Happy Holidays from the UAW Local 5960 Union Hall Staff and ...

AWARD WINNING UAW LOCAL 5960
December 1, 2010 THE UAW LOCAL 5960 REPORT
Page
Financial Secretary
CLIFF FATT
LOCAL
Amalgamated Local 5960
5960
Orion Assembly
180 E. Silverbell Road • Lake Orion, MI 48360
www.uaw5960.org
LABOR NEWS
Phone: (248) 377-2520 Fax: (248) 377-2608
President
PAT SWEENEY
VOL. 26 ISSUE NO. 12 Belonging, Believing, Building in Solidarity (U.S.P.S. 002033)
december 1, 2010
President
Pat
Sweeney
VICE-PRESIDENT
Denver
Marrs
PAGE
2
FINANCIAL SEC’Y
Cliff
Fatt
PAGE
3
recording SEC’Y
Stephanie
Farrell
UAW PROPERTY ILLEGAL TO DUPLICATE
Happy Holidays from the UAW Local 5960 Union Hall Staff and Executive Board
The 2010 year has been one of the most difficult ever
for UAW Local 5960. Most of the membership has been
laid-off all year and many have recently seen a reduction
in their benefits. We all look forward to the time when our plant
will re-open and the magic of making cars will again take place.
As we look back on the year 2010, it will forever be known
as the year the plant was down, but it should be equally known
as the year that Orion Assembly and the membership of UAW
Local 5960 refused to give up or give in to the people who
say we can’t do this. Soon the time will be right to show them
all how dedicated and innovative we are.
It has been an honor to serve the membership of UAW Local
5960 through this challenging time and we look forward to working
with each of you in 2011. Have a great holiday season!
H H H 2010 Upcoming EVENTS H H H
Wednesday, december 1-9
Hanukkah
sunday, december 5
AFL-CIO Day
sunday, december 5
Membership Meeting
tuesday, december 7
Pearl Harbor Remembrance
Wednesday, december 15
Retirees Meeting
Saturday, december 18
5960 Christmas Party
sATURDAY, DECEMBER 25
Christmas Day
Sunday, december 26-Jan. 1
Kwanzaa

Page THE UAW LOCAL 5960 REPORT December 1, 2010
by Denver Marrs
Due to changes at the Michigan
Unemployment Office of employer
filed claims, we are no longer allowed
to get billing histories to help you if
you encounter sub-pay issues after
filing for an extension. Therefore, you
must start an online account for your
unemployment payment history. You
may do this at the website www.michigan.gov/uia.
When you get to the
home page, click UIA online services
for unemployed workers. Then click
register as a new user. The system will
ask you a series of questions starting
with your Social Security number and
date of birth.
After you complete the application,
you will receive information from
unemployment in 3-5 days. You will
then use the information to create
your web account.
If you don’t have a computer at
home, come visit us in the Transition
Center (in the plant) and we will help
you create your account. If you have
any questions, give us a call at (248)
377-5036 or (248) 377-5049.
Please mark your calendars for
Saturday, December 18th. We will be
hosting our annual Children’s Christmas
Party from 1-4 p.m. at the Union
Hall. Santa will be there, so bring
the kids for an afternoon of food,
fun and games. As always, we need
volunteers for this event. Please call
the Union Hall if you are interested
in volunteering.
In closing, I ask for your continued
support for our men and women in
uniform, the majority of whom will not
be home for Christmas this year. May
God bless and protect them all!
From UAW Local 5960 Benefits Dept:
If you are considering Lasik Eye
Surgery, please be advised that you need to call the Lasik
Consultation and Information Line at
1-888-705-2020 (for providers in your area).
N SPECIAL NOTICE N
NATIONAL
CONTRACT
DEMANDS
UAW Local 5960 has received notice from the
International Union for Collective Bargaining
Resolutions to the UAW General Motors
Department 2011 Negotiations.
UAW Local 5960 will accept Resolutions from
12/6/2010 through 12/23/2010. There is a
drop box located in the UAW Work Center at
Orion Assembly and at the
UAW 5960 Union Hall.
Official forms can be found for download
on the 5960 website.
Local 5960 is ON-LINE!
Catch the Local 5960 web page for late breaking
information and to contact the Local Union.
Visit our web site at:
http://uaw5960.org
or e-mail us at:
www.editor@uaw5960.org
Local 5960 award winning
LABOR NEWS
The Local 5960 Report is published monthly by the
U.A.W. Local 5960 180 E. Silverbell Rd., Lake Orion, MI 48360.
Subscription $25.00 per year.
The U.S.P. S. is 002033 for periodical postage rates paid at
Lake Orion and at additional mailing offices, Lake Orion, MI 48360.
(Effective 7/1/90)
Published monthly at Fenton, Mich. 48430 by Local 5960
POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to Local 5960 Report,
180 E. Silverbell Rd., Lake Orion, MI 48360
ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
Pat Sweeney
Dan Wagner (Retired Advisor)
Tony Hufford, Editor
LOCAL
Opinions expressed or signed in articles of the Local 5960 Report
do not necessarily represent the positions or opinions of Local 5960.
5960
Executive Board:
Pat Sweeney
President
Denver Marrs
Vice-President
cliff fatt
Financial Secretary
stephanie farrell
Recording Secretary
TROY HENKE
Trustee
MARSHA WAGNER
Trustee
LOUIS ROCHA
Trustee
LISA R. RAMIREZ
Guide
RICO HOOPER
Sergeant-at-Arms
rupert o’brien
Chairman-Retirees

December 1, 2010 THE UAW LOCAL 5960 REPORT
Page
FIN. SEC’Y-
by Cliff Fatt
On November 18th, the new GM-
IPO hit the market and started trading
at approximately $34 per share
within a day! Demand was high and
many people were so anxious to get
in on the ground floor of the new GM
that the brokers handling the offering
raised the IPO price from its initial
estimates of $25-$29 per share to $32
per share.
The news media spoke endlessly
about how the once defunct GM had
emerged from bankruptcy and is now
making huge profits. The media was
also very excited about how this new
GM stock offering would enable the
government and the UAW-VEBA to
recover a huge portion of the money
loaned or owed to them when they
sold their stock.
I guess the “dog and pony show”
that the GM executives put on touring
around the country with its new
electric car the “VOLT” worked!
The new GM is on its way to building
great cars and making huge profits
The Poor Boy’s Christmas
Observe, my child, this pretty scene,
And note the air of pleasure keen
With which the widow’s orphan boy
Toots his tin horn, his only toy.
once again!?
Now that the new GM stock is
trading on the market, what do we
do with our old GM stock? Hopefully,
you sold that stock long before
the June 2009 bankruptcy filing.
However, some people did not sell
their shares, either because they felt
a little guilty because their grandpa
gave them the stock many years ago,
or were one of the hopefuls that the
stock would suddenly shoot up in
value. Whatever the reason for you
not selling your old GM stock, now
what do you do? You could always
frame your stock certificate and hang
it on the wall and hope that someday
you could fetch a big price for that
collectible item, or for a short period
of time one could still sell that old
stock.
Yes, shares of the old GM (or now
Motors Liquidation Co.) are listed
on pinksheets.com. Pinksheets is not
a stock exchange, but the ticker symbol
is MTLQQ. The old shares were
trading around 35 cents a share in
September. Don’t forget that people
who sell their old GM stock at a loss
can take a capital gains loss on their
tax return. Consult your tax advisor
on the benefits of offsetting your
capital losses against your gains. If
you intend on selling your shares, do
so now, before Motors Liquidaton
closes its books.
What need of costly gifts has he?
The widow has nowhere to flee.
And ample noise his horn emits
To drive the widow into fits.
~ Ellis Parker Butler
UAW Local 5960 Labor
Events in History for
December 2010
GM’s Ipo by the Numbers
After the UAW and GM’s near
death experience in 2099, it looks
like we are on the comeback trail.
The largest IPO in the history of
the world didn’t come from Dubai
or China; it came from right here
in Detroit, U.S.A. The place (Detroit)
and the company (GM) that
everyone had written off as being
dead and gone still had enough
life to raise $30 billion in one day.
Following are the numbers that
explain what it all means.
$49.4 Billion – The
amount GM borrowed from the
American Taxpayers
1 – Times that UAW President
Bob King has been to the New
York Stock Exchange
102 Million – The
number of GM Shares the UAW
Health Trust (VEBA) sold
175 Million – The GM
Common Stock shares that are
held by Canada and Ontario
$33 – The cost per share of
GM Stock
0 Shares – The number
of shares that UAW President Bob
King owns. Mr. King is prohibited by
the International by-laws from owning
GM Stock.
$2.9 Billion – The dollar
amount added to the VEBA by the
sale of GM Stock
17.5% – The amount of GM
that the UAW VEBA owned prior
to the IPO
37% – The amount of General
Motors that the U.S. Government
still owns
Closing Comments:
GM CFO Chris Liddell said of
GM’s future, “You need a business
model that breaks even at the bottom
of the cycle.”
UAW President Bob King said,
“Our members can look forward
to profit sharing certainly no later
than 2011.”
Labor events in history for December: 25 December 1910
A dynamite bomb destroyed a portion of the Llewellyn Ironworks in Los
Angeles, where a bitter strike was in progress. 2 December 1911 A Chicago
“slugger,” paid $50 by labor unions for every scab he “discouraged,”
described his job in an interview: “Oh, there ain’t nothin’ to it. I gets my
fifty, then I goes out and finds the guy they wanna have slugged. I goes
up to `im and I says to `im, `My friend, by way of meaning no harm,’
and then I gives it to `im -- biff! in the mug. Nothin’ to it.” 22 December
1919 Amid a strike for union recognition by 395,000 steelworkers
(ultimately unsuccessful), approximately 250 “anarchists,” “communists,”
and “labor agitators” were deported to Russia, marking the beginning of
the so-called “Red Scare.” 15 December 1941 The AFL pledges that
there will be no strikes in defense-related industry plants for the duration
of the war. 28 December 1944 President Franklin D. Roosevelt
ordered the Army to seize the executive offices of Montgomery Ward
and Company after the corporation failed to comply with a National War
Labor Board directive regarding union shops. 5 December 1955 The
two largest labor organizations in the U.S. merged to form the AFL-CIO,
with a membership estimated at 15 million.

Page THE UAW LOCAL 5960 REPORT December 1, 2010
Orion Assembly
shop chairman
Brothers and Sisters,
SKILLED TRADES
Management plans to lay off 155 of
our Skilled Tradespersons on December
23, 2010. This
is not the holiday
that we had hoped
for our Trades;
however, we will
continue to work
to find a position
for each of the
Mike Dunn
trades. We have
recently submitted
business cases to the Corporation
in support of keeping Tradespersons
working in our Powerhouse, Truck
Repair and Facility Maintenance. The
International UAW is also assisting
us with these cases. As progress is
made, I will report out concerning this
progress in future articles.
TEAM LEADERS
In late November, we brought back
approximately 60 UAW 5960 members
to Orion Assembly to fill Team
Leader and Critical Assembly jobs.
All were brought back via the local
seniority agreement. The remaining
Team Leaders will be brought back
on January 3, 2011 with groups of
production operators called back to
Orion after that time.
SUB-PAY
We are aware that our members
are running out of SUB-pay and TSP
during this final month of 2010. The
following is a list of plants that might
be taking on employees over the next
3 to 6 months: Fairfax Assembly,
Lordstown Assembly and Stamping,
Flint Assembly and Stamping,
Lansing Delta Assembly, Lansing
Grand River Assembly and Detroit
Hamtramck Assembly.
ORION’S LAUNCH
I know that many of our members
have been through some very tough
times this year, but we can see our
new beginning just ahead. Our intention
is to get everyone back to
work as soon as possible. Our tools
have been silent long enough and
it is time for Orion Assembly to be
open for business. This year has
been a journey that is unique to our
business.
Normally, when an Assembly
Center closes, it stays that way, but
Orion was given new life and a bright
future. This life was given to us by the
International, UAW and the federal
and local governments who fought
so hard to keep us open and by all
of you. Because we were the plant
that was able to build 5 car lines in
one plant while winning a JD Powers
Award, and because all of you went
12 million man hours without a Lost
Work Day Case, and because our
plant already knows how to work as
a team, we earned and were awarded
new life. GM and the UAW took a
chance on us.
“Our competitors better take
cover because Orion is
coming back with a small
car in a big way.”
They knew if anyone could pull
this off, it would be the “Plant You
Can’t Ignore.” Now comes our time
to deliver and I am sure that we can
and will build the best small car made.
We all know the company, the union,
our communities and our families are
counting on us and we won’t let them
down. Our competitors better take
cover because Orion is coming back
with a small car in a big way.
From my family to your family, have
a great holiday season and I will see
you all in 2011.
In solidarity...
CIVIL RIGHTS
report
by Civil Rights Committee
Good Day Brothers and Sisters,
We are almost through the year
2010, and much has changed inside
the Orion plant. Things are ramping
up and some of the team leaders were
brought into the plant throughout
the month of November. The Civil
Rights Committee would like to extend
a warm welcome back to Orion
Assembly and wish them the best of
luck in their earned positions.
Acting in these leadership roles also
brings the responsibility of promoting
respect within diverse groups. Some
of the steps that can be taken to foster
and model these ideas would be:
• Understand and respect individuality.
• Keep an open mind when working
with people different from you.
• Speak respectfully to others.
• Use assertive communication, such
as feedback techniques, to communicate
how you want to be treated
and how you want others to be
treated.
• Ask questions and listen to discover
how others want to be treated (the
“Platinum Rule”).
• Act as a force for positive change. Do
not ignore mistreatment of others.
• Insist on appropriate behavior,
especially in the workplace and in
the union hall.
This being the December newsletter,
the Civil Rights Committee
hopes that everyone had a fulfilling
Thanksgiving with family and friends.
We also wish everyone the very best
for a special Holiday Season. Some of
the December observed international
holidays are as follows, by the day/s
holiday exists:
Dec. 5 - Ashura (Islamic, Muslim)
Dec. 6 - St. Nicholas Day
(International)
Dec. 8 - Bodhi Day - Buddha’s
Enlightenment (Buddhist)
Dec. 12 - Virgin of Guadalupe
(Mexico)
Dec. 13 - Santa Lucia Day (Sweden)
Dec. 16-25 - Las Posadas (Mexico)
Dec. 21-28 - Hanukkah* (Jewish)
Dec. 25 - Christmas (Christian,
Roman Catholic, International)
Dec. 26 - Boxing Day (Canada,
United Kingdom)
Dec. 26 - Kwanzaa (African-American,
Dec. 26, 2009 - Jan. 1, 2011)
To all our 5960 UAW members,
whatever holiday you observe, please
have a safe and joyous celebration.
In Solidarity...
Stay on top of the news while away
Employee Hotline:
1-888-774-8888
UAW 5960 Website:
www.uaw5960.org
Local 5960
Members
& Family
EMPLOYEE NAME DECEASED NAME RELATIONSHIP DATE
Robert Wainman (Retired) Robert Wainman Retired Member 10/17/10
Wilma Porter Donald Porter Spouse 8/29/10
Richard Kirksey (Retired) Betty M. Kirksey Spouse 10/23/10
Carl T. Serba Virginia Serba Spouse 10/11/10
Gary Nunnery Roberta Alene Nunnery Parent 11/10/10
Robert Pudney Robert Pudney Retired Member 11/9/10
Ralph Farr Virginia Funsch Parent 10/26/10
Brian Harville Faril Harville Grandparent 9/1/10
David M. Collier (Retired) Mary L. Collier Spouse 11/6/10
James Edward Genwright Felix Douglas Genwright Parent 11/1/10
William Bridges (Retired) William Bridges Member 11/11/10
Frank A. Kline (Retired) Frank A. Kline Retired Member 11/23/10

December 1, 2010 THE UAW LOCAL 5960 REPORT
Page
local 5960
editor’s report
Christmas at the Goat Farm
Editors Note: This month’s article
comes from the “Best of Collection”
and was originally published in December
of 2008. I hope you enjoy
this true story about
union folks during
the holidays.
Another year is
about to come to a
close with the holidays
dead ahead
and the dawning of
a new year not far
behind. This year,
Tony Hufford
in many ways, has been special and deserves
a recap. Perhaps we can do that
in January when we can look back with
a greater degree of clarity on this tumultuous
12 months. I truly believe what we
all need right now is a great Christmas
Story about union people, one with a
happy ending, for the holidays so let me
tell you about my Uncle Ed.
My Uncle Ed was the kind of guy
who let you stay up late on Saturday
night to watch Hockey Night in Canada
on his black and white TV with rabbit
ears. Sure, the screen was a little fuzzy
and the sound was only marginal, but
that was great television for an 8 year
old in 1960 and up past 9:00 p.m. to
boot. I came to be on Uncle Ed’s sofa
because I was staying over at my cousin
Ray’s house for the weekend, which I
did quite often, and this is what Uncle
Ed did, every Saturday night. Players
like Sawchuk and Howe would circle
the black and white, I would sip Pepsi,
and Uncle Ed would talk to the players
loudly through the TV set. It was great.
By the way, Ray was a girl.
Uncle Ed was a union pipefitter
by trade, a hard-working guy who
installed the gas tanks and piping
for many local gas stations. In fact, if
you have ever gassed up anywhere in
the Union Lake, Commerce or West
Bloomfield area you have probably
received your gas through pipes that
my Uncle Ed put in the ground. Like
most union men of the time, Uncle
Ed believed in his country and bought
U.S. Savings bonds along the way to
save for a rainy day.
Now back to the Christmas story.
Years later, Ray grew up and married
Kim, a guy, go figure. They were
just young kids trying to make their
way in the world. Kim worked as a
cabinetmaker and Ray became a social
worker dedicated to helping the
troubled youth in the area. Soon they
had twins that were the joys of their
lives. The twins, one boy and one girl,
kept Ray and Kim hopping as you
might imagine. Things went on well
for a number of years.
With the twins growing bigger,
Uncle Ed was able to retire and
move north, with Aunt Joanne. Ray
and Kim moved the family to a farm
north of Mayville. Eighty acres of bliss
where the only sound on a winter night
was the distant highway sounds over
a half mile away.
Within a year or two, the economy
began to change, (also known as the
Reagan years,) and Ray and Kim began
to struggle with their payments.
Much like today, times were tough
and work became scarce. The cabinet
making business was in full-blown
recession and Ray was raising goats
for milk at the farm, but goats’ milk
was a high-grade staple that many
could not afford and eighty goats can
really put away some hay. They had
added another child to the flock and
had adopted one of the troubled teens
that Ray had worked with. Thing were
getting bad quickly with no relief in
sight.
A couple of years earlier Uncle
Ed had passed away ,leaving me to
talk to the hockey players through
the TV, men with
names like Izerman
and Vachon. I got to
talk to them in color
with decent sound
while hooked to a
cable. Times might
change, but the actions of union
people are something you can always
bet the farm on. To this day, whenever
I sit down to watch a hockey game I
think of Uncle Ed and the great times
we had.
It was Christmas in Mayville, Michigan
not so long ago and not so far away.
The cold was bitter and the Christmas
turkey looked a lot like a skinny
chicken. Ray and Kim had received
their Final Notice on the house and
would have to vacate the farm shortly
after the first of the year. Now Ray and
Kim were not overly religious people.
As a matter of fact, they rarely went
to church or even prayed to a higher
power...but now was different. The
times were dire. Soon their children
would not have a home and the answers
to fix these problems were not
in their grasp. They simply didn’t know
what to do or who to turn to.
Christmas is a time of happiness and
cheer, but if you are down the pressure
of the holidays can be crushing.
Later that evening, after the children
were all tucked in for the night, Kim
grabbed the old Bible off the shelf and
wiped the dust off. He took a long look
out the window at the snow falling on
the evergreens that would soon become
the bank’s and told Ray, “I just
don’t know what else to do, will you
It’s Been Said…
“He who has not Christmas in
his heart will never find it under
a tree.”
– Roy L. Smith
5960 Recent
Retirees
pray with me?” Now you have to know
my cousin Ray, she is hard as rocks and
not used to asking anyone for help but
she realized the seriousness of the situation
and simply
said “yes.”
Kim had no
idea what passage
in the Bible he
would use to get
the prayer started,
so he just opened it somewhere in the
middle. What he saw made him cry.
When he opened the Bible slips of
paper fell out and floated gracefully
to the floor. He recognized these slips
of paper as U.S. Savings bonds. There
was several thousand dollars in mature
savings bonds with a note from
Uncle Ed that simply read, “You will
need these some day, love dad.”
All union people know there are
bumps in the road for us all and we
can’t predict what will come, but we
can prepare our families and ourselves
for it and that is what Uncle Ed
had done. Like many union people,
he worked hard and put a little away
for his family to help them through a
tough time.
Christmas time is a time of magic
and it always seems that a miracle is
just around the corner.
As always, it has been a pleasure
and an honor to be your editor during
2010. We have gone through a lot of
ups and downs this year, but we have
gone through them together. Thanks
to everyone who contributed to the
Report in 2010 and thanks to all the
graduates and their parents who took
part in our Graduates Edition last
summer. From my family to your family;
have a wonderful holiday season.
Thanks for listening...
On behalf of the Executive Board, Bargaining Committee, and the entire
membership, we congratulate you on your decision to retire. We thank you for
your dedication and friendship. If it were not for the sacrifices and struggles
you have endured, we would not have what we sometimes take for granted
– which are the great UAW benefits and wages we have today. We wish you
all the best in your retirement.
Pat Sweeney - President
NO PHOTO
AVAILABLE
NO PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Jane Nast
32.3 Years
Dept. 2-11-04
Jerry Ruppel
30 Years
Dept. 1-35-05
Eric Bringard
30 Years
Dept. 2-25-17

Page THE UAW LOCAL 5960 REPORT December 1, 2010
A Sample of Items
Made by Uaw Members
n Employees in broadcasting traffic, promotions,
master control, news, production and office staff
Company: WEYI NBC 25
Made by Local 1811/Region 1C
n Flashlights
Company: Fulton Industries
Made by Local 86/Region 2B
n Jet Engines
Company: Rolls-Royce
Made by Local 933/Region 3
n Livestock Watering Equipment
Company: Ritchie Industries
Made by Local 893/Region 4
n Machined parts and extruded plastic conduit for
control cables; auto parts; hoses & fittings;
marine applications
Company: Teleflex Marine, Inc., Easton, PA
Made by Local 644/Region 9
n Mother Jones Magazine (Editorial staff)
Company: Mother Jones Magazine
Made by Local 2103/Region 5
n Printing
Company: Alliance Print & Design
Made by Local 2350/Region 5
n Printing and Publishing; The Soo Evening News
Company: Liberty Group Publishing
Made by Local 3803/Region 1D
n Printing and silk screening
Company: FJ Grafik, Inc.
Made by Local 1811/Region 1C
n The Progressive (magazine)
Company: The Progressive
Made by Local 2320/Region 9A
n UAW makes combination padlocks, all 1500 series
Company: Master Lock Company
Made by Local 469/Region 4
For more information about what UAW Members build, visit: http://www.uaw.org/node/88

Page THE UAW LOCAL 5960 REPORT December 1, 2010
benefits
office
by Bill Cremeans
Clarifications concerning Benefits
subject to the Memorandum
In regards to SUB/TSP benefits:
whichever program you are currently
eligible for (during the time you accept
or deny your recall offer) will
be the program that will apply as a
benefit.
Members who choose to take the
layoff/retirement option will be exempt
from TRA/TAA programs.
There will no eligibility for mutual
retirements.
Outside earnings will offset Unemployment
and SUB benefits but
NOT TSP.
Must work 12 pay periods to regenerate
health care benefits.
All traditional benefits apply for
a member who accepts recall rights
under tier 2 employment (i.e. medical,
dental, vision, tap, legal services with
the exception of SUB/TSP benefits).
Anyone who would like to consider
the layoff/retirement option
but question credited service time
or QODROs, please see a Benefits
representative for answers.
When members exhaust regular
unemployment benefits they transition
into EUC. It is at this point SUB
can no longer see that you are being
paid unemployment. Members will
have to submit the following documents
to SUB: 1. A detailed billing
history with your Monetary Determination
for EUC –OR– A printout
of your payment history from the
UIA website with the weeks paid
EUC (Preferred); 2. An application
for either SUB or TSP filled
out correctly (www.layoffbenefits.
com under GM forms). Once you
have all your documents they need
to be faxed in TOGETHER to SUB
Office, Attention Michigan Analyst
at 248-365-9803. If you do not fax
the documents in together, it will be
considered incomplete and will not
be processed. If you do not send it
Attention Michigan Analyst, it will
take longer to process while they try
to locate what state you belong to.
The unemployment office is not
as cooperative with the process as
they have been in the past. This
is due to the fact Michigan has a
website where this information
can be obtained by the membership
themselves. It is becoming the
member’s responsibility to take care
of their own business. Members
need to register at www.michigan.
gov/uia, click the “Online services
for unemployed workers” link.
Members who do not have a
computer; this will no longer be an
excuse. The Transition Center and
Benefits office will assist members
to register on this website. You can
also use the computers at your local
libraries or find a family member or
friend to help you set up an account.
There are free email sites like Hotmail
and AOL that you can register
with for an email account.
Once you are registered on the
website, you will be issued a temporary
password. The temporary password
does not allow you to access
the payment history portion. You
will receive a password in the mail
in about a week. The new password
will allow full access to the account.
If you need further assistance, you
can contact the Transition Center at
248-377-5049 or at 248-377-5036.
Thank You...
Effective January 1, 2011* Raises To COBRA for Life
Self Self plus Spouse Self plus Child Self plus Family
Vision $4.06 $7.31 $7.72 $12.20
Dental $54.59 $103.21 $104.92 $160.41
*COBRA payments are paid one month in advance, the increase will be seen in Decembers payment
Increases shown here reflect COBRA for Life ONLY!
SHOP AMERICAN MADE!
Happy
Holidays!

December 1, 2010 THE UAW LOCAL 5960 REPORT
Page
RETIREES
REPORT
By Rupert ‘Rupe’ O’Brien, Jr.
Retiree Chairperson
At our November membership
meeting, our UAW Benefit Rep., Bill
Cremeans, reported on our health
plan and he announced that for anyone
on COBRA,
our out-of- pocket
money will go up
substantially, but
he was unsure of
how much.
In addition, all
members who retired
before October
1, 2007 will
Rupert “Rupe’
O’Brien, Jr.
receive their Christmas bonus check
in December.
It was also announced that we
would pay the $3 for our meals at our
Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners.
I was told some retirees were turned
away when they came to the dinner
and didn’t want to pay the $3, and
our turnout for the dinner was well
under 300. I apologize for this, but
we have to tighten up. We are also
having our food catered and our
membership trips are expensive. This
money crunch will be a short-term issue
and we should be back to normal
next year.
Again, to remind our members, we
will be asking for $3 for our Christmas
Dinner, and I would also like to thank
the members who have brought items
in for the auction. We have some great
items and some that are hand-made. If
you have any items you would like to
donate, bring them to the Union Hall
on or before the day of the meeting.
Our auction for the Christmas Dinner
will start at 10 a.m., due to all that will
be going on. We want to have this done
before the dinner, so please pass this
on to your union brothers and sisters
and family.
Birthdays:
Ellington (Chum) Putman (missed)
April 30, 1929 (81 Years old)
Kenneth Lockwood (missed)
May 9, 1938 (73 Years Old)
John Weishaar, 11/11/193
(74 Years Old)
Lorenzo Rivera, 11/19/1950
(60 Years Old)
Bob Bertoli, 11/17/1939
(71 Years Old)
John House, 11/04/1947
(63 Years Old)
Karen Lepper, 11/12/1956
(54 Years Old)
Annie F. Barbour, 11/19/1942
(68 Years Old)
Michelle Hollis, 11/10/1952
(58 Years Old)
Elma MacLean, 11/29/1942
(68 Years Old)
Marty Welch, 11/24/1957
(53 Years Old)
Missed: Vigel Goans (missed)
10/14/1922 (88 Years Old)
Anniversaries:
Kenneth & Lea Lockwood
9/3/1962 (48 Years) missed
Ellington & Bernice Putman
6/19/1948 (62 Years) missed
Jim and Pat Greer
1/03/1972 (38 Years)
Billie and Eleanor Adler
11/22/1991 (19 Years)
Jim and Sheila Warren
11/23/1960 (50 Years)
John and Lynda House
11/11/1978 (32 Years)
Ben and Norma Duller
11/28/1965 (45 Years)
Happy Birthday and Anniversaries
to our November and missed Brothers
and Sisters.
Retiree Deaths:
Robert Putney 11/9/2010 – 74 Years.
(5960 Retiree from 594)
Our prayers go out to Robert’s
UAW UAW CARS CARS
Buick Lacrosse
Buick Lucerne
Cadillac CTS
Cadillac DTS
Cadillac STS
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet Malibu
Chevrolet Chevrolet Volt Malibu
Chrysler Chevrolet Sebring Volt
Dodge Chrysler Avenger Sebring
Dodge Caliber Avenger
Dodge Viper Caliber
Ford Focus
Dodge Viper
Ford Mustang
Ford Focus
Ford Taurus
Lincoln
Ford Mustang
MKS
Mazda6 Ford Taurus
Mitsubishi Lincoln MKS Eclipse
Mitsubishi Mazda6 Eclipse Spyder
Mitsubishi Galant Eclipse
Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder
UAW VANS
Mitsubishi Galant
Chevrolet Express
Ford Econoline
GMC UAW Savana VANS
Chevrolet Express
Ford Econoline
GMC Savana
CAW CAW CARS CARS
Chevrolet Camaro
Chevrolet Impala
Chrysler 300
Dodge Challenger
Dodge Charger
Ford Crown Victoria
Ford Crown Victoria
Lincoln Town Car
Lincoln Town Car
Mercury Grand Marquis
Mercury Grand Marquis
CAW SUVs/CUVs
Chevrolet CAW SUVs/CUVs
Equinox
Ford Chevrolet Edge Equinox
Ford Flex Edge
GMC Ford Flex Terrain
Lincoln MKT
GMC Terrain
Lincoln MKX
Lincoln MKT
UAW Lincoln SUVs/CUVs
MKX
Buick Enclave
Cadillac UAW SUVs/CUVs
Escalade ESV
Cadillac Buick Enclave Escalade/Hybrid
Chevrolet Cadillac Escalade Suburban ESV
Chevrolet
Cadillac Escalade/Hybrid
Tahoe Chevrolet Traverse
Chevrolet Suburban
Dodge Durango
Dodge
Chevrolet
Nitro
Tahoe /Hybrid
Ford Chevrolet Escape/Hybrid Traverse
Ford Dodge Expedition Durango
Dodge Nitro
Ford Escape/Hybrid
Ford Expedition
family and friends; he will be missed
by many.
Please go to the Retirees Committee
page on the UAW 5960
website http://www.uaw5960.org/retireescommittee
to read the latest
on the Debt Commissions’ proposals.
On behalf of the Retiree Board
and myself, we hope your Thanksgiving
was an enjoyable one with family
and friends and we will see you at
our Christmas Dinner on December
15, 2010.
“Idiot! Just when we need to attract more
global corporations...you run out of labor
Buy quality.
leaders to imprison.”
Buy union-made vehicles!
Buy quality.
Buy union-made vehicles!
Ford Explorer
Ford Explorer
Ford Ford Explorer Explorer Sport Sport Trac Trac
GMC Acadia
GMC Yukon/Hybrid
Jeep Compass
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep
Jeep
Liberty
Liberty
Jeep Patriot
Jeep Patriot
Jeep Wrangler
Lincoln Jeep Wrangler Navigator
Mazda Lincoln Tribute/Hybrid
Navigator
Mercury Mazda Tribute/Hybrid
Mariner/Hybrid
Mercury Mountaineer
Mariner/Hybrid
Mitsubishi Mercury Mountaineer Endeavor
Mitsubishi Endeavor
CAW CAW VANS VANS
Chrysler Chrysler Town Town & Country Country
Dodge Grand Caravan
Volkswagen Routan
UAW TRUCKS
Chevrolet Colorado
Chevrolet Silverado**
Chevrolet Silverado**
Dodge Dakota Dodge
Dodge
Ram Pickup*
Dakota Dodge
Ford Ram F Series Pickup*
Ford Ranger F Series
GMC Ford Ranger Canyon
GMC Sierra** Canyon
Mazda GMC Sierra** B-series
Mazda B-series
These vehicles are made in the United States or Canada by members
of the UAW and Canadian Auto Workers (CAW).
Because
These vehicles
of the integration
are made in
of
the
United
United
States
States
and
or
Canadian
Canada by
vehicle
members
of the
production, all the vehicles listed that are made in Canada include
significant UAW-made
UAW and Canadian
content and
Auto
support
Workers
the
(CAW).
jobs of UAW members.
Because of the integration of United States and Canadian vehicle
production, However, those all the marked vehicles with listed an that asterisk are made (*) are in Canada produced include
the significant United UAW-made States and content another and country. support The the light-duty jobs of UAW (LD) members.
versions of the vehicles marked with a double asterisk (**)
crew
cab
are However, manufactured those marked only in Mexico; with an other asterisk models (*) are are produced made in in the
United the United States. States When and purchasing another country. one of these The light-duty models, (LD) check crew
the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). A VIN beginning with
cab versions of the vehicles marked with a double asterisk (**)
“1,” “4” or “5” identifies a U.S.-made vehicle; “2” identifies a
Canadian-made are manufactured vehicle. only in Mexico; other models are made in the
United Not all States. vehicles When made purchasing the United one States of these or Canada models, are built check by
union-represented the Vehicle Identification workers. Number Vehicles (VIN). not listed A VIN here, beginning even if produced
“1,” “4” in the or “5” United identifies States a or U.S.-made Canada, are vehicle; not union “2” made. identifies a
with
Canadian-made vehicle.
Not all vehicles made in the United States or Canada are built by
union-represented workers. Vehicles not listed here, even if produced
in the United States or Canada, are not union made.

Page 10 THE UAW LOCAL 5960 REPORT December 1, 2010
DREAM BUCK
By “Big Buck” Bob Zelinski
“Why did they have to pick the last
weekend of October to end daylight
saving time?” I was muttering to myself
as I stood at the base of my tree
stand hooking an “S” hook through
the cam of my bow. I paused to cool
down and catch my breath before
climbing the big oak tree. “I wish
those politicians had something better
to do than to cut one hour off of
prime time hunting during the rut,”
I said to myself as I climbed the tree.
“I’ll bet none of them even hunt, much
less know what the rut is all about,”
ran through my mind as I pulled up the
bow. As I nocked an arrow and hung
my bow in the ready position, I made
a mental note to write my legislator
suggesting that daylight saving time
be moved back a month.
A quick check of my watch showed
about an hour left to hunt. I sat on my
tree seat, drew in a deep breath and
eyeballed the surroundings trying to
clear my head so I could concentrate
on the task at hand.
Exhaling, I reached into my fanny
pack for my bionic ears, grunt call,
binoculars, gloves, head-net, hat and
release. After putting everything in
and on, I grabbed the grunt call and
grunted a few times. Not hearing or
seeing anything for about ten minutes,
I switched from the call to binoculars
and glassed the nearby scrape I was
hunting. To my delight, it had not only
been refreshed but was larger and a
little muddy, like urine-type muddy.
Things are looking up! A gentle
breeze blew in my face, excellent for
me. Temperature in the mid to upper
40’s, great weather for the “Better
Half” to pass out treats to the little
goblins. Ah-h-h-h...it doesn’t get any
better than this!
I leaned back against the tree to
wait and...SNAP!...WHOAAA...what
have we here, our guest of honor maybe?
I kept my head still and scanned
the forest floor as far right as my eyes
would go. I stared right until my eyes
were aching. NOTHING! I had to
turn my head or go crossed-eyed. I
slowly turned my head to the right and
eased my eyes back towards center.
Whew, what a relief! A movement...
brown in color with a tinge of white...a
leg! The leg moves forward and a head
appears and...OH MY GAWD!...UN-
BE-LIVEE-ABLE! What a rack! This
rack is HU-U-MOOONG-OUS! Not
only will it make Pope and Young; it’ll
make Boone and Crockett and maybe
even a new State number one!
The rack is mahogany in color with
8 to 10 inch brow tines. It looks to have
an inside spread somewhere between
24 and 30 inches and very massive with
8 to 10 inch circumference above the
burr. Long tines with 6 or 7 on each
beam. The C2’s look to be at least 15
to 16 inches long, very symmetrical
and few deductions. This rack without
a doubt will score well over 200 B&C
points by anyone’s standards. If there
is ever such a thing as a deer hunting
God or Saint, I want to thank him or
her NOW!
My palms are wet, perspiration dots
my forehead, knees are shaking, heart
is pounding and breathing is abnormal
to say the least. “I’m falling apart!”
I’VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING
FAST BEFORE I SCREW UP THIS
CHANCE OF A LIFETIME!...”
Look away, look away,” I tell myself.
I look down, it doesn’t work...THINK
OF SOMETHING....SOMETHING
BAD, I do, the IRS...nothing...paying
the IRS, a little help....the antis....better.
Breathing back to normal, heart
slowed, knees stilled, I look up...AH
JEEZ, sweat drips into my eyes, they
burn...everything is a blur, I can’t
see...DAMN!
The buck steps behind some trees
and stops. A much-needed break for
me. I slo-o-owly reach under my headnet
and wipe my eyes and forehead
with my brown cotton gloves. Crisis
averted! The buck takes a couple
more steps towards my shooting lane,
stops, raises his head and sniffs the
air. CAN’T GET OVER THE SIZE
OF THAT RACK!
Now my heart starts beating faster, I
look away again. GAWD, this is nerve
racking! I understand now how deer
and deer hunting can cause heart
attacks. If I survive this, I’ll get mine
checked! I look back...he’s moving
with his nose to the ground. I slowly
rise and reach for my bow all in the
same motion. My knees feel like a
bowl full of jello on springs. I rest
my bow in the holder attached to my
belt and wait.
The sun has set, the clouds have
moved in, the temperature has
dropped and a breeze has kicked up
a little. It’s still blowing in my face...
It feels good, cool. My body is soaking
wet from sweat and my mouth is
dry...can’t swallow. Only a few more
steps and he’ll be in the shooting
lane and then hopefully in the books.
The heart pace quickens...I feel
weak, but I stay focused...“PLEASE
GOD”...help me. Prayers said, I wait
for the final step. FINALLY, he
steps into the shooting lane...stops
inside my 20 yard marker and looks
away from me. Prayers answered!
I raise my bow...the release is in
position...draw back to my anchor
point...aim...and...BOB...BOB...
BOB!!!! *&^%$ WHAT THE
HELL?????? YOU’VE GOT TO
BE KIDDING ME!!!!!! BOB...BOB
WHAT!!!!!!! “Get up you’re going
to be late for work.” Have you gone
mad woman?!!!...I was just about
to shoot the biggest buck I’ve ever
seen in my life, the biggest buck
on PLANET EARTH AND YOU
WAKE ME UP!!” “Sorry about
that, Hon, but it’s getting late...you
can finish shooting him tonight.”
“What day is it?” Tuesday the 15th
of July, 5:15 a.m...Now get moving!
“AW JEEZ... I can’t believe this.”
“BOB, why is your side of the bed
soaking wet?”... “I dunno, got a little
excited, I guess.”... “You got a little
WHAT?”... “Never mind.”
Hope all of you enjoyed this little
story. Good luck hunting and hunt
safe. Remember, all the deer in the
woods aren’t worth a hunting accident.
BIG BUCK BZ