Magzine

SPRING 2015
Looking Ahe ad at the uaw- Chrysler National Tr aining Center
Volume 12 • Number 5
www.uaw-chrysler.com
Warren
Belvedere
259 miles
231 miles
Sterling
Heights
265 miles
Detroit
244 miles
Windsor
245 miles
Brampton
459 miles
Toledo
186 miles
Maranello
4,641 miles
Melfi
4,982 miles
Modena
4,638 miles
Tipton
15 miles
Saltillo
1,582 miles
Toluca
2,079 miles
Tofas
5,538 miles
in memorium
General Holiefield
Sunrise, June 6, 1953 – Sunset, March 9, 2015
A beacon of love, hope and solidarity
General Holiefield was a big
man with an even bigger heart.
He made the world a better
place, always putting others’
interests above his own whether
representing UAW members, fighting for
social justice or lifting up the downtrodden.
Never forgetting his roots on the shop
floor, the burly 6-foot-3-inch Holiefield
rose through Local 961 ranks at Detroit
Axle and eventually became a two-term
Vice President and Director of the UAW’s
Chrysler Department. He retired last June.
More than 1,000 well-wishers from all
walks of life attended his March 17 funeral
at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, paying
tribute to his prowess as a labor negotiator
and compassion as a humanitarian.
When the nation’s economic crisis
threatened Chrysler’s existence, Holiefield
rose to the challenge and is considered by
many to be “the man who saved Chrysler.”
“I firmly believe that God gave the
UAW Chrysler Department a General
to get us through our darkest hour,”
UAW Coordinator Shawn Fain said of
Holiefield’s pivotal role in helping the
company survive bankruptcy in 2009.
“General had giant shoulders that carried
an entire membership, along with many
communities, as he helped forge a future
for the company under the worst of
possible circumstances.”
UAW President Dennis Williams
concu rs,“With his leadership and
dedication, Chrysler regained its footing.”
FCA US Chief Executive Sergio
Marchionne put it this way: “I strongly
believe (Holiefield) changed Chrysler’s
history and probably also the UAW’s
2
history. He was a true partner and a key
force behind the transformation of our
company.”
He said Holiefield played a critical part
in creating nearly 15,000 new UAW jobs
in the last six years.
UAW Vice President Nor wo o d
Jewell, current Director of the Chrysler
Department, called Holiefield “a giant
within the labor movement,” and said that,
“As a result of his passing, there is now a
void in the heart and spirit of our team.”
This “gentle giant,” whose bear hugs
became his calling card, touched the lives
of countless others through his social
activism and humanitarian efforts. His
Leave the Light On Foundation targeted
the needs of at-risk youth.
“I have a tenacious love for children
who deserve a fighting chance to succeed
in today’s society,” Holiefield had said.
He was the anchor of a large family
and a mentor for the younger generation.
“General was about love,” said his wife,
Monica Morgan-Holiefield, an international
photojournalist whom he married in 2012.
“That is who he was; he was the patriarch.”
Such was the essence of an extraordinary
man with an unbridled lust for life, cut
short at 61 by pancreatic cancer.
“You could tell right away that General
Holiefield was a guy who cared about
people,” said Macomb County (Michigan)
Executive Mark Hackel. “We will forever
miss him but never forget the tremendous
value he added to our lives.”
To learn more about Holiefield’s life
and legacy, read the upcoming online
issue at www.tomorrowextra.com. ■
tomorrow spring 2015 www.uaw-chrysler.com
cover story
UAW-Chrysler
National Training Center
2211 East Jefferson Avenue
Detroit, MI 48207
313.567.3300
Fax: 313.567.3048
Email: rrussell@ucntc.org
www.uaw-chrysler.com
Joint Activities Board
Norwood Jewell
Vice President, Director
Chrysler Department
UAW Co-Chairman
Alphons A. Iacobelli
Vice President
Employee Relations
FCA North America Co-Chairman
Nancy Adams Johnson
Top Administrative Assistant to
Vice President Jewell
Michael R. Jessamy
Director, Labor Relations and
Medical Operations
FCA US LLC
KTP Plant Manager Ray Anderson (left) and UAW Local 685 Vice President Jerry Price
are pleased, having added 2,000 new workers in less than three years.
Miguel Foster
UAW Co-Director
UAW-Chrysler NTC
Michael Brown
Chrysler Co-Director
UAW-Chrysler NTC
Virdell King
UAW Associate Co-Director
UAW-Chrysler NTC
Patrick Gibson
Chrysler Associate Co-Director
UAW-Chrysler NTC
“General honored all of us
in the trade labor movement.
His legacy will never die.”
Dennis Williams
UAW President
“General stood up for us.
We are the union, the mighty,
mighty union.”
Barbara Jackson
UAW Local 961 Retiree
“He helped turn the
impossible into the possible.”
Sergio Marchionne
FCA US Chief Executive
Kokomo is world’s transmission
and die-casting leader
K
okomo, Indiana, is known as
the “City of Firsts.” They began
in 1894 when resident Elwood
Haynes successfully demonstrated a
horseless carriage prototype – two
years before Henry Ford’s Quadracycle
turned a wheel under its own power.
That same year also saw creation of the
country’s first pneumatic tire at the
Kokomo Rubber Tire Company. Local
historians believe that the aluminum
die-casting process was perfected in
1895 in a Kokomo foundry.
Haynes was building automobiles in
quantity by 1898, before he pioneered
cobalt-based Stellite alloy for cutlery
in 1906 and stainless steel flatware in
1912. Kokomo inventor John Powell
created the first mechanical corn picker
in 1920, followed by the Kemp Brothers
Canning Company innovation of canned
tomato juice in 1928.
Chrysler Corporation entered
the picture in 1937 when it began
production of cast-iron three-speed
manual transmissions in the former
Haynes production facility on Home
Avenue. Kokomo’s sk i l le d a nd
enthusiastic workforce prompted
Chrysler executives to break ground
in 1955 on an all-new plant, dedicated
to building three-speed automatic
transmissions.
Since 1937, the Kokomo region
has produced more than 120 million
gearboxes, making it the undisputed
transmission capital of the world. Also
home to the Kokomo Casting Plant,
the world’s largest and most productive
die-casting operation, the city is now
a global FCA US production hub
employing more than 8,000 people.
Kokomo workers have demonstrated
unwavering commitment to FCA US
and the company has in turn made
unprecedented investments of more
than $1.9 billion in Kokomo-area
production facilities since 2009. New
and upgraded facilities and a dedicated
UAW workforce represented by Locals
685, 1166 and 1302 are now embracing
World Class Manufacturing (WCM)
principles to produce fuel-efficient six-,
eight- and nine-speed transmissions.
Indiana Transmission Plant II and
the Kokomo Transmission Plant were
recently awarded Bronze status in
WCM audits for increased productivity,
sparkling cleanliness, safer working
conditions and overall output quality.
This issue of Tomorrow celebrates
the plants, the people, the products
and the processes that have driven the
Kokomo region to global transmission
production and die-casting leadership.
Kokomo, this one’s for you. ■
The FCA US Kokomo Complex and UAW locals have
a culture of community service and big hearts for charity.
Look for an article highlighting these activities in the
upcoming online issue at www.tomorrowextra.com
Kokomo photography by Frank Kidd.
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cover story
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UAW Mayor face To
and the
To better understand the uniquely
collaborative relationship between the
UAW, FCA US LLC, and the city of
Kokomo, Tomorrow pulled together:
• Local 685 President Carl
Greenwood
• Local 1166 President Tyler
Sanders
• Local 1166 Skilled Trades
Committeeman Steve Stahl
• Local 1302 President George
Maus
• FCA US General Manager,
Head of Transmission, Casting
and Components Division Bob
Varsanik
• Kokomo Complex HR
Manager Jerry Gilliland
• Mayor Greg Goodnight
The mayor’s City Hall conference
room served as venue for this lively
discussion.
Tomorrow: What does being “the
transmission capital of the world”
mean to residents of Kokomo and the
surrounding area?
George: Security.
Steve: Jobs.
Carl: Money.
Tyler: Pride.
Jerry: A way to better one’s self,
through education and learning.
Bob: Opportunity.
4
Carl: Here in Kokomo and in
Howard and Tipton counties, it means
security and a sustained standard of
living.
Tomorrow: Mayor Goodnight, since
you took office in 2008, violent crime
in Kokomo is down by 24 percent.
Vehicle theft alone is down 47 percent.
Please describe the correlation between
an improved employment picture at
FCA US, its investment in Kokomo
and a safer community.
Mayor: When you look at the
FBI crime statistics for Kokomo over
the last seven years, there are many
factors. Local government is similar
to manufacturing, in that we try to
establish our goals by taking a longterm perspective. We aim to maximize
the investment that business and
industry have made by reinvesting
in our community. We do our best
to clean up our neighborhoods and
spread that investment out. We’ve
invested in lighting. We’ve invested
in our parks. We’re creating job
opportunities. People want to live in
a safe, clean community, with a good
public school system for their children.
Increased police patrols and targeted
code enforcement have helped, too.
Tomorrow: Other perspectives
from the table?
Carl: To see the positive direction
for Kokomo, take a look at Anderson,
tomorrow spring 2015 www.uaw-chrysler.com
Newcastle, Muncie and other Indiana
cities where you can see the vacuum
created by a major manufacturer
closing up shop. Crime is increased
due to the lack of jobs, more empty
houses and young people fleeing. All
that is left are retirees and a service
economy.
Tomorrow: How did Kokomo end
up in the sweet spot, compared to
those other towns?
Carl: It’s because of the UAW
and FCA working together. We are
maximizing the investments made
in our plants here. It’s FCA top
management and UAW leadership
being cheerleaders for the Kokomo
region. The result is a stronger
community with a stabilized tax base.
People are more confident in their
future here.
Tyler: Agreed.
C a r l : It’s m o r e t h a n n e w
construction across Sycamore Street
from City Hall. Kokomo residents
can enjoy their parks and facilities.
Downtown, even the alleys have ample
lighting and park benches.
Mayor: One of the biggest drivers
of our local economy is the confidence
of our residents, combined with the
confidence of companies like FCA
that have invested here. Confidence
engenders commitment.
Bob: Coming back to Kokomo
after a 10-year absence, this progress
is very apparent to me. When I started
here in 1986, I lived in Kokomo’s
downtown Historic District. It’s great
to see sustained preservation and how
well Kokomo has integrated heritage
with progress and new construction.
Tomorrow: Speaking of history, diecasting and transmission production
go hand-in-hand, right?
Bob: It now even goes beyond
transmissions. Locally, we’re now
casting and machining engine blocks
for several high-volume V-6 engines.
Tyler: Currently, about 800,000
engine blocks a year. We’re also
supplying blocks to Ferrari and
Maserati, so Kokomo is truly a global
casting supplier and a benchmark for
other facilities.
Mayor: When the auto industry
was at the early-2009 low point,
Washington made some strategic
decisions, acting swiftly to keep the
auto industry on track. While there
were sacrifices, such as plant and
dealership closings, the measures taken
at the time are paying dividends now.
George: I’ve lived here since the
early 1970s and have witnessed the
growth that the mayor talks about. I
believe that without Chrysler, Kokomo
could be another economic hole in
central Indiana.
Carl: It was more than the existing
infrastructure. It’s the manufacturing
expertise that we have here.
It’s the casting expertise we have
here. And it’s supportive management
of people who grew up or came of age
here in Kokomo. Without local guys
on the management team advocating
for the Kokomo region, it would be
harder to bring new products and more
production here.
Jerry: As residents, we all have a
vested interest. It’s a team effort.
Carl: It’s the culmination of many
factors. We’re all pulling together.
Tomorrow: So it’s infrastructure,
a highly technical workforce, location
and supportive management.
Tyler: Not just a skilled workforce,
but a proud workforce.
Bob: World Class Manufacturing
(WCM) was brought to us by Fiat. It
called for lots of learning, on everyone’s
part. I’ve personally seen WCM
involve the UAW membership and
management together as one common
team with a shared vision. Do we
still face issues? Of course we do. But
the shared desire to be world class
brings us together to achieve a common
goal. Through WCM and kaizens,
the employees on the floor – the real
experts – now have a much louder
voice. We address as much as we can,
with follow-up communication. In
my 29 years with this great company,
WCM is proving to be the strongest
program with the utmost consistency
among every single one of our facilities.
Carl: I’ve come to appreciate WCM
because, after an audit is conducted,
the standards achieved must be
maintained. The next audit starts over
again at square one, so performance
must be sustained. In past programs,
your score became the baseline for the
next evaluation.
Bob : You hit the nail on the
head. The audit process, based on 10
technical and 10 managerial pillars, is
conducted by auditors from our other
global facilities. It’s rigorous and it
drives accountability.
Tomorrow: Tyler, can we get a
casting perspective on WCM?
Tyler: Long-term workers have
seen many programs come and go,
so it’s difficult to achieve 100 percent
buy-in, 100 percent of the time. In
light of the production we are tasked
to achieve, it’s sometimes difficult
to embrace every facet of WCM in
the casting environment. Our goal
is to get high-quality castings out
the door on time. That said, I can
tell you that conditions in our plant
have been greatly improved under
WCM and investments made by the
company. We’re now getting gas-fired
heat to replace boilers, meaning greatly
improved air quality and working
conditions. It’s because of managers
seeing firsthand what conditions are
like and making the investment in
improvements. Morale goes up, not
just from improved conditions, but
because workers see management’s
commitment under WCM. A cleaner,
safer casting facility is a win for all
concerned.
Bob: There will always be issues, but
that’s what continuous improvement is
all about. WCM is about the ongoing
pursuit of manufacturing excellence
and achieving perfection in every
aspect of our business.
Steve : The casting facility is
unique. There was no audit format
for die-casting, so we started from
zero. Now, we’re shooting for Bronze
recognition.
Jerry: The casting facility is a
global benchmark.
Top, left to right: Greg Goodnight, George Maus, Steve
Stahl, Carl Greenwood, Tyler Sanders, Bob Varsanik,
full group, Jerry Gilliland. Inset: Greg Goodnight.
5
Amanda Heath, Die Casting • 2½ years of service (left)
cover story
Facility Facts
“I’m confident about the future.”
Wendy Stout, Die Cast Inspector • 20 years of service (center)
“The high quality of the parts we produce here.”
Kokomo Transmission Plant
Opened: 1956 • 3.1 million square feet • 110 acres
Employment: 3,402 (3,013 hourly, 389 salaried) UAW locals: 685 and 1302
Naj Strayhorn Die Casting • 4 years of service
UAW Local 1166, Kokomo Casting Plant
Indiana Transmission Plant I
“The way our team works together to get the job done.”
Points of Pride
Opened: 1988 • 1.2 million square feet • 223 acres
Employment: 2,660 (2,355 hourly, 305 salaried - combined with ITP II ) UAW Local: 685
what makes you proud as an FCA employee?
Indiana Transmission Plant II
Opened: 2003 • 600,000 square feet • 61 acres
Employment: 2,660 (2,355 hourly, 305 salaried, with ITP I) UAW Locals: 685 and 1302
Kokomo Casting Plant
Opened: 1965 • 625,000 square feet • 35 acres
Bill Robertson, Electrician • UAW Local 1166,
Kokomo Casting Plant • 22 years of service
Christina Kruemmer, Department 6400 Machining • UAW
Local 685, Indiana Transmission Plant II • 3 years of service
“I’m proud of our teamwork, a
result of the family atmosphere on
the shop floor.”
“Taking machines back to basics and
making better processes, in order to create
higher quality products.”
Damon Johnson, Department 6900 Assembly • Indiana
Transmission Plant II • 18 years of service
David Dukes, Plant Manager • Tipton Transmission
Plant • 18 years of service
“The people I work with. My team is more
than 70 people, and I think I have the best
group a supervisor could ask for.”
“In 2014, we were able to attain our aggressive
launch curve. This was achieved by the teams
utilizing the WCM tools and methodologies.”
Deana Hill, Valve Body Assembly • UAW Local
685, Tipton Transmission Plant • 23 years of service
Frank Stedry, Tool Engineer • UAW Local 1302,
Kokomo Transmission Plant • 4 years of service
“I’m proud of how World Class
Manufacturing has improved our
products.”
“The cost savings our team delivers
for our plant and the company.”
Issac White, Valve Body Testing • UAW Local 685,
Kokomo Transmission Plant • 21 years of service
Mike Boyer, Millwright • UAW Local 1166, Kokomo
Casting Plant • 6 months of service
“I’m responsible for the valve body.
It’s the ‘brain’ of the transmission.”
“Casting world-class products, right
here in Indiana!”
Ray Anderson, Plant Manager • Kokomo
Transmission Plant • 18 years of service
Rich McClory, Valve Body Sub-Assembly • UAW Local
685, Indiana Transmission Plant I • 19½ years of service
“We’re a 59 year-old facility that is
world-class competitive.”
“I am proud that the ITP I workforce
was qualified enough to bring nine-speed
transmission production here to secure jobs.”
Tina Moore, Production Control • UAW Local 685,
Indiana Transmission Plant I • 2½ years of service
Jeremy Keating, Plant Manager • Indiana Transmission Plant I
• 17 years of service
“I am proud of Kokomo as a community
and as a workplace because people pull
together to help others in times of need.”
“I am proud of the teamwork, commitment
and dedication of the people and the way we
work together to accomplish our goals.”
Employment: 1,313 (1,162 hourly, 151 salaried) UAW Locals: 1166 and 1302
Tipton Transmission Plant
Opened: 2014 • 781,500 square feet • 93 acres
Employment: 708 (651 hourly, 57 salaried) UAW Local: 685
Kokomo’s Greatest Hits
terrific transmissions providing mobility for millions
•Cast-iron three-speed manual transmission: From 1937 to 1956, more than
5 million were produced at Kokomo’s Home Avenue plant.
• A-466 Torque-Flyte automatic: Robust cast-iron construction, three speeds
and push-button controls made it a mid-century benchmark.
• A-727, the automatic transmission invariably found behind big-block Mopar
muscle cars. More than 11.5 million built.
• A-904, a lightweight automatic, usually mated to slant-six engines to deliver
legendary durability. More than 15 million produced.
• A-404, Chrysler’s initial automatic transmission for transverse-engine, front
wheel drive applications. Launched in 1977, more than 13.5 million built.
3
4
• A-604 four-speed: More than 17 million produced, used in Chrysler Town &
Country, Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager minivans.
• A-606, launched in 1992. This was the exclusive transmission used in LH
“cab-forward” full-size sedans. More than 3 million were produced.
• 42RLE, a fuel saving transmission with overdrive. This automatic was
developed for rear- and four-wheel drive vehicles with longitudinal engine
configurations.
• 845LE, an advanced automatic transmission with eight-speeds, first debuting
in the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger.
•948TE, the ground-breaking nine-speed automatic transmission for frontwheel- and all-wheel-drive applications. With nine forward gears, it’s an
industry exclusive.
A Kokomo Legacy:
Linda Purvis merchant tells her
family’s 126-year story
6
tomorrow spring 2015 www.uaw-chrysler.com
6
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• 62TE, launched in 2006. This six-speed automatic used electronic controls
and was adapted for all-wheel drive use. More than 2.9 million built.
• 66RFE, a heavy-duty automatic used most frequently for Ram truck
applications in both rear-wheel and four-wheel drive.
I
am a third-generation employee. In 1940, my grandfather, William “Elliot” Purvis, was hired at the old Home Avenue Plant in
Kokomo as a machine repairman. He retired in 1968, after 28 years.
In 1942, shortly before being drafted into the Army, my father William “Ernest” Purvis was hired at the Home Avenue Plant. After the
war he pursued farming. By 1965, financial responsibility for five children brought him back to the UAW and Chrysler at KTP. Retiring in 1990,
he was credited with 28 years.
My brother Larry started at KTP after turning 18, retiring after 32 years. Brother Denny began as a skilled tradesman at KTP, later
transferring to ITP I where he currently works. He has logged 21 years.
As a UAW Local 685 member, I’ve worked here for 17 years and build valve bodies at KTP, previously serving at ITP I and ITP II.
Chrysler and the UAW have provided us with a comfortable living. In return, I’m proud of the hard work that my family has contributed. ■
7
difference maker
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or Sterling Stamping’s Latoshia
Smith-Halty, inspiration came
from the convergence of two
events. The first was losing her aunt –
her best friend – to cancer. The second
was her transformative realization
that Breast Cancer Awareness month
in October went unrecognized at her
Sterling Heights, Michigan, facility.
“Connecting these dots compelled
me to take action, inviting co-workers
to think pink,” says Smith-Halty, UAW
Communications Lead for her plant.
Fortunately, she had a community
service program called Hearts of Steel
already in place. It grew out of a 2011
charitable collaboration among Sterling
Stamping, Mt. Elliott Tool & Die in
Detroit and UAW Locals 1264 and 212.
After recruiting more employees
from both facilities to jointly
participate in volunteer activities,
Smith-Halty attended a UAW Region
1 International Women’s Committee
meeting and learned of a partnership
between the union and the American
Cancer Society (ACS). She realized
that the union’s ACS relationship
could help her to make Breast Cancer
Awareness a much bigger thing at
Sterling Stamping.
‘think
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t
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g
i
member
4
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tamping
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pink’
So it was that Hearts of Steel
evolved into Pink Hearts of Steel.
Starting slowly, Smith-Halty
personally paid for pink T-shirts worn
by supporters from within the plant.
Volunteers work employee gates and
the company store, passing out pink
rubber bracelets and photographing
supporters and even those just pausing
to listen to their message about breast
cancer. Donations earn recognition for
supporters who appear on TV monitors
throughout the facility.
Under a rallying call to “Pink Out
the Plant,” the campaign has expanded
to include Pink Bake Sales, Pink Movie
Nights, a Pink Halloween Skating Party,
a Pink Game Day and a Pink Zumba
dance fitness program.
Each event is coordinated by a
Pacesetter volunteer, fulfilling SmithHalty’s objective of engaging workers
and the community. Pacesetters are the
busiest and most productive fund-raisers
for the cause.
In addition, she has signed up more
than 100 participants in the annual
“Making Strides” ACS walk event in
downtown Detroit and made breast
cancer awareness a critical component
in plant health and safety events.
rides to and from my treatments.
When you receive a cancer diagnosis,
it’s devastating. The company and
union benefits people not only told
me what to ask my health care
providers, but how to ask the right
questions. They held my hand and
walked me through the entire process.
The compassion I experienced from
teammates was overwhelming. Hearing
the stories of others who had faced the
same situation was a big help. While
I was off work, I could pick up the
phone and get moral support from
people here. I never felt isolated.
Knowing that my job was waiting
for me when I returned was a huge
confidence builder and improved my
attitude and my outlook. It kept me
“Latoshia’s passion has made Sterling
Stamping the UAW leader in American
Cancer Society fund raising for the last
three years,” says ACS representative
Felicia McMullen. “More than $64,000
has been raised in support of the
cause. We’ve asked Latoshia to share
best practices for worker engagement
with other locals and facilities. She
has a knack for recruiting Pacesetter
volunteers, who find joy and bring joy
to the fight against cancer.” ■
“In addition to identifying and recruiting the next generation of Pink Hearts of Steel leaders, my goal is to make our
American Cancer Society outreach even more fun and accessible to all,” she says. “But for me, the most rewarding part
of this campaign has been hearing the stories of cancer survivors among the Sterling Stamping family.”
tomorrow spring 2015 www.uaw-chrysler.com
By Sharon Campbell
Top left: Connie Leak, UAW Women’s Committee,
honors Latoshia Smith-Halty. Bottom right: Pink
Hearts of Steel group at “Making Strides” walk.
What’s next for Smith-Halty?
8
Support system
makes difference
for cancer survivor
“
I never felt
isolated.”
W
ithout the UAW and
my job waiting for me in
recovery – physically and
mentally – I would not have survived.
Support from the UAW was a key
element in my recovery and survival
after a cancer diagnosis in the late
summer of 2011. First, the company
and UAW benefit package provides
excellent health insurance coverage.
Fabulous health insurance eased my
financial worries, which gave me
confidence. Next, the support and
compassion I felt from my union sisters
and brothers helped me recognize that
I wasn’t facing this alone.
This support included people
calling regularly to check up on me,
connecting with cancer survivors who
had returned to the plant, and even
positive and optimistic, which really
helps when you are self-consciously
wearing a wig or missing breasts. In
recovery and just back to work, my
UAW Local 1264 coworkers have
helped make it easier for me to readjust.
You just can’t imagine the powerful
emotions I have experienced as a survivor
seeing a pink ribbon on the sign out
front and walking back into the plant
when everyone is showing their support
by wearing pink.
Thank you all. ■
Sharon Campbell is a Materials Handler at
Sterling Stamping.
Readers react
It was a privilege to be included in the November
2014 Veterans Issue of Tomorrow magazine. Our
stories need to be told, not just for historical
reference, but to show the uniqueness of serving
in the United States military.
What sets us apart is our oath to protect and
preserve our Constitution, protecting our rights
as citizens to freedom of speech, the right to
peacefully assemble and so forth. Our military
has the distinction of being a very diverse group,
representing every socio-economic background, all
races, creeds and religions. Our diversity strengthens
us, as we pursue our common goal of protecting and
preserving the Constitution of the United States of
America. Its opening words, “We the people,” are
truly representative of our military forces.
George Farrell
UAW Local 889
Mopar Center Line (Mich.) Complex
On behalf of the UAW Local 12 Jeep Unit
workforce at the Toledo Assembly Complex, thanks
to Tomorrow magazine for sharing our proud
military heritage stories and Veterans Memorial
display with the UAW membership. The Toledo
Jeep workforce is proud of our military veterans
and thank them for their sacrifices, paving the
way for the past, present and future America. We
want to pay our respect to veterans of all ages for
preserving our way of life and exhibit our pride
in building Jeeps in Toledo for the past 74 years.
Mark Epley
Chairman: UAW Local 12 Jeep Unit
“
Thank you very much for
the article about me in
the most recent Tomorrow Veterans
Issue. My coworkers and family
members really enjoyed reading
about my military service and
even asked for my autograph. That
made my day!”
Beatrice “Bea” Herring
UAW Local 723
Dundee Engine Plant
(Mich.)
9
health and safety
T
he continuing growth of
FCA US LLC and its UAWrepresented workforce is today
creating a new dynamic throughout
the company – the culmination of
enduring experience, new energy and
advanced education.
And among the best examples
of th at dyn a m ic is the UAWChrysler National Training Center’s
(NTC) Health and Safety Specialist
Certification Program.
The program, an intensive 240-hour
educational regimen for UAW H&S
reps, trainers and ergonomic analysts,
as well as company health and safety
managers and administrators, is now
in its 20th year. And participation
is ballooning as new hires and old
hands join in the effort to protect
every worker.
This past winter, 75 employees from
across the country converged on the
UAW-Chrysler Technology Training
Center in Warren, Michigan, for a new
session of the certification training
program. Among them were dozens
of participants already on their way to
earning certification and – reflective of
the burgeoning FCA US workforce –
29 who were new to their health and
safety roles.
UAW Local 140 member Angela
Parker is an ergonomic analyst at
Warren Truck Assembly. She was
appointed to the job last October,
although she has worked at the plant
for 21 years.
She’s had several jobs over those
years, the last 10 adding radiator
fluid to trucks moving along the line.
Parker says ergonomics is particularly
important in that job, “dealing
with heavy machinery and moving
equipment, while on your feet all day.”
Despite all her experience, Parker
says she picked up plenty of new
knowledge at the conference, such as
how to “make equipment adapt to the
worker, rather than make the worker
adapt to the equipment.”
Jovaun Royal hasn’t been with the
company long – he began working at
the Jefferson Avenue Assembly Plant
as an intern in 2013 and only recently
became a full-time management safety
specialist. But he came to the conference
with an academic background to kickstart his training.
Royal, who has a bachelor’s degree
in occupational safety and health
management, said he was impressed
by how “in-depth” the training was.
“I learned a lot of things I didn’t
know and was able to refresh a lot of
the things I learned in college,” he says.
“I was able to take advantage of classes
in some of the technical areas that
weren’t my strengths, like ventilation
and electrical safety, and to refresh my
knowledge in lockout/tag-out and some
environmental courses, too.”
That’s how it’s supposed to work.
“This training is a win-win
experience for all participants,” says
Kevin Waszak, management Health
and Safety Coordinator at the NTC.
“Attendees improve their knowledge
base, and take that knowledge back
to their facilities for application. That
creates a safer and healthier work
environment for all employees.”
UAW H e a l t h a n d S a f e t y
Coordinator Loreese Lee agreed.
“As veteran UAW employees work
with newly hired college grads in
the health and safety field,” she says,
“they provide a wealth of experience
and knowledge to effectively address
health and safety issues, identify their
root causes and implement countermeasures using the hierarchy of
(hazard) controls.” ■
Read more about how health and safety
champions benefit from training provided
by the NTC in the upcoming issue at
www.tomorrowextra.com.
The bottom line
•Since the program began, more than 600 employees have taken courses toward certification
• Nearly 400 have completed the course work
• Certified Health and Safety Specialists continue to train and must complete 24 hours of course work each year to remain certified
10
tomorrow spring 2015 www.uaw-chrysler.com
real people
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Exper n deliver H&S
educatio
What’s it like to be a guest
at the President’s State of
the Union address?
Just ask this JNAP worker
special-needs students. I started on
JNAP’s afternoon shift in June of
2010, continuing my DPS day job
for another year. Those were grueling
17½-hour workdays.
What challenges did you face?
As a single mother, balancing my
finances, the clock and my emotional
health represented quite a struggle.
Then what?
I’m open-minded. I would consider
either UAW employment or a
management opportunity with FCA.
What is your message to fellow
UAW members?
It has been my honor and privilege
to represent the UAW, in front of our
entire country.
Please tell us about your children.
Melvin is now 24, Tachae is 20 and
Raven is 14.
What did you say in your letter to
the President?
I personally thanked him for his role
in saving our company, which in turn
created the UAW-Chrysler opportunity
for me. The response to my letter was
an invitation to sit with Michelle
Obama for the President’s speech.
U
AW Local 7 member Tiairris
Woodard had an once-in-alifetime experience on Jan. 20
when she sat in the box of First Lady
Michelle Obama for the 2015 State
of the Union address to Congress at
the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
The Jefferson North Assembly Plant
(JNAP) worker was invited to watch
President Obama deliver the address
after she wrote a letter thanking him
for his support of the auto industry in
Detroit. Tiairris responded to questions
from Tomorrow about herself and
her special moment in the national
spotlight.
What was your job experience prior
to hiring in at Jefferson North?
I served the Detroit Public Schools
(DPS) for eight years, working with
What has your 15 minutes of fame
been like?
Certainly my family is very proud of
me. It’s nice as co-workers congratulate
me and take pride in my State of the
Union role. This is all very “out of the
box” for me, as I’m normally a very
private person.
What is your current job at JNAP?
As a floater, I serve wherever I’m needed
at that particular time.
You are a UAW-Chrysler Tuition
Assistance Plan student, right?
Yes. This is a wonderful benefit that
I encourage everyone in the UAW
to use to their fullest advantage. I’m
currently taking online classes with
Macomb Community College.
What are you studying?
My goal is earning a bachelor’s degree
in business management.
11
UAW-Chrysler
National Training Center
2211 East Jefferson Avenue
Detroit, MI 48207
This magazine is printed by a union printer
on union-made recycled paper.
Artists at Work show celebrates creative diversity
It’s time for FCA US employees to unleash their creativity
off as well as on the job: Artists at Work is back.
The UAW-Chrysler National Training Center once again
will provide an opportunity for employees to enter paintings,
sculpture, photographs or other original visual media in this
popular program that showcases the diverse artistic talents of
the workforce.
The 2015-2016 Artists at Work Competition and Exhibition
is open to UAW-represented and non-bargaining unit employees
based in the U.S., including those who are temporarily working
outside the country.
Family members, FCA US retirees or contract employees
are not eligible to enter.
The deadline for submitting entries is July 3.
Eligible employees will receive a letter from the NTC that
provides information about how to enter the competition as
well as details about contest rules and deadlines.
“FCA US, the UAW and NTC are proud to sponsor this
program for the 10th time, because it brings union and
tomorrow SPRING 2015
management employees together on common ground to earn
recognition for their multiple talents,” said NTC Co-Directors
Miguel Foster and Michael Brown.
The first phase of judging is based on photographs of artwork
submitted by an employee. An independent panel of experts
from Detroit’s professional art community judges the entries.
A second phase of judging determines first-, second- and
third-place award winners and honorable mentions, based on
an evaluation of the actual artwork selected for the exhibition.
All employees with work chosen for the new show will be
guests of honor at an Opening Reception on November 19.
Top prize winners and honorable mention recipients will receive
special recognition at the reception.
The artwork will become part of an exhibition at the NTC
and the World Class Manufacturing Academy in Warren, Mich.
Further information is available by contacting Marilyn Finkel
& Associates, which serves as professional advisor to Artists
at Work, at (248) 358-3555 or ConsultMFA@gmail.com.
www.uaw-chrysler.com