glynn
Dear UAW-GM Team Members,
Your commitment and excellent work over the past year have contributed to GM’s strong 2012 business results announced today. Consistent with this performance and the terms negotiated in the National Agreement, we’re pleased to announce this year’s profit sharing payout. Eligible UAW-GM team members who worked the entire year (1,850 compensated hours) will receive approximately $6,750. Regular full-time employees on roll as of December 31, 2012 who worked only part of the year will receive a pro-rated amount based on the number of hours worked. Payments are scheduled to be made on March 1, 2013.
This payout is another great example of how we are sharing GM’s success with employees. Payout totals for the past two years have been the highest since the profit sharing plan began in 1983. It’s a nice follow up to the Quality Performance Bonus of $250 that UAW-GM team members received last December for achieving the model year to date IPTV (Incidents per Thousand Vehicles) performance target for North America.
Working together, we helped make GM a stronger company in 2012, which benefitted our customers, employees and many others who depend on our success. The eventful year was marked by a number of successful vehicle launches, manufacturing facility upgrades, added jobs, and new investment announcements. Most importantly, the vehicles we produced saw success in the marketplace. This is why it is important to maintain customer focus and make quality a high priority.
We have an exciting year ahead of us with launches of new or significantly updated models in 2013, including the Chevrolet Impala and Silverado, GMC Sierra, Buick LaCrosse and the Cadillac ELR. Whether you work in stamping, vehicle assembly, powertrain, components or Customer Care and After sales, you play a role in the organization’s success. When the company wins, we all win. Today’s profit sharing news is solid proof.
Congratulations, and thank you very much for your contributions!
Joe Ashton
UAW Vice President
and
Jim Glynn
Vice President – GM Labor Relations
If you did not elect any deferral of the profit sharing payout to you PSP, expect a tax rate of roughly 40% and a net payout of around $4000. If you experienced financial difficulties recently because of the delay of unemployment and SUB payments, consider setting aside some of this money as these payments will once again be delayed one week this summer. Unfortunately, this is the “new normal” for unemployment and SUB payments.
There have been many rumors about the March schedule, specifically that there will be 2 Saturdays of production. In fact, the March schedule has not been finalized. When it is, it will be communicated promptly.
There are Women’s, Veterans and Union Label Committee meetings today between the shifts at the Union Hall. All are welcome.
After President Obama delivered his State of the Union address Tuesday, UAW President Bob King issued the following statement:
"President Obama's address outlined a comprehensive blueprint that focused on rebuilding the foundation of the American economy - working people, who need good jobs to keep our economy strong," said King.
"The President's proposal to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $9 an hour over the next three years is an important step in helping workers, many whom have to work several part-time jobs and still can barely afford to keep a roof over their heads," said King.
King also praised the President's $1 billion plan to create private-public sector "manufacturing institutes" to help prepare workers for new jobs of the future. President Obama also called for a $40 billion investment in the nation's infrastructure, including road and bridge improvements, and for establishing an Energy Security trust to research cleaner fuels for vehicles.
"The UAW stands by President Obama and his initiatives to support workers, the jobs of tomorrow and the necessary steps to create a sustainable future for all Americans," said King. "We now ask that Congress pledge to work with our President to strengthen the nation's economy."
From Automotive News: Chevrolet sales are expected to increase 7 percent this year as 13 new or refreshed models are rolled out, General Motors executives told dealers at their brand make meeting today at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention here. That projected sales gain would be in line with the industrywide pace if sales hit 15.5 million units, the high end of the 2013 sales forecast that GM set at the start of the year, dealers were told. Chevy's projection could end up exceeding 7 percent if sales rise more sharply than originally forecast, dealers were told. Executives said the company's internal forecasts show a possibility of 16 million in industry volume this year, dealers said. GM believes that a stronger housing market and the recent tax deal that temporarily resolved the federal government's so-called fiscal cliff should offset negative factors, such as an increase in payroll taxes, and result in improved consumer confidence, dealers were told. Last year, Chevy sales increased 4 percent, to 1.85 million, trailing the market's overall 13 percent growth. Growth this year should come from launches of new vehicles, including the redesigned 2014 Impala that will arrive in April, marketing chief Chris Perry told reporters after the meeting. Other key debuts include the 2014 Corvette Stingray, due out by late summer, and the next-generation Silverado pickup, expected in showrooms in June.
Tom Brune
UAW/GM Communications Coordinator
Wentzville Assembly
636-327-2119
online at www.uawlocal2250.com
Message from Joe Ashton and Jim Glynn
Dear UAW-GM Team Members,
Your commitment and excellent work over the past year have contributed to GM’s strong 2012 business results announced today. Consistent with this performance and the terms negotiated in the National Agreement, we’re pleased to announce this year’s profit sharing payout. Eligible UAW-GM team members who worked the entire year (1,850 compensated hours) will receive approximately $6,750. Regular full-time employees on roll as of December 31, 2012 who worked only part of the year will receive a pro-rated amount based on the number of hours worked. Payments are scheduled to be made on March 1, 2013.
This payout is another great example of how we are sharing GM’s success with employees. Payout totals for the past two years have been the highest since the profit sharing plan began in 1983. It’s a nice follow up to the Quality Performance Bonus of $250 that UAW-GM team members received last December for achieving the model year to date IPTV (Incidents per Thousand Vehicles) performance target for North America.
Working together, we helped make GM a stronger company in 2012, which benefitted our customers, employees and many others who depend on our success. The eventful year was marked by a number of successful vehicle launches, manufacturing facility upgrades, added jobs, and new investment announcements. Most importantly, the vehicles we produced saw success in the marketplace. This is why it is important to maintain customer focus and make quality a high priority.
We have an exciting year ahead of us with launches of new or significantly updated models in 2013, including the Chevrolet Impala and Silverado, GMC Sierra, Buick LaCrosse and the Cadillac ELR. Whether you work in stamping, vehicle assembly, powertrain, components or Customer Care and After sales, you play a role in the organization’s success. When the company wins, we all win. Today’s profit sharing news is solid proof.
Congratulations, and thank you very much for your contributions!
Joe Ashton
UAW Vice President
and
Jim Glynn
Vice President – GM Labor Relations
If you did not elect any deferral of the profit sharing payout to you PSP, expect a tax rate of roughly 40% and a net payout of around $4000. If you experienced financial difficulties recently because of the delay of unemployment and SUB payments, consider setting aside some of this money as these payments will once again be delayed one week this summer. Unfortunately, this is the “new normal” for unemployment and SUB payments.
There have been many rumors about the March schedule, specifically that there will be 2 Saturdays of production. In fact, the March schedule has not been finalized. When it is, it will be communicated promptly.
There are Women’s, Veterans and Union Label Committee meetings today between the shifts at the Union Hall. All are welcome.
After President Obama delivered his State of the Union address Tuesday, UAW President Bob King issued the following statement:
"President Obama's address outlined a comprehensive blueprint that focused on rebuilding the foundation of the American economy - working people, who need good jobs to keep our economy strong," said King.
"The President's proposal to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $9 an hour over the next three years is an important step in helping workers, many whom have to work several part-time jobs and still can barely afford to keep a roof over their heads," said King.
King also praised the President's $1 billion plan to create private-public sector "manufacturing institutes" to help prepare workers for new jobs of the future. President Obama also called for a $40 billion investment in the nation's infrastructure, including road and bridge improvements, and for establishing an Energy Security trust to research cleaner fuels for vehicles.
"The UAW stands by President Obama and his initiatives to support workers, the jobs of tomorrow and the necessary steps to create a sustainable future for all Americans," said King. "We now ask that Congress pledge to work with our President to strengthen the nation's economy."
From Automotive News: Chevrolet sales are expected to increase 7 percent this year as 13 new or refreshed models are rolled out, General Motors executives told dealers at their brand make meeting today at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention here. That projected sales gain would be in line with the industrywide pace if sales hit 15.5 million units, the high end of the 2013 sales forecast that GM set at the start of the year, dealers were told. Chevy's projection could end up exceeding 7 percent if sales rise more sharply than originally forecast, dealers were told. Executives said the company's internal forecasts show a possibility of 16 million in industry volume this year, dealers said. GM believes that a stronger housing market and the recent tax deal that temporarily resolved the federal government's so-called fiscal cliff should offset negative factors, such as an increase in payroll taxes, and result in improved consumer confidence, dealers were told. Last year, Chevy sales increased 4 percent, to 1.85 million, trailing the market's overall 13 percent growth. Growth this year should come from launches of new vehicles, including the redesigned 2014 Impala that will arrive in April, marketing chief Chris Perry told reporters after the meeting. Other key debuts include the 2014 Corvette Stingray, due out by late summer, and the next-generation Silverado pickup, expected in showrooms in June.
Tom Brune
UAW/GM Communications Coordinator
Wentzville Assembly
636-327-2119
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
State of the Union February 12, 2013
February 12, 2013 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
From Chairman Mike Bullock: I just received word from the Corporation and the International Union that the continuous weeks worked as a temporary employee prior to becoming a permanent employee will count towards the 52 week pay increase for all employees hired after September 15, 2011. Personnel is currently in the process of calculating weeks worked and when pay raises should have taken effect. More information to be conveyed on timing of back payment. Also, 2012 Profit Sharing to be announced on February 14 (Valentine's Day).
Reminder: President Obama will give his State of the Union speech tonight at 8 pm and will be focusing on the economy and jobs.
You may have noticed that the Ford Transit Connect had a big month for sales in January. Others have been taking note as well, namely Nissan and Chrysler/Fiat. Nissan officials unveiled the production version of the front-wheel-drive NV200, which goes on sale on April 1. It will compete head to head with the Connect. It will come with a retail base price of $20,835, including shipping, about $2,400 less than the Transit Connect. The Nissan contender promises 24 mpg city/25 highway/24 combined -- slightly better than Transit Connect's 21/27/23 mpg. Also coming to play in the Connect’s sandbox is the Ram version of the Fiat Doblo, another small, fwd van. That will come in 2014.
UAW President Bob King helped commemorate the 76th anniversary of the end of the Flint sit-down strikes yesterday – in Flint of course. "There's no greater inspiration than the workers who took on the most powerful corporation in the world," King said. During his speech, King spoke about the need for labor unions to come together on an international level to keep companies from pitting workers across the globe against one another. "The only way we are going to have middle class incomes and a decent standard of living and pensions is if workers throughout the world have that," he said. "As long as there is someone working for poverty-level wages, everyone in this room is facing it. "The companies come to us and say, 'Oh, you’re not competitive because we can run down and pay workers 20 cents an hour or $2 or $4 a day in Mexico. If you're not willing to reduce your wages and benefits, we're going to move your work.' That's an everyday struggle."
Electric vehicles are alternately praised and pummeled by various groups in and out of the auto industry. We are all aware of the derision heaped upon the Chevy Volt by outlets like Fox news and talking radio heads that shall go unnamed here. On the other hand, Tesla’s $101,000 Model S roadster was awarded the golden calipers as Motor Trend’s car of the year. While the Volt uses a gas engine to charge the battery pack after the initial charge has been consumed (around 30 – 40 miles hence), electric-only vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla rely on electric charge only. You may recall the story of a Leaf driver who, after crawling along the freeway at 30 mph to conserve charge, was ultimately passed by a DOT mower (you probably know where this is headed). Well, a NY Times writer, John Broder, embarked on a trip in the heralded Tesla to test out their “electric highway”, a 200 mile stretch of I-95 between Newark, Del. and Milford, Conn. at which both locations are “supercharging” stations for rapid charges.
The conditions were “less than ideal” due to cold temperatures, but he was undeterred. Take it away, John: The Model S has won multiple car-of-the-year awards and is, many reviews would have you believe, the coolest car on the planet. What fun, no? Well, no. After 49 minutes (of charging at Newark), the display read “charge complete,” and the estimated available driving distance was 242 miles. As I crossed into New Jersey some 15 miles later, I noticed that the estimated range was falling faster than miles were accumulating. At 68 miles since recharging, the range had dropped by 85 miles, and a little mental math told me that reaching Milford would be a stretch. I began following Tesla’s range-maximization guidelines, which meant dispensing with such battery-draining amenities as warming the cabin and keeping up with traffic. I turned the climate control to low — the temperature was still in the 30s — and planted myself in the far right lane with the cruise control set at 54 miles per hour (the speed limit is 65). Buicks and 18-wheelers flew past, their drivers staring at the nail-polish-red wondercar with California dealer plates. All the while, my feet were freezing and my knuckles were turning white. About 20 miles from Milford, less than 10 miles of range remained. At that point, the car informed me it was shutting off the heater, and it ordered me, in vivid red letters, to “Recharge Now.” I drove into the service plaza, hooked up the Supercharger and warmed my hands on a cup of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. When I continued my drive, the display read 185 miles.
I drove, slowly, to Stonington, Conn., for dinner and spent the night in Groton, a total distance of 79 miles. When I parked the car, its computer said I had 90 miles of range, twice the 46 miles back to Milford. It was a different story at 8:30 the next morning. The thermometer read 10 degrees and the display showed 25 miles of remaining range. I called Tesla in California, and the official I woke up said I needed to “condition” the battery pack to restore the lost energy. That meant sitting in the car for half an hour with the heat on a low setting. After completing the battery conditioning process, the estimated range reading was 19 miles; no way would I make it back to Milford. The Tesla people found an E.V. charging station in Norwich, only 11 miles away, though in the opposite direction from Milford. Tesla’s experts said that pumping in a little energy would help restore the power lost overnight as a result of the cold weather, and after an hour they cleared me to resume the trip to Milford. As I limped along at about 45 miles per hour I saw increasingly dire dashboard warnings to recharge immediately. Mr. Merendino, the product planner, found an E.V. charging station about five miles away. But the Model S had other ideas. “Car is shutting down,” the computer informed me. I was able to coast down an exit ramp in Branford, Conn., before the car made good on its threat (time for the inevitable tow truck). Not so quick: the car’s electrically actuated parking brake would not release without battery power, and hooking the car’s 12-volt charging post behind the front grille to the tow truck’s portable charger would not release the brake. So he had to drag it onto the flatbed, a painstaking process that took 45 minutes. Fortunately, the cab of the tow truck was toasty. Tom Brune
UAW/GM Communications Coordinator
Wentzville Assembly
636-327-2119
From Chairman Mike Bullock: I just received word from the Corporation and the International Union that the continuous weeks worked as a temporary employee prior to becoming a permanent employee will count towards the 52 week pay increase for all employees hired after September 15, 2011. Personnel is currently in the process of calculating weeks worked and when pay raises should have taken effect. More information to be conveyed on timing of back payment. Also, 2012 Profit Sharing to be announced on February 14 (Valentine's Day).
Reminder: President Obama will give his State of the Union speech tonight at 8 pm and will be focusing on the economy and jobs.
You may have noticed that the Ford Transit Connect had a big month for sales in January. Others have been taking note as well, namely Nissan and Chrysler/Fiat. Nissan officials unveiled the production version of the front-wheel-drive NV200, which goes on sale on April 1. It will compete head to head with the Connect. It will come with a retail base price of $20,835, including shipping, about $2,400 less than the Transit Connect. The Nissan contender promises 24 mpg city/25 highway/24 combined -- slightly better than Transit Connect's 21/27/23 mpg. Also coming to play in the Connect’s sandbox is the Ram version of the Fiat Doblo, another small, fwd van. That will come in 2014.
UAW President Bob King helped commemorate the 76th anniversary of the end of the Flint sit-down strikes yesterday – in Flint of course. "There's no greater inspiration than the workers who took on the most powerful corporation in the world," King said. During his speech, King spoke about the need for labor unions to come together on an international level to keep companies from pitting workers across the globe against one another. "The only way we are going to have middle class incomes and a decent standard of living and pensions is if workers throughout the world have that," he said. "As long as there is someone working for poverty-level wages, everyone in this room is facing it. "The companies come to us and say, 'Oh, you’re not competitive because we can run down and pay workers 20 cents an hour or $2 or $4 a day in Mexico. If you're not willing to reduce your wages and benefits, we're going to move your work.' That's an everyday struggle."
Electric vehicles are alternately praised and pummeled by various groups in and out of the auto industry. We are all aware of the derision heaped upon the Chevy Volt by outlets like Fox news and talking radio heads that shall go unnamed here. On the other hand, Tesla’s $101,000 Model S roadster was awarded the golden calipers as Motor Trend’s car of the year. While the Volt uses a gas engine to charge the battery pack after the initial charge has been consumed (around 30 – 40 miles hence), electric-only vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla rely on electric charge only. You may recall the story of a Leaf driver who, after crawling along the freeway at 30 mph to conserve charge, was ultimately passed by a DOT mower (you probably know where this is headed). Well, a NY Times writer, John Broder, embarked on a trip in the heralded Tesla to test out their “electric highway”, a 200 mile stretch of I-95 between Newark, Del. and Milford, Conn. at which both locations are “supercharging” stations for rapid charges.
The conditions were “less than ideal” due to cold temperatures, but he was undeterred. Take it away, John: The Model S has won multiple car-of-the-year awards and is, many reviews would have you believe, the coolest car on the planet. What fun, no? Well, no. After 49 minutes (of charging at Newark), the display read “charge complete,” and the estimated available driving distance was 242 miles. As I crossed into New Jersey some 15 miles later, I noticed that the estimated range was falling faster than miles were accumulating. At 68 miles since recharging, the range had dropped by 85 miles, and a little mental math told me that reaching Milford would be a stretch. I began following Tesla’s range-maximization guidelines, which meant dispensing with such battery-draining amenities as warming the cabin and keeping up with traffic. I turned the climate control to low — the temperature was still in the 30s — and planted myself in the far right lane with the cruise control set at 54 miles per hour (the speed limit is 65). Buicks and 18-wheelers flew past, their drivers staring at the nail-polish-red wondercar with California dealer plates. All the while, my feet were freezing and my knuckles were turning white. About 20 miles from Milford, less than 10 miles of range remained. At that point, the car informed me it was shutting off the heater, and it ordered me, in vivid red letters, to “Recharge Now.” I drove into the service plaza, hooked up the Supercharger and warmed my hands on a cup of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee. When I continued my drive, the display read 185 miles.
I drove, slowly, to Stonington, Conn., for dinner and spent the night in Groton, a total distance of 79 miles. When I parked the car, its computer said I had 90 miles of range, twice the 46 miles back to Milford. It was a different story at 8:30 the next morning. The thermometer read 10 degrees and the display showed 25 miles of remaining range. I called Tesla in California, and the official I woke up said I needed to “condition” the battery pack to restore the lost energy. That meant sitting in the car for half an hour with the heat on a low setting. After completing the battery conditioning process, the estimated range reading was 19 miles; no way would I make it back to Milford. The Tesla people found an E.V. charging station in Norwich, only 11 miles away, though in the opposite direction from Milford. Tesla’s experts said that pumping in a little energy would help restore the power lost overnight as a result of the cold weather, and after an hour they cleared me to resume the trip to Milford. As I limped along at about 45 miles per hour I saw increasingly dire dashboard warnings to recharge immediately. Mr. Merendino, the product planner, found an E.V. charging station about five miles away. But the Model S had other ideas. “Car is shutting down,” the computer informed me. I was able to coast down an exit ramp in Branford, Conn., before the car made good on its threat (time for the inevitable tow truck). Not so quick: the car’s electrically actuated parking brake would not release without battery power, and hooking the car’s 12-volt charging post behind the front grille to the tow truck’s portable charger would not release the brake. So he had to drag it onto the flatbed, a painstaking process that took 45 minutes. Fortunately, the cab of the tow truck was toasty. Tom Brune
UAW/GM Communications Coordinator
Wentzville Assembly
636-327-2119
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
State of the Union February 5, 2013
February 5, 2013 online at www.uawlocal2250.com
From Chairman Mike Bullock: On Friday Management announced that the first two weeks in July (week of July 1 and 8) would be the "Plant Vacation Shutdown Weeks". Per Paragraph 202a of the National Agreement, "Local Management will notify the Shop Committee of its decision to schedule no more than two Plant Vacation Shutdown Weeks, and will identify the specific week or weeks such shutdown will occur. Plant Management may schedule the Plant Vacation Shutdown Weeks to take place during any weeks between Memorial Day and Labor Day". Paragraph 202e states "An active seniority employee who is not scheduled to work during the Plant Vacation Shutdown Weeks, shall use any available Vacation Entitlement hours starting with the first day of the Plant Vacation Shutdown Weeks and will be placed on a leave of absence for vacation purposes for the balance of the Plant Vacation Shutdown Weeks". Numerous questions have been asked why the first week (week of July 1) is not the same as when we were off the first week of January and we were paid Short Work Week? The first week of January we were "laid off". A holiday fell during the week of the layoff which entitled us to Short Work Week. The first week of July (week of July 1) is a "Plant Vacation Shutdown Week", not a lay off, and as per Paragraph 202a and 202e we are not on a lay off. This contract language was part of the 2009 Modifications to the 2007 National Agreement that was agreed upon during the bankruptcy.
From the Benefits Department: Payroll discovered that deferred profit sharing from last year was not properly reported in box 1 of your W-2. If you deferred any of your profit sharing into your PSP you will be receiving a corrected W-2 (identified as W2-C) in the mail. You will need to submit this form with your original W-2 when you file your income tax return. You can expect to receive your W2-C in the mail by Tuesday, Feb. 19. You can also access it through IPAY by Feb. 15.
There will be an Education Committee meeting today between shifts at the Union Hall. All are welcome.
UAW-GM Lifesteps will be in the plant today from 7 pm to 10:30 pm for 2ndshift and tomorrow from 7 am to 11 am for 1st shift. Topics will be "Know Your Numbers" & "Prevention" (as well as typical weigh-ins) and will be located at the Wellness Center (gym).
This week is the annual National Community Action Program (CAP) Legislative Conference in Washington DC. UAW delegates from across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico are assembled until Wednesday to talk about the UAW’s legislative and political agenda for the coming year, meet with congressional representatives to advocate for issues of importance to working families and prepare for next year’s elections. UAW President Bob King gave the keynote address yesterday. He told delegates that the nation needs a social movement propelled by activists who care about eliminating poverty, discrimination and injustice, and the union needs to rebuild.
“You get what you are willing to accept in life. I’m not willing to accept the injustices that are growing in America,” King said. “It’s our responsibility to help reach down to those who have less.” In communities throughout the country, UAW members have been laying the groundwork for a large movement, said King. Now it’s time for the union to rebuild itself, partner with coalitions and allies, and build a social movement along the lines of America’s civil rights and suffrage movements. Also, more UAW members should consider running for political office, said King. “The average worker has more common sense than 75 percent of the politicians,” he added.
Workers, King said, can be proud to have elected Barack Obama, a president who understands the needs of working families. Now it is up to UAW members to help build the movement that will help the move the nation. “President Obama cannot do what he was elected to do unless we build a movement,” King told delegates who applauded with support. “To win justice, we need a movement that is active every day, not just election days…We want government that serves working people in America. We want government of the people, for the people and by the people,” said King.
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Shuler welcomed UAW CAP delegates to the nation’s capital and spoke of continuing challenges facing the labor movement – including the “bluster and baloney” of political dysfunction from some elected officials. “Along with our rare snowfall, we’ve also had more than our share of bluster and baloney [in Washington, D.C.]. Like the politicians who make it sound like the greatest, most dangerous threats to America’s future are Social Security and Medicare. Like John Boehner and Eric Cantor and Mitch McConnell claiming the free enterprise system will collapse if we end tax breaks for shipping good jobs overseas,” said Shuler. Washington Post columnist and longtime political observer E.J. Dionne spoke to delegates giving them reminders about their legacy of solidarity and how much of an impact it had on success of America’s story both for workers and the economy.
“With the decline of union membership over the past decades, we have sometimes forgotten Walter Reuther’s association with the great social justice movements of his time and ours, including the civil rights legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.,” said Dionne. “The union movement has always been attached to looking out for the interests of all.” Dionne said the U.S. has to increase the bargaining power of workers because unions “remind us of the dignity of workers in all stations of life. Capitalism would have gone off the rails again and again if we had not raised the living standards of the middle class.” He then urged the audience to remind the Tea Party that the first word in the U.S. Constitution is “We. The labor movement is at its best when it’s fighting not only for workers,” said Dionne, “but justice for the whole country, the legacy set by Walter Reuther.” Tom Brune
UAW/GM Communications Coordinator
Wentzville Assembly
From Chairman Mike Bullock: On Friday Management announced that the first two weeks in July (week of July 1 and 8) would be the "Plant Vacation Shutdown Weeks". Per Paragraph 202a of the National Agreement, "Local Management will notify the Shop Committee of its decision to schedule no more than two Plant Vacation Shutdown Weeks, and will identify the specific week or weeks such shutdown will occur. Plant Management may schedule the Plant Vacation Shutdown Weeks to take place during any weeks between Memorial Day and Labor Day". Paragraph 202e states "An active seniority employee who is not scheduled to work during the Plant Vacation Shutdown Weeks, shall use any available Vacation Entitlement hours starting with the first day of the Plant Vacation Shutdown Weeks and will be placed on a leave of absence for vacation purposes for the balance of the Plant Vacation Shutdown Weeks". Numerous questions have been asked why the first week (week of July 1) is not the same as when we were off the first week of January and we were paid Short Work Week? The first week of January we were "laid off". A holiday fell during the week of the layoff which entitled us to Short Work Week. The first week of July (week of July 1) is a "Plant Vacation Shutdown Week", not a lay off, and as per Paragraph 202a and 202e we are not on a lay off. This contract language was part of the 2009 Modifications to the 2007 National Agreement that was agreed upon during the bankruptcy.
From the Benefits Department: Payroll discovered that deferred profit sharing from last year was not properly reported in box 1 of your W-2. If you deferred any of your profit sharing into your PSP you will be receiving a corrected W-2 (identified as W2-C) in the mail. You will need to submit this form with your original W-2 when you file your income tax return. You can expect to receive your W2-C in the mail by Tuesday, Feb. 19. You can also access it through IPAY by Feb. 15.
There will be an Education Committee meeting today between shifts at the Union Hall. All are welcome.
UAW-GM Lifesteps will be in the plant today from 7 pm to 10:30 pm for 2ndshift and tomorrow from 7 am to 11 am for 1st shift. Topics will be "Know Your Numbers" & "Prevention" (as well as typical weigh-ins) and will be located at the Wellness Center (gym).
This week is the annual National Community Action Program (CAP) Legislative Conference in Washington DC. UAW delegates from across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico are assembled until Wednesday to talk about the UAW’s legislative and political agenda for the coming year, meet with congressional representatives to advocate for issues of importance to working families and prepare for next year’s elections. UAW President Bob King gave the keynote address yesterday. He told delegates that the nation needs a social movement propelled by activists who care about eliminating poverty, discrimination and injustice, and the union needs to rebuild.
“You get what you are willing to accept in life. I’m not willing to accept the injustices that are growing in America,” King said. “It’s our responsibility to help reach down to those who have less.” In communities throughout the country, UAW members have been laying the groundwork for a large movement, said King. Now it’s time for the union to rebuild itself, partner with coalitions and allies, and build a social movement along the lines of America’s civil rights and suffrage movements. Also, more UAW members should consider running for political office, said King. “The average worker has more common sense than 75 percent of the politicians,” he added.
Workers, King said, can be proud to have elected Barack Obama, a president who understands the needs of working families. Now it is up to UAW members to help build the movement that will help the move the nation. “President Obama cannot do what he was elected to do unless we build a movement,” King told delegates who applauded with support. “To win justice, we need a movement that is active every day, not just election days…We want government that serves working people in America. We want government of the people, for the people and by the people,” said King.
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Shuler welcomed UAW CAP delegates to the nation’s capital and spoke of continuing challenges facing the labor movement – including the “bluster and baloney” of political dysfunction from some elected officials. “Along with our rare snowfall, we’ve also had more than our share of bluster and baloney [in Washington, D.C.]. Like the politicians who make it sound like the greatest, most dangerous threats to America’s future are Social Security and Medicare. Like John Boehner and Eric Cantor and Mitch McConnell claiming the free enterprise system will collapse if we end tax breaks for shipping good jobs overseas,” said Shuler. Washington Post columnist and longtime political observer E.J. Dionne spoke to delegates giving them reminders about their legacy of solidarity and how much of an impact it had on success of America’s story both for workers and the economy.
“With the decline of union membership over the past decades, we have sometimes forgotten Walter Reuther’s association with the great social justice movements of his time and ours, including the civil rights legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.,” said Dionne. “The union movement has always been attached to looking out for the interests of all.” Dionne said the U.S. has to increase the bargaining power of workers because unions “remind us of the dignity of workers in all stations of life. Capitalism would have gone off the rails again and again if we had not raised the living standards of the middle class.” He then urged the audience to remind the Tea Party that the first word in the U.S. Constitution is “We. The labor movement is at its best when it’s fighting not only for workers,” said Dionne, “but justice for the whole country, the legacy set by Walter Reuther.” Tom Brune
UAW/GM Communications Coordinator
Wentzville Assembly
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)