Choosing a Path for Michigan - UAW Local 5960

Page THE UAW LOCAL 5960 REPORT August 1, 2011
5960’S
president
Report
Brothers and Sisters,
July has flown by and it was a hot
one! I hope everyone enjoyed their
two weeks off, I know I did!
Our retirees had their annual picnic
on July 20th. It was too hot for the
outside, so we held it inside, but your
Executive Board cooked the burgers
and hot dogs outside on the grill. A big
thanks to all of the E-Board members
and thanks for all the help.
UAW Local 5960 held a summer picnic
on July 23rd and had a better turnout
compared to last year, and I would
like to thank all of the volunteers; the
retirees, and the Civil Rights Standing
Committee members for the children’s
games, as well as the Education Committee
and the Women’s Committee,
and Kelly Meshell for the snow cones!
Big thanks to our wonderful veterans
who were all over the place helping
with one thing or another.
Your new Executive Board members
were also out there sweating
and making sure all of those in attendance
were taken care of! Thanks
everyone!
The G-6ers, Malibus or since there
are no more of these, maybe we can
call them the Sonics, did a great job
with the music and kept everyone on
their toes!
We haven’t heard too much on the
4-10’s yet since the line isn’t running
at full capacity. We will just have to
give it a little more time.
Third-Party Brothers
and Sisters Update
We finally have the last signature
for the sanitation; Eurest/Team members
contract.
With Linc Logistics we had a visit
from UAW Vice President’s Cindy
Estrada’s office, Rick Issacson, on the
work being performed the week of July
18th. We hope with this new information
Brother Issacson can help us out
in getting that contract completed.
We are still having problems with
Jones, Lang LaSalle with organizing
the maintenance and powerhouse
areas. We completed a card check
and they filed a protest through the
See PRESIDENT on page 3
by Louis Rocha
I hope everyone enjoyed a great 4th
of July holiday. I welcome everyone
back and ask that we stay focused on
producing quality vehicles, because
our jobs depend on it.
Working on the floor, I know that
there is a lot of tension and uncertainty.
Lots of rumors on where we’re
at and where we’re going; rumors on
contract talks and what might happen
and on what might not; but they
are just that, rumors. As Webster’s
Dictionary states: “ru-mor 1: talk or
opinion widely disseminated with no
discernible source.”
Plain and simple, I have faith in my
UNION. I know they are going to do
the right thing. I am not part of the Bargaining
Team, but I know when they
come back with an agreement, Local
and National, they have done the best
they could have under these current
conditions. I know that my UNION
has OUR best interests in mind. No
one said that this is going to be easy,
but we need to stand together!
We talk SOLIDARTY, but when
it comes time for action, some back
down. Let me again quote Webster’s
Dictionary; “Sol-i-dar-i-ty; unity (as
of a group or class) that produces or
is based on community of interests,
objectives and standards…the support
that people in a group give each
other…”
Think about it, we just celebrated
our Independence Day. We had fireworks,
BBQs and lots of good times.
What would have happened if we
decided, back in the day, not to come
together? Not to support this movement.
Where would we be? OK, let’s
move this forward to our Sit-Down
Strike. Where would we be if the
majority decided to stand instead of
sitting? Where would we be? Our
fight for equality and justice, our
march with Dr. Martin Luther King;
where would we be if we decided not
to lock arms?
Fast forward to current times…
Our agreement with the small car...
Where would we be, if we chose not
to stand and support our team? Our
current talks with LINC; where will
they/we be if we choose not to stand
together? Our current talks in our
upcoming contract; where will you
be? I’ll tell you where I’ll be; front
and center, supporting my Brothers
and Sisters. It’s not going to be easy,
but it’s what needs to be done.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated,
“The ultimate measure of a man is
not where he stands in moments of
comfort and convenience, but where
he stands at times of challenge and
controversy.”
LEGAL CONSULTATION AVAILABLE
AN ATTORNEY WILL BE PRESENT AT: LOCAL 5960
WHEN: EVERY TUESDAY, 2:00 - 5:00 P.M.
Any member or retiree from Local 5960 is welcome to come and discuss any legal problem. The
first consultation is FREE OF CHARGE. Should you decide to hire this attorney, the attorney
fees are negotiated by you and the attorney with no involvement from the Local
Union. This is merely a service we are attempting to provide our membership,
and each member is entirely free to choose for themselves.
TELEPHONE or VISIT