March 4, 2008
There has been considerable progress in National
Negotiations over the past 4 weeks. Your local Negotiating
Committee along with the International Representatives,
Harry Bogan, Gary McGuire, Willie Thorpe, Steve Trent and
Steve Lykins have been putting in long hours to reach a
settlement that will satisfy our needs as a plant, and to
further put us in a successful position. While the committee
is still negotiating, we are awaiting word on the status of
the unknown VEBA. The basis for a settlement hinges on these
results. We must not hastily agree just to say that we have
an agreement to bring to this membership for ratification.
It is our thoughts that whatever monies that will be put
into this fund will be sustainable for the current retirees
and the immediate members that may elect to retire in the
near future. The individuals that must be concerned that
this fund will be fully funded and operational will be the
individuals who will retire 10-20 years from now. This is
why it is imperative that we are convinced that this will
work.
As you are aware, during National Negotiations, we
usually "pattern bargain" the UAW agreement. Most of what
has been accomplished and negotiated have fallen in line
with the UAW agreement. We have IUEized positions of ours
and deviated a little to try to get the success that is
desired. The economic package of this agreement is very
similar to the UAW but the corporation is giving direction
that the IUE must also reach and agreement with a VEBA as
the UAW did. The International doesn't take that same
position but is open to the idea if it is feasible.
We have reached the point of the negotiations process
that is critical that we have unity and to try to keep the
rumors at a minimum. As stated many times before about any
rumors- if it doesn't sound right, then it probably isn't. We
have continued to keep an open door policy and it is our
objective to always be honest and direct with you and keep
you informed. We fully understand the mounting frustrations
of a lack of an immediate future and a newly negotiated
agreement. Most of you are smart enough to realize that
there are times to flex your muscles and there are times to
utilize your wisdom to get you to the point that you most
desire. This is where we want to get to as your elected
leaders and the consensus from the entire committee.
Your top local leadership have been pushing to get the
SAP (buy-out) as quickly as possible. There is no hidden
agenda here like some would like to suggest. Here is the
logic: After this lengthy set of bargaining, layoff of some
250 fellow members and hundreds of people asking when this
will take place so they may retire or are just so unsure of
the future of this plant that they would like to take
advantage of this opportunity. It is our belief that we
shouldn't hold this back from these members. This will allow
said people to take their lives in another direction, and
bring the laid off members back in a quicker fashion whom
would prefer to continue their career at GM. We know and
understand the people who like to politic inside our plant
will try to make something out of this, but the truth be
told, your leadership does care about this membership and
will address issues that directly impact our local. We are
not afraid to make a decision that we feel is in the best
interest of the members, and this is one that we thought
long and hard on and believe that this is the right thing to
do, and believe that the membership will appreciate it.
We will keep you informed of everything that has been
decided, but as said before, things that are agreed on can
change daily but at the point that this agreement will go
for ratification, you will all know exactly what is in this
agreement.
In Solidarity,
Gaylen, John and Rob
