Top Leaders from Local 798
Visit Tim Lee & Amy Farmer

     On Tuesday, March 11, 2008 your top local leaders (Gaylen, John and Rob) traveled to Pontiac, Michigan to have a meeting with Tim Lee, Vice President of Vehicle Manufacturing and Amy Farmer, Manufacturing Manager of  GM Vehicle Manufacturing. We felt that Mr. Lee and Ms. Farmer are two of the people that we would like to have on our side in our quest to secure a new vehicle for the future.

     While there, we presented an in depth analysis of where our plant had been, where it was now, and what we saw for the future. We spoke candidly about many issues. One of them being all of the hard work done by our committee in negotiations, our commitment to being open and willing to look at all possibilities, but most of all we talked about our workforce and how proud we are of  this membership and your accomplishments.

     We explained to them your commitment to be ahead of the curve on almost any issue brought your way. How through the years you have shown a willingness to do whatever was necessary to secure work for this facility. (Example: Competitive agreement/3 crew 2 shift).

     We told him we understood the situation GM is in at this time, but felt that through negotiations we had taken the steps as a committee to secure a profitable situation here. In fact we felt that we could compete with the competition and make Moraine Assembly a high volume 3 shift operation again.                                                                                               

     Challenges do not bother this workforce. We take them and make them work.

     In the end, we feel we made a very good impression, and Mr. Lee stated that “although he could not commit to a new product, we certainly did make many good points, and gave the corporation a lot of things to think about.”

     We felt good about the meeting and also felt that it was imperative that we meet with these influential people who could help us in our quest. Our International was well represented by Steve Trent at the meeting, and he also felt that the meeting went well.

     In our opinion it will be very hard for the corporation not to put a product in this facility.

     To end the meeting your top local leaders (Gaylen, John and Rob) assured Mr. Lee, and Ms. Farmer that we would travel anywhere, talk to anyone, make any presentation necessary to continue to sell this plant and workforce.

Thank you for your continued support.

Gaylen, John and Rob