CONVENTIONHIGHLIGHTS
Transcription
CONVENTIONHIGHLIGHTS
UAW LOCAL 160 JERRY GILLESPIE, President BECKY L. ERVIN, Financial Secretary-Treasurer VOLUME 48, ISSUE 1 SUMMER 2014 what’s INSIDE Officers’ Reports.......................2-4 Retiree Chairman’s Report.........5 District 1 Report........................10 CAP Chairman’s Report............12 EAP Reps Report........................14 ADAPT Rep Report.....................14 A Memorial Day to Remember..........................15 Coming events UAW 160 FAMILY PICNIC SUNDAY, AUGUST 17, 2014 Fun for all at Lake St. Clair Metropark. See notice on back page. SPAGHETTI DINNER WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 17, 2014 Sponsored by the UAW Local 160 Retiree Chapter, everyone is invited to this fundraiser for the ARC Detroit. See notice on page 7. UAW Local 160 28504 Lorna Warren, MI 48092 TECH ENGINEER NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 1776 FENTON, MI UAW PROPERTY – ILLEGAL TO DUPLICATE CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS By Convention Delegates Lisa Henderson, Robert Bethea, Mike Measel and Tony Micallef W e, the delegates for UAW Local 160, would like to thank our membership for allowing us to represent them at our UAW 36th Constitutional Convention, held in the fine city of Detroit during the week of June 2-5, 2014. The most contentious debating took place over Proposal 16, the ½ hour dues increase for the Strike Fund, which was passed by a show of hands. Although the results may not have delivered the outcome you wanted, we can tell you, it was done in a fair democratic manner. The debate went on for over two hours. Many concerns were expressed, for and against the increase, allowing any delegate on the convention floor their fair time to speak. Questions and concerns ranging from why can’t the International just reduce costs; to many of our secondtier members cannot afford another charge on their pay check. Responses given respectively: • The International has been reducing staff over the past 10 years • Many Locals have been merged over the years and most recently Region 1C has been eliminated, folding the Locals into Region 1D. • The International does realize the Constitutional Convention UAW Local 160 Representatives (L-R) Delegate Mike Measel, Delegate Lisa Henderson, Delegate Tony Micallef, GM Chairman Earl Fuller, Jr., Vice President David Small, Delegate Robert Bethea, 3rd Party Chairman Willie Brown, and Financial Secretary Treasurer Becky Ervin financial burden on the workers, but the International believes a healthy Strike Fund will give us more power at the bargaining table, allowing us to close the gap or elevate the secondtier pay level and win back some of our losses. Other Delegates got up and spoke in favor of the increase because they understand that we, as a Union, are up against a big fight not only against the corporation we work for but also against political organizations with deep pockets of money, trying to undermine the very existence of unions. See CONVENTION on Page 8 TECH ENGINEER Page 2 Knowledge is Power; Get Involved Brothers and Sisters, being taught where our members I want to take can get plumber state certified. this opportunity to Work Family Representative introduce myself as Nancy Kelly presented contact your UAW Local 160 information to combat drug and Acting President. alcohol abuse. I would also like Joint Training Representative to take a moment Tony Micallef spoke on to talk about our available classes offered to the recent Local 160 membership. membership meeting Hourly Training Representative where I chaired the Ann O’Connell reported on the meeting on Sunday, success of our recent retirement May 18, 2014 at our ACTING President classes and how that was achieved. Local Union Hall. Apprentice Committee It is very important for the Clarence Vance gave up-to-date membership to know what took place apprentice numbers as it relates to our at our last meeting. Our brothers and Local. sisters in attendance at the Sunday V-Cap Representative meeting were able to hear no less Jaron Garza reported on the status than 11 reports during the Committee of the minimum wage battle, and how Reports portion of the meeting. Here members can get better involved to is a rundown of the reports that were support upcoming elections. heard and discussed at that meeting. Education Chairman Bob Weinert spoke on the success of Women’s Committee Denise Blue spoke on Women’s Comour very own Union-specified Lunch and mittee functions, past, present, and future. Learns being performed across the site. Veterans Committee Joint Activities Representative Bob Brinker spoke on the high suicide Denise Blue spoke on the scheduling rate of returning vets, and on classes portion of upcoming classes. DAVID small Miller Cohen, P.L.C. Attorneys and Counselors at Law Bruce A. Miller* Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers Norton J. Cohen* GMS Trainer, 2nd shift Al Reynolds covered the status and future endeavors of GMS as it relates to our members. Hourly Training Rep., 2nd shift Steve Rawa reported on available and forecasted classes as it relates to 2nd shift hourly employees. So why recap a Sunday meeting? Because knowledge is power. Allow me to throw out a question. Raise your hand if you feel we are stronger as a Union if we do not get involved as Union members or stay away from Union meetings. What if Union representatives do not communicate to the membership, or when they do, there are few in attendance to listen. Can I get a show of hands? Who really thinks we are stronger and more secure in our jobs if we keep doing what we always have? I do not see many hands. At the same time, I also do not see many faces at our Union meetings. So you ask yourself, how can this be? If nobody raised their hand, how can it be that our Union meetings are soft in attendance? What can we do as members of Local 160 to help better secure a better future? The answer is obvious. Eleven reports were presented at the scheduled May membership meeting. Get to the meetings! As a member or representative, if you have information you feel can give the members even the slightest bit of knowledge, let’s hear it. All Union meetings take place at your Summer 2014 Local 160 Union Hall. The following meetings take place once a month and again will start in September. Scheduled Thursday Local 160 Unit Meetings take place once a month during a weekday, generally the second Thursday of the month. Two meetings are held on this day to accommodate multiple shifts in the plant. Thursday meetings cover such items as workload, and contractual information and issues. These meetings are chaired by Shop Chairman Earl Fuller and supported by our Shop Committee. Scheduled Sunday General Membership Meetings are held once a month, generally the fourth Sunday of the month. These meetings cover the day-to-day operations of our Local, and general information is reported by Local 160 representatives. It is my responsibility to chair these meetings and will be supported by a very knowledgeable group of Local 160 representatives. Aramark 3rd Party Unit Meetings are held monthly at the Local 160 membership hall, generally on the fourth Thursday of the month. Two meetings are held on this day to accommodate multiple shifts. These meetings are chaired by Willie Brown and supported by Aramark Shop Committee. To check days and times, calendars are available at Local 160, or go to www.uawlocal160.org. Get active, get involved, and be supportive of all union brothers and sisters! United we stand! UAW LOCAL 160 Elected to the Michigan Workers’ Compensation Hall of Fame Listed in the Best Lawyers in America 28504 Lorna • Warren, MI 48092 • Phone: (586) 751-4474 *Selected by peers as a Michigan Super Lawyer in Law & Politics magazine. Workers’ Compensation Employment Discrimination Personal Injuries Employee Rights Social Security Disability Justice For Working People 600 West Lafayette, 4th Floor Detroit, Michigan 48226 (313) 964-4454 6715 Park Avenue Allen Park, Michigan 48101 (313) 383-2422 Toll Free in Michigan: 1-800-221-6021 • Fax: (313) 964-4490 EXECUTIVE BOARD RETIREE CHAPTER President................................. Jerry Gillespie Vice President............................. David Small Recording Secretary..................Nicole Jones Financial Sec’y-Treasurer........... Becky Ervin Trustee Chair........................... Alan Reynolds Trustee............................... Angela Bia-Shock Trustee.................................Sharon Fishburn Sergeant-at-Arms..........Clarence Michowski Guide............................................ Steve Rawa Retiree Board Delegate....... Dennis J. Henry GM Chairman............................Earl Fuller, Jr. 3rd Party Chairman................... Willie Brown Women’s Committee Chair.........Denise Blue Chairman.............................. Dennis J. Henry Vice Chairman............................... Bob Mayer Financial Secretary......... Daisy Winston-Hall Recording Secretary................... Donna Esch Trustee......................................Paul Freidrich Trustee............................... Norman Bradford Trustee..........................................Tony Serino Guide...........................................Gerald Rowe Sergeant-at-Arms........................ Fred Conlon Recreation Committee................... Jim Souva Education & Fair Practice..... Paul Boulanger Election Chairman................. Eugene Tercha By-Laws Committee....................... Lee Taylor Citizenship, Organizing & Membership Committee........... John Mayes EDITORIAL POLICY... The UAW TECH ENGINEER is published by UAW Local 160 in the interest of its members to further the aims and programs of your Local and to promote the policies and programs of the International Union, UAW. This is a vehicle that brings to you, on a regular basis, the views and actions of the leaders you elected so you can evaluate them. The Editor reserves the right to edit any article and to reject all materials submitted which are not in the best interest of the membership. All articles should contribute positively to the welfare of this Union and its members; we will accept no attacks on any Union Leader or Member. The Editor reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement which is deemed objectionable. Publication of advertisements in this newspaper does not necessarily signify endorsement by UAW Local 160. – Becky Ervin, Editor, UAW TECH ENGINEER TECH ENGINEER Summer 2014 Tech Engineer Gets a New Look MEMBER PARTICIPATION As you may have is important to the success and noticed, the Tech effectiveness of the Union. So, Engineer looks and I hope you enjoy this issue and feels a bit different welcome input on how to make than past issues. As the paper better. Editor of the paper, I want to make sure It is almost PICNIC time that our Local 160 again! Local 160 Family newspaper delivers Picnic at Metro Beach timely, important The UAW Local 160 Family information and Picnic is going to be Sunday, gives the membership August 17th. This year, we will insight to where our be gathering at Lake St. Clair Union is headed and FINANCIAL SECRETARY- Metropark in Harrison Township. TREASURER what the leadership The park provides a beautiful and membership have been doing. atmosphere to enjoy time with family Communication is key to keeping our and coworkers. It is also loaded with membership informed on issues as well activities for kids of all ages! Some as participating in Union activities. of the features are an Olympic-sized I want each member to know that swimming pool with waterslides, the BECKY ervin Page 3 Squirt Zone spray ground, Shipwreck Lagoon Adventure miniature golf, biking, a nature center and trails, fishing, boat launch ($7 fee paid to park), tennis courts, and a par 3 golf course ($7 fee paid to park). The Local will have passes to the Olympic-sized pool and waterslide or Shipwreck Lagoon miniature golf. I hope you join us, and look forward to seeing you there! Finances I am pleased to say that the Local is financially sound and that we are being mindful of how your dues dollars are being spent. We have been keeping up the general maintenance of the hall, both inside and out. There is always much work to be done, but gradually each task is being taken on and completed. The Local has worked toward educating the membership. It is always money well spent and a great way to give back to the membership. Over the past 3 years, we have taken advantage of the opportunity to send approximately 60 members to Regional PEL. This joint UAW/GM program gives our members the chance to learn and fellowship at Black Lake and has been a popular choice. The Education Committee also did a fantastic job rolling out our Lunch & Learn program. This was a very cost-effective way to introduce new and seniority members to Union Involvement and answer questions that members had regarding OUR Union. Stay tuned for future educational opportunities. In closing, I want to wish everybody a safe and enjoyable summer and I hope to see you at our upcoming events. GM Technical Center of Local 160 UAW FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING APRIL 30, 2014 Balance to Account for at 3/31/14................... $566,710.83 Excess Income Over Expenditures........................ 3,489.27 Balance to Account for at 4/30/14................... $570,200.10 Income Dues................................................................. $101,031.06 Reimbursement - Supplies....................................... 336.89 Insurance Adjustments............................................. 343.00 Interest - Savings Account.......................................... 12.34 Interest - Certificates................................................... 17.58 Rebate - Per Capita.............................................. 18,987.46 *Asset Transfer....................................................... 2,080.60 Education Fund......................................................... 177.86 Retiree Fund........................................................... 3,007.20 Women's Committee Fund....................................... 659.00 G.M. Unit Fund....................................................... 3,812.01 3rd Party Unit Fund................................................... 367.49 GROSS RECEIPTS - APRIL 2014.................... $130,832.49 *Less-Asset Transfers/Exchanges.......................(2,080.60) NET INCOME - APRIL 2014........................$128,751.89 Disbursements GENERAL FUND EXPENSES: Wages - President................................................ $3,242.15 Financial Secretary-Treasurer............................ 7,388.15 Clerical.............................................................. 10,222.45 Lost Time Recording Secretary.............................................. 569.80 Trustees................................................................... 53.45 Sergeant-at-Arms.................................................... 97.78 Guide....................................................................... 51.33 Committees, Member......................................... 1,085.76 Election Comm................................................. 12,589.06 Travel, Meals, Expenses, etc. President............................................................... 375.00 Financial-Secretary-Treasury................................. 375.00 Vice President.......................................................... 15.00 Recording Secretary............................................... 45.00 Trustee..................................................................... 45.00 Sergeant-at-Arms.................................................... 15.00 Guide....................................................................... 15.00 Committees, Member.............................................. 20.00 Election Comm................................................... 1,065.00 Executive Board Delegates..................................... 45.00 FICA Match............................................................ 2,393.05 Payroll Taxes.......................................................... 8,120.11 Payroll Deductions Forwarded................................. 290.56 Per Capita Taxes.................................................. 57,843.32 Insurance............................................................... 2,973.80 Refunds Dues/Initiations............................................. 66.00 Supplies................................................................. 4,002.16 Bank Charge................................................................. 3.00 Telephone/Internet.................................................... 607.29 Maintenance - Office Equipment........................... 1,490.44 Donations.................................................................. 250.00 Fees & Licenses........................................................ 105.00 Pension/Severance - Local....................................... 429.24 Postage..................................................................... 502.98 Registration Fees...................................................... 250.00 *Asset Transfer....................................................... 2,080.60 EDUCATION FUND EXPENSES: Lost Time................................................................ 4,583.60 Travel, Meals, Expenses, Etc.................................... 300.16 Educational Classes................................................. 900.00 Local Union Publ-Print/Mail................................... 3,049.52 RECREATION FUND EXPENSES: Recreational Events.................................................. 933.69 BUILDING FUND EXPENSES: Maintenance........................................................... 1,374.41 Utilities.................................................................... 1,786.77 Cleaning Service.................................................... 1,275.00 Supplies...................................................................... 62.50 WOMEN’S COMM. FUND EXPENSES: Registration Fees........................................................ 80.00 Flowers, Bibles, etc..................................................... 60.00 RETIREE CHAPTER FUND EXPENSES: Exchanges............................................................. 1,450.00 Recreational Events.................................................. 400.00 Supplies...................................................................... 50.00 Postage....................................................................... 37.17 Expense Allowance................................................... 420.00 Travel, Hotel, Parking................................................ 300.16 Lunches/Refreshments.......................................... 1,233.85 UNITS FUNDS EXPENSES: General Motors......................................................... 774.08 3rd Party.................................................................... 265.96 DISBURSEMENTS - APRIL 2014..................... $138,059.35 LESS - Payroll Deductions.................................(10,716.13) *Less-Asset Transfers/Exchanges.......................(2,080.60) NET EXPENDITURES - APRIL 2014............$125,262.62 ALLOCATION OF CASH ASSETS CHECKING BALANCE PNC 5617.................... $169,916.20 PETTY CASH............................................................ 200.00 SAVINGS ACCOUNTS Unity C.U. 6090 S-000............................................. 10.81 Unity C.U. 6090 S-005...................................... 66,253.79 Unity C.U. 4849 S-000............................................. 10.00 Unity C.U. 4849 S-005...................................... 42,521.91 Unity C.U. 4850 S-000............................................. 10.03 Unity C.U. 4850 S-005...................................... 80,854.68 PNC Bank 8245................................................ 70,754.41 Central Macomb 1:1530................................... 38,905.03 Central Macomb 1588:2MM............................. 23,781.83 CERTIFICATES Unity C.U. 6090 S-705...................................... 17,645.52 Unity C.U. 6090 S-713...................................... 59,335.89 TOTAL CASH ASSETS - APRIL 2014......... $570,200.10 Current Fund Income Over *Fund Balances* Balance Expenditures General Fund..........................$295,009.41 $9,627.55 Education Fund...........................36,115.56 (8,339.81) Recreational Fund......................... (105.85)(723.29) Retired Members Fund...............43,102.04 (883.98) Building Fund........................... (11,615.42)25.34 New Member Orientation Fund........................3,043.91 0.00 Veterans Fund..................................392.95 0.00 Women's Committee Fund...........5,963.86 644.00 G.M. Unit Fund..........................191,914.38 3,037.93 3rd Party Unit Fund.......................6,379.26 101.53 Total of All Funds April 2014......................... $570,200.10 $3,489.27 Respectfully Submitted by Becky Ervin, Financial Secretary-Treasuer, UAW Local 160 TECH ENGINEER Page 4 Local sponsors Summer Events in a way that is beneficial to our Greetings Brothers survival and success. and Sisters, Our leadership has been Summer is here! busy educating the membership As most of you may and trying to stay abreast of know, GM Unit and everything that management General Membership has thrown at us. At times, the meetings have been rumor mill and the truth can cancelled for the be discouraging, but we must summer months, per stand in solidarity to weather the our bylaws. Meetings storms. How do we prepare for will resume in the storms ahead that are sure September. to come? Arm yourself with an Thank you to RECORDING umbrella of information. Get everyone who SECRETARY involved and get the facts. made coming to Many of our new members have a union meeting a priority, despite taken on this challenge by joining busy schedules. Showing up at union standing committees, volunteering their meetings and voicing your concerns, time, running for local union offices, approvals or disapprovals is how the attending trainings and conferences membership communicates with the offered through Region 1 and the leadership. We value your input. Local, signing up to run for Precinct Keep in mind, when voicing your Delegate in their community, and the concerns, that our National and Local list goes on. Agreements, along with the UAW If your schedule doesn’t permit you Constitution and our bylaws, govern to participate in these activities, there what we do as a union and how we are other things that you can do to bargain with GM and third party make your voice heard. Have you ever companies. We must use these tools nicole jones heard the saying, “There is a direct relationship between the bread box and the ballot box; and what the union fights for and wins at the bargaining table can be taken away in the legislative halls?” (Walter Reuther) With that being said… Get out and vote! Voting is our most powerful tool. We’ve already seen what can be taken away from us through legislation. Now let’s see how we can get ahead of the game. Let’s start by supporting candidates who support us and our rights as workers. Michigan’s election season is right around the corner. Visit Michigan.gov/ sos to get information on registering to vote, your voting districts, election dates, candidates, proposals, etc. It’s important for us to remember to vote in the smaller elections, such as primaries, and county and local elections. These smaller elections are where it all starts. Voicing your concerns through your vote in lowerlevel elections/politics ensures that you’ll be heard in major elections. Smaller elections are where legislation gets passed, that most people don’t really think affects them; but Summer 2014 A little poetry for thought… I look around me and what do I see? Where’s the solidarity? Has it withered in the storms of the test of time? Have we forgotten that our brotherhood is sublime? What is our purpose? Where is our focus? It lies in our history, which was built on solidarity. Am I not my brothers’ keeper? Are we not each other’s teacher? Let us not become the victims of corporate greed. Let us not be the ones whose progress they impede. We must stand strong and united! Our sprit of solidarity must be reignited. it does, in major ways. If your voice is taken away at the start of the race, you’re sure to fall behind. Have a great and safe summer! I look forward to seeing everyone at the Local 160 Family Picnic, on August 17, 2014. Please support this event. 2014 TECH CENTER EMPLOYEE CAR SHOW UAW LOCAL #160/GM Tech Center PLEASE REGISTER AT: http://gmemployeecarshow.com No computer access? Registration applications are available at Local 160! Questions? Call (586) 615-8305 or email william.r.duncan@gm.com TECH ENGINEER Summer 2014 Good News: Dental/Vision Coverage By now, each and Old-Line Retailers – every one of you Where Did They Go? should have received Arbor Drugs a letter from the Arbor Drugs opened its doors UAW Retiree in Troy in 1974, when founder Medical Benefit Eugene Applebaum combined Trust stating that the several drug stores under the fund will provide name. At the time, he owned a dental and vision handful of pharmacies, including coverage for 2015. one in Ann Arbor. Because the This coverage will Ann Arbor store was the best of be comparable to the bunch, he decided to use the the dental and vision second half of the city’s name for for UAW retired RETIREE CHAIRMAN his business. workers prior to the Atlas Beverage Company 2009 bankruptcy process. For more than 60 years, Atlas Please DO NOT do anything until we Beverage Company produced receive further information in the fall. carbonated beverages with names like Brownie Root Beer, Bulldog Ginger Speakers Beer, Cheer-Up, V-Mix, and Golden July 16th: & Pale Dry Ginger Ale. A Polish Daniel Wallace and Jeff Morris immigrant in Hamtramck founded the Gm Retiree Program company in 1929, and it closed in 1996. August 20th: Barthwell Drugs Peter Gianopoulos When the pharmacy where Sidney John Hancock Financial Barthwell was employed failed during September 17th: the Great Depression, Barthwell Karen Mack and David Ferrara borrowed $500 from friends to open Resurrection Cemetery Barthwell Drugs in 1933. Barthwell Spaghetti Dinner Drugs grew to become the largest At our Retiree General Membership chain of black-owned drugstores in Meeting on September 17th, we will the United States, with a total of nine be having an all-you-can-eat spaghetti stores and three ice-cream parlors. luncheon to benefit the DARC. There Although the chain no longer exists, will also be a bake sale and raffle to the Barthwell legacy remains in Detroit help support the goals of this great with the establishment the Sidney organization. This spaghetti fundraiser Barthwell Endowed Scholarship at was started many, many years ago by Wayne State University’s College of brothers Bill and Jim Carr. Carry-outs Pharmacy. will be available (see flyer on page 7). Burroughs Local 160 Picnic The Burroughs Adding Machine As you know, the location of our Company moved to Detroit in 1904 annual UAW Local 160 Picnic was and was once the largest addingchanged from the K of C park in Utica machine company in the United States. to Metro Beach. I have asked Financial William Seward Burroughs founded Secretary-Treasurer Becky Ervin or the company when he invented the Women’s Committee Chairperson Burroughs Registering Accountant Denise Blue to come to our Retiree in the 1880s; it was the first practical General Membership Meeting and adding-listing machine that printed explain our new location and the calculations on paper tapes. The involvement of our retirees (see flyer company partnered with the Sperry on the back page). Corporation in the 1980s and is now Interesting History called Unisys. Although the company I don’t know about the rest of you, is now headquartered in Blue Bell, but I am talking to friends (about my NY, it still occupies the old Burroughs age or older) and the conversation factory and office space in Plymouth, brings up old retailers and we wonder MI. whatever happened to them. If you’re B. Siegel Company like me, our children and grandchildren B. Siegel Company’s fine-clothing look at you in amazement because they store in Detroit was originally Heyn’s don’t understand what we are talking Bazaar, until Benjamin Siegel purchased about. The following is a list that I it in the late 1800s and changed the found online of these old retailers. store’s name. The Woodward Avenue Enjoy... shop was reputed to be the “finest and dennis henry Page 5 most complete suit and cloak store” in America, until the company filed for bankruptcy in 1981. Crowley Milner and Company (Crowley’s) When Detroit department store Partridge and Blackwell was struggling to stay in business, the Crowley brothers stepped in and took over. In the early 1900s, the store flourished by catering to the city’s affluent clientele, but by the end of the century, Crowley’s had bowed out of the market. Cunningham’s Andrew Cunningham opened Cunningham’s Drugs in 1889 and had 11 stores in downtown Detroit when the company was purchased by Economical Drugs owner Nate Shapero in 1931. Cunningham’s was famous for its special promotions and used an elephant symbol to represent their jumbo sodas, sundaes, and photoprint services. The chain’s slogans included “Don’t say drug store – say Cunningham’s” and “We’re a drug store – and a whole lot more.” Farmer Jack The story of Farmer Jack stores can be traced to 1924, when Russian immigrant Tom Borman opened Tom’s Quality Meats in Detroit. Tom and his brother, Al, ran grocery stores that were a metro Detroit staple, becoming Farmer Jack in 1966. The last remaining Farmer Jack stores closed in 2007 (some were converted to A&Ps). Federal’s Steven West’s résumé spans a range of endeavors, from writing five self- help books to committing some major tax evasion. He’s perhaps best-known in the Detroit area for taking over Federal’s department store in the late ’70s. In 1980, Federal’s dissolved. F&M Phar-Mor, Drug Emporium, and F&M were once the most powerful bargain drugstore chains in America. The industry was pioneered in Ferndale when Fred and Margaret Cohen opened the first F&M in 1955. The Cohens’ business strategy was selling brandname products at bargain prices, relying on word-of-mouth advertising, and banking on stock-up shopping popular in more affluent areas. When the Cohens sold the business in 1977, their 9,000-square-foot store was grossing $13 million per year. Fretter’s Ollie Fretter opened his first selftitled electronics store in Livonia in the 1950s. He may best be remembered for his commercials, in which he promised, “I’ll give you five pounds of coffee if I can’t beat your best deal.” Gantos Lebanese immigrant Theodore Gantos long dreamed of opening his own linen store, and when the devastation of the Great Depression ended, he did just that. With his wife, Haseebie, he opened the first Gantos store in Grand Rapids in 1932. Over the next few decades, the store shifted gears to become a successful women’swear boutique before going out of business in 2000. See RETIREE CHAIRMAN on Page 6 RECENT RETIREES January 2014 SeniorityDept. Terence L. Andren......... 2/10/1971GSB 1 Verne A. Ayers............ 5/9/1988Design Ronald Kuchar............... 11/12/1984Design Lawrence L. Pelath......... 4/17/1978VEC Mary E. Socia.............. 2/20/1978VEC Robert J. Vantongerloo... 8/29/1983Design March 2014 Edward M. Bolsendahl.... 2/20/1984Design May 2014 William D. Lang............ 12/3/1990Design Richard J. Peters............ 12/1/1965 Parts Fab June 2014 Lawrence E Erickson....... 8/9/1976 Rory L. Windrim............ 5/16/1977 Gsb1 Vec Thank you for your years of service. Congratulations on your retirement. Page 6 RETIREE CHAIRMAN Continued from Page 5 Grinnell’s Pianos Once known as the “largest piano factory on the earth,” Grinnell’s Pianos opened its doors in Holly, MI in 1913. The company lasted for nearly a century, thanks in part to its quality pianos and to its consistent community involvement hosting annual statewide music festivals. Harmony House Carl Thom opened the first Harmony House music store in Hazel Park in 1947. Known for its superb selection of Detroit music, the chain grew to 38 stores before finally closing in 2002. Highland Superstores In 1933, Harry Mondry founded the first Highland Appliance Store, named for its location in Highland Park. The company had a dramatic rise and fall in its time, expanding to three states before finally liquidating in 1993. Himelhoch’s The first Himelhoch’s clothing store opened on Washington Boulevard in downtown Detroit in 1907. Fifty years later, the chain had stretched across the country, and even to Paris. But in 1977, the company filed for bankruptcy and closed. Its original location on Washington has been preserved as a historic landmark. Hudson’s The J.L. Hudson Company was founded in 1881 by Joseph L. Hudson. The 29-story flagship store, located at 1206 Woodward in downtown Detroit, was the world’s tallest department store throughout most of the 20th century, with 706 fitting rooms, 68 elevators, 51 display windows, five restaurants, a fine-art gallery, and a wine department. After many changes in the retail sector, the chain was eventually folded into Macy’s. Hughes & Hatcher In 1910, Fred Hughes and Leslie Hatcher opened their clothing store in downtown Detroit, and it soon became the top name in gentlemen’s fine apparel. Aside from its stupendously stylish suits, Hughes & Hatcher was known for having the largest display windows in town. Jacobson’s In 1838, the first Jacobson’s store opened in Reed City, MI. The store catered to the fashion needs of upscale Michigan clientele, and eventually expanded to Florida and other states. The store is still profitable in Florida, but the Michigan stores, after more TECH ENGINEER than 150 years, remain closed. Joshua Doore Furniture In 1973, Harvey Leach opened the doors to Joshua Doore and, for years, drew in customers with the charming slogan “You’ve got an uncle in the furniture business.” A few years later, amid the company’s transformation into Uncle Robinson Furniture, Leach was found dead in the trunk of his car, allegedly as a result of financial challenges. Kern’s Where the Compuware building stands in downtown Detroit today once stood another grand retailer of the city’s golden era, Kern’s Department Store. Kern’s opened in 1900 and competed with J.L. Hudson’s until closing in 1959. After much restoration, the famous Kern’s clock was rededicated by Compuware in 2003. Kinsel Drug Store The next time you need a remedy for a late-night cough, you can thank Edward C. Kinsel, who opened Detroit’s first 24-hour drugstore. Kinsel’s opened in 1894 and offered patrons everything from cold remedies to cold cuts. Kline’s Eugene B. Kline founded Kline’s women’s fashion store in 1911. The chic-looking store on Woodward Avenue was called the most modern store in the country in 1940. Merchant of Vino Founded in 1974, Merchant of Vino was well known for its fine wine and gourmet foods. Although Eddie Jonna eventually sold his popular chain to Whole Foods Co., his sons Marc and Matthew picked up where their father left off, opening the state-of-the-art Plum Markets now seen around metro Detroit. New York Carpet World Marvin Berlin opened New York Carpet World in 1967. Along with his partner, Irving Nusbaum, Berlin grew the chain to an impressive 250 stores in 17 states, including Michigan, making it the top source for household flooring. Perry’s Drug Store Jack A. Robinson founded the hugely successful Perry’s Drug Store chain, which was taken over by Rite-Aid in the mid-’90s. The first Perry’s store opened in Pontiac in 1957, named for its location on Perry Street. Pfeiffer Brewing Company Conrad Pfeiffer began brewing his own beer in 1882. His Art Deco red-brick brewery was built between Beaufait and Bellevue avenues on the east side of Detroit, complete with a stable and hospitality area that offered tours, products for sale, and a beer garden. Pfeiffer Brewing Company began producing its olive-drab cans with black lettering for the government during World War II, soon after it began selling its yellow Johnny Fifer cans to the public. R.H. Fyfe and Company Detroit was once home to the largest shoe store in the world. Fyfe’s opened in 1865 and, by 1919, it had expanded to include 10 floors of shoes and service areas, as well as a miniature-golf course. After closing, the headquarters at Woodward and Adams was converted into residential lofts. Sam’s Jams Opened in 1979, Sam’s Jams was a hip Ferndale record shop where customers could always find rare and vintage tunes. Sam’s frequently hosted album signings with popular and alternative bands of the day. But much to the dismay of the local underground music community, Sam’s closed its doors in 1993. Sanders Frederick Sanders opened his first retail shop in downtown Detroit on June 17, 1875. At one time, Sanders had over 57 stores around town selling an assortment of candy, fudge toppings, and baked goods. Sanders sold his first ice cream soda in 1876, when he substituted ice cream for the sweet cream used in his sweet cream soda. Sebastian S. Kresge/Kmart With his humble beginnings, historic philanthropist Sebastian S. Kresge likely couldn’t have imagined that the city of Detroit would turn his modest five-and-dime store into the gargantuan enterprise it became. S.S. Kresge Co. opened in Detroit in 1899, and later expanded into Kmart Corporation, before merging with Sears, Roebuck & Co. Sibley’s Shoes Aaron Ross and Norm Rosenfeld opened the first Sibley’s shoe store in Detroit in 1920 and soon expanded to various locations throughout Michigan and Ohio. Headquartered in the Fox Building and, for a time, the Renaissance Center, the chain was finally dismantled in 2003. Stroh’s In 1850, Bernhard Stroh established what would become a Detroit institution, then referred to as Lion’s Head brewery. During Prohibition, the company stayed afloat by producing ice cream and “near beer” and selling it in grocery stores and ice-cream parlors (Stroh’s Ice Cream can still be found Summer 2014 today). With its headquarters at Grand Park Centre near Grand Circus Park, Stroh’s was family-owned and -operated for more than 145 years. Thorn Apple Valley After miraculously escaping from a Polish concentration camp during World War II, Henry Dorfman immigrated into the United States and opened his own butcher shop in Detroit in 1949. The small company, originally called Frederick Packing Company, expanded nationwide and was renamed Thorn Apple Valley in 1984. Towne Club In the mid 1960s, Harold Samhat began selling Towne Club soda at various “pop centers” around Detroit. Towne Club, sold in wooden crates with 24 glass bottles in each, was more affordable than Coke or Pepsi and was famous for its wide variety of flavors. Twin Pines Dairy Farm It’s been a long time since fresh milk, cream, and cottage cheese were delivered right to your milk chute, but for almost 20 years, Twin Pines was perhaps Detroit’s finest creamery. Before the emergence of convenience stores, Twin Pines was such a success that it even had its own children’s television show, Milky’s Party Time, from 1950 to 1967. Vernors Legend has it that Vernors ginger ale was created in 1866 when Detroit pharmacist James Vernor returned home from the Civil War and found that the syrup he’d created and stored for four years had transformed into a “deliciously different” drink. Combined with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (preferably Stroh’s), the distinctly Detroit soda created a Midwest delicacy: the “Boston cooler,” believed to be named after Detroit’s Boston Boulevard. Winkelman’s The first Winkelman’s store was built in Detroit in 1928. The founders, brothers Isadore and Leon Winkelman, were born and raised in the Upper Peninsula, but fell in love with the city and stayed to open their successful clothing stores. Woolworth’s Perhaps the best-known of the old five-and-dimes was Woolworth’s, which expanded into a larger discount store chain and thrived for most of the 20th century. After the store’s demise in the ’80s, the company broke off into several parts, including a sportswear division now known as Foot Locker. In closing, have a safe and enjoyable summer after this long winter. Summer 2014 TECH ENGINEER Page 7 This dinner is sponsored by the UAW Local 160 Retiree Chapter. Serving: All proceeds will go to the ARC Detroit • Tickets available at the Union Hall 12:30-8:00 p.m. DonationS WELCOME Adults..........$7.00 Children.......$5.00 Retirees........$5.00 Carry-Outs....$7.00 e l a S Bake ff le & Ra INCLUDING: If you can help sell tickets, please contact Retiree Chair Dennis J. Henry at (586) 247-7883 or Hank Johnson at the Arc at (313) 831-0202 0 UAW Local 16 Union Hall 28504 Lorna 092 Warren, MI 48 If you have a few hours and want to feel great about pitching in and helping at the dinner, volunteers are needed. Please contact Retiree Chair Dennis J. Henry at (586) 247-7883. Spaghetti Bread Salad Pop Coffee GM Tech Center LORNA 12 MILE RD. LOCAL 160 28504 Lorna Warren, MI I-696 UAW Region 1 VAN DYKE GEORGE MERRELLI WEDNESDAY September 17, 2014 MOUND RD. TANK RD. I-696 Westbound Service Drive (11 Mile Rd.) 36 Page 8 TECH ENGINEER Summer 2014 TH CONSTITUTIONAL Newly Elected UAW President DENNIS WILLIAMS CONVENTION Continued from Front Page These are just some paraphrased examples of the spoken debate which went on before the vote which passed the proposal. Much talk throughout the convention was about communication with our membership. Our President, Bob King, reminded everyone and we, as delegates, want to echo the “Pro Member” link on the UAW website. This tool has been available since January to our membership. There is a survey the membership can take on issues important to them. This is also a way for the International to communicate its plans and direction. Link provided: http:// www.uawpromember.org/ Another point President King talked about was the alliance with many other international unions. We need to work together with these unions since most of the corporations we work for and bargain with are global companies. The attending Union leaders were introduced to the convention. They came from Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden and several other countries. There were also keynote speakers. Here are some that stood out. Early in the convention, we heard from Frank Patta, General Secretary of Volkswagen’s Global Works Council, speaking on the struggles to organize the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga. The opposition did not come from Volkswagen Corporation, but by outside influences. We are all familiar with those results. We heard from Jerry Dias, the first President of the Unifor union, which is a merger of the CAW, Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada. He spoke on his background as a Trade unionist and the fight to have young people to find good-paying jobs that support a decent standard of living. Mary Kay Henry, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), spoke on the solidarity among auto workers, health care workers and the move to organize the fast food workers, and showed a moving video of young people protesting at McDonald’s Headquarters. An inspiring speech given by James P. Hoffa, President of the Teamsters, pledged his solidarity with the UAW and we have to think of new ways to fight against anti-union movement and rightto-work campaigns. Other speakers were Mayor Mike Duggan, Congressmen John Conyers, President of the Sierra Club Michael Brune and Heather McGhee, President of Demos, a public policy organization. A major part of the four-day convention was reviewing, discussing, and voting on the 35 resolutions presented. These are positions the UAW will take on these social issues. Again, every delegate had the opportunity to speak for or against the issue. Examples of some of the resolutions are: “Education for a Strong Union,” “Collective Bargaining and Economic Justice,” “Work and Family,” “Trade Policy,” “Ensuring a Decent Society Toward Universal Health Care,” “Civil and Human Rights,” and “Supporting Our Troops, Honoring Our Veterans.” You are welcome to come see any one 2014 TECH ENGINEER of us, or we have a booklet if you would like to read about any of the resolutions to gain a better understanding of where the UAW stands on any of these social policies. We also spent a short time reviewing some word changes to our UAW Constitution. There were not many changes; mostly that the Locals will be responsible to now keep records electronically and communicating them to the International. On Wednesday afternoon of the convention, it was time to elect our UAW Executive Board, the leaders who will guide us for the next 4 years. The following people won their positions unopposed: Gary Casteel – Secretary /Treasurer Jimmy Settles – Vice President Cindy Estrada – Vice President Norwood Jewell – Vice President For the President position, there were two nominations: Dennis Williams (our current Secretary/Treasurer) and Gary Walkowicz (a delegate for Local 600 out of Dearborn). A Roll Call vote was taken, each Local was called to a microphone, and one of the Local’s delegates would announce their choice for President. This went on till one of the candidates had a majority vote. It was a landslide vote with Walkowicz receiving votes from only three Locals before Williams reached the majority of the 3,222 possible votes. On Thursday, the final day, we finished up some resolutions and our newly elected president, Dennis Williams, gave a speech of his visions and goals. The theme phrase throughout the conventions was “IT’S OUR TIME” and Williams drove this home. He challenged the people to speak out as workers to win their country back. If you would like to read his speech, key in this link at http://convention.uaw. org/node/51. We then closed the Convention by marching across the street to the Crown Plaza, marching around the building which makes up a city block and showing our support for the hotel workers making $8 an hour and are working with UniteHere Local 24 to organize. After four days of discussions and at times intense debates, we the convention delegates of the 36th Constitution hope we upheld your ideals and beliefs. We strongly believe in our Executive Board under the leadership of Dennis Williams, who will lead the fight to restore our losses and lead us to a progressive future for all our members and our families. The corporations we work for will not voluntarily give us higher wages, better health care, and provide safe working conditions. It’s time for all of us to stand Page 9 UAW VP Norwood Jewell and Region 1 Director Chuck Hall together with our leadership. We have a lot of work ahead. Remember, being part of a union is not about “I,” but is about “us” doing our part and standing strong together. The UAW starts and ends with its members, so what you put in is what you get out. There is strength in Solidarity! UAW Local 160 Convention Delegates (L-R) Robert Bethea, Lisa Henderson, Tony Micallef, Mike Measel Debra Pollack, Denise Street, John Bolin Willie Anderson and his wife (At the mic) Tony Micallef reporting the vote. UAW VP Cindy Estrada GM Chairman Earl Fuller, Jr. TECH ENGINEER Page 10 Schemas: A New Way of Thinking Brothers and Sisters, managed to accomplish what A very, very long at that time was considered a time ago, I had remarkable or even impossible feat. You see, the team that achieved a class where we the benchmarks was comprised were shown a video of engineering students primarily about a competition from the field of Fluid Power. that challenged Fluid Power is a ten dollar name universities from for hydraulics and pneumatics. across the country to Rather than using a motor to build a car that got directly drive the wheels of its 100 miles to a gallon vehicle, the Wisconsin team used fuel economy. the engine to power a hydraulic There was a long district 1 pump that pressurized hydraulic list of other criteria committeeperson fluid in a hydraulic accumulator. also given that had The accelerator pedal in the to be met such as car controlled a variable flow valve acceleration from zero to sixty miles that applied the pressurized fluid in per hour below a given time, having the accumulator to a hydraulic motor the ability to carry a given number of that powered the driving wheels. This passengers, a top speed above some allowed a very small gas engine to run miles per hour, etc. Mind you that this continuously at maximum efficiency was quite a few years back when an without respect to the conditions the economy car was at the head of the car was being driven. class if it got over 30 mpg, and 100 It also switched the hydraulic motor miles to a gallon fuel economy was into a pump when the brakes were considered a pie-in-the-sky fantasy that applied to create a regenerative braking some viewed as impossible. Remarkably, there was only one system to recapture and store energy university that did in fact design, hydraulically. Think of it as crude engineer, and build a vehicle that hydraulic version of the Volt. did achieve the standards; and if For some time now, Ford has been my recollection is correct, it was the exploring this type of technology for University of Wisconsin. Everybody else use in heavy vehicles such as garbage fell short by substantial margins. trucks and city buses that start and stop However, the video itself was not about constantly. making cars. What it discussed was the The actual topic of the film, question of why did all the universities however, was a concept called and colleges that had programs or “schemas.” Wikipedia defines schemas majors in automotive engineering fail as “an organized pattern of thought rather miserably in their attempts, or behavior that organizes categories yet a school that had no automotive of information and the relationships engineering curriculum had somehow among them. It can also be described WALT jarmoluk For Change of Address, Cut Out and Mail to: UAW Local 160 c/o Becky Ervin, Financial Sec’y-Treasurer 28504 Lorna Warren, MI 48092 Name________________________________________________________________ NEW Address_______________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip__________________________________________________________ OLD Address_______________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip__________________________________________________________ Last 4 digits of Social Security number______________________ (verification only) as a mental structure of preconceived ideas, a framework representing some aspect of the world, or a system of organizing and perceiving new information. Schemata influence attention and the absorption of new knowledge: people are more likely to notice things that fit into their schema, while re-interpreting contradictions to the schema as exceptions or distorting them to fit. Schemata have a tendency to remain unchanged, even in the face of contradictory information.” The italics are mine. At the end of the day, facts are just facts; what matters most is how we interpret them and what we do with these interpretations. So schemas are a mental filter that allows us to quickly identify and categorize things and events so that we can mentally process the world around us and make sense of it. For example, every time you see a dog you do not have to go through a mental process to determine what it is. Regardless of size, color, and shape you automatically identify this thing as a dog and use this information to make decisions as to whether this creature is a threat to you or not. In this regard, schemas are really a very useful thing. Without schemas, the world would be even more complex for us to comprehend than it already is. Arguably, without schemas our brains would go into information overload and we would be unable to function. However, on the other hand, if one’s schema is inaccurate and were to categorize a hungry lion as just a big kitty cat, you could end up having a very bad day. The point is schemas can be either beneficial or detrimental depending on whether they are accurate and how applied to the situation at hand. Schemas can be a negative thing and are an integral part of prejudices, biases, and discrimination in that respect. The point of the movie was that the students who built the 100 mpg car were not restricted or boxed in by the conventions, practices, or “established truths” that the automotive engineering students were. This allowed them to come up with an unorthodox solution to solve a problem that “the expert” automotive engineering students could not. Schemas (along with rationale and logic) are what have allowed mankind to rise to the level it is today. However, history is also full of examples of inaccurate schemas causing errors, catastrophic events, and great tragedies. Schemas can close the minds of entire societies and cultures. Copernicus was a heretic in his day when he took the position that the Summer 2014 earth revolved around the sun and not vice-versa. Christopher Columbus was considered to be a crackpot by many of his peers because he did not believe the world was flat. I long ago remember hearing an assertion made that its fairly typical for major breakthroughs in any given discipline to be made by someone outside that field who is not bound by “expert knowledge” in that field. Brothers and sisters, schemas are an extremely powerful thing that effects almost every decision we make in the course of a day, right or wrong, and have profoundly shaped recorded history. If you’re still reading this, then I haven’t bored you to tears yet, and you are probably wondering why we are having this discussion. As of late, there have been a very high number of problems, issues and dissatisfactions with how the shops are running voiced by the membership in a variety of forums. I have given a lot of thought to how the issues and problems we have experienced in PPO came to be. I come up with three things. I have concluded in my mind that we have to some extent been victims of our own success. Success has brought us unprecedented growth and volume of work. But success has also stressed this operation in ways few, if any, saw coming. Truth is, for better or worse, we have seen a dramatic departure from the way things were done in PPO even a couple of years ago. I have also come to a second conclusion that inaccurate schemas are at the heart of most, if not all, of the issues that the membership has brought forward. But I have also come to a third very sad and bitter conclusion that could have prevented much of this: GMS IS DEAD! At least at CCO it is. I guess an equally apt title for this section could be “the tale of two cities.” The two largest shops in District 1 are MTS and CCO. The differences in the application of GMS are striking. In no way, shape, or form is GMS operating perfectly in MTS. But it is light years ahead of where it is in CCO. The membership is by and large engaged at MTS and do have a significant voice in the decision-making process. The tools that GMS gives them are being used to solve problems and improve the operation on a daily basis at MTS. I would say that the majority (though not all) of the areas at MTS are actually being run by the Team Leaders with the Group Leader acting in a supporting role. People stay in their “swim lanes.” I attribute this to several factors. continued on next page Summer 2014 continued from previous page First and foremost, MTS is run by management that has a wealth of experience with GMS to the point of “not knowing how to run the business any other way” and believing that “the people on the floor are the experts.” A significant percentage of MTS management has been there for a long time and understands the business well enough to know there are things they don’t understand and are better off letting the teams handle them. Implementing GMS in MTS is in my opinion a much more difficult and arduous endeavor than at CCO. But GMS is working at MTS, as evidenced by the positive things happening there and the bright plans for MTS. But MTS does not resemble a production operation very much, whereas the other areas of PPO do. We are getting into that powerful schema thing now. An inability to comprehend because of established schemas I believe is what has been killing GMS. Quite frankly, established schemas have been the problem with just about every other aspect of the business also. And to use an old cliché, it’s been death by a thousand cuts. Since PPO is part of ‘Manufacturing’ on the Organization Chart, a legitimate and critical question is just how far up the ladder do these schemas extend? We are also seeing something similar manifesting itself in the Facilities Group by trying to impose a plant template on a campus that has over 40 buildings and covers over a square mile. It fits like a fish on a bicycle. Schemas would also explain why the current management at PPO is so fixated on petty issues that may matter in an assembly plant but don’t really amount to a hill of beans in the type of work we do here. Based on my time filling in as Zone Rep., I believe that General Assembly (GA) has much the same issues occurring on the floor as CCO. According to what I have been told, the majority of team leaders in GA were at one point considering resigning en masse as a form of protest to the way that GMS is being run there and what it has morphed into since we began this journey. The bottom line is that there was an understanding by this membership under previous management about how a production developed system like GMS would apply in a non-production/engineering environment. Please understand that I am in no way belittling or disparaging work in a production plant. All of us receive a paycheck because of the toil of the TECH ENGINEER good people who work the production line. Those folks are grossly underpaid for the grueling and demanding work they do in my opinion. But at the end of the day, due to the nature of the work that is done in a plant, GMS has a much more clearly defined and limited scope of influence there than is possible, and I believe required, in PPO. A recurring theme that I have heard in my discussions with the membership is that the ability to use GMS as a tool for them to resolve their problems has diminished dramatically over time from when we first started GMS. I do not believe that this membership feels satisfied with the level of empowerment that has occurred here, especially when they see things that are going wrong not being addressed. Small wonder that the floor has lost faith in GMS. I would venture to say that the overwhelming majority of management in PPO is extremely uncomfortable and resistant to empowering the GMS teams to the level needed to make them more than “the keepers of arts and charts” and actually having a meaningful impact on the operation. And here is where that schema thing comes into play again. Recently, when speaking with a member of management for the umpteenth time about what is in my opinion a profound lack of enablement of the teams, it was stated to me “that I have never worked in a place where teams were so empowered.” Empowered to do what? Keep up their Level 5 boards? I have also had management state to me that “the team leaders have been unwilling to take the wheel.” That is a load of manure if I ever heard one. I recently brought that remark up with some of our team leaders and was told, “they have given us a steering column without a steering wheel and then complain we can’t steer!” A typical statement I hear goes like this; I’m empowered to use GMS to do only what my boss tells me to do. The sentiment is that issues the membership tries to bring forward are quickly buried and that GMS has become a ‘management only’ tool to strictly address their issues. I think it is fair to say that the membership had and has much greater expectations. When Temporary employees need to be job assigned as co-champions on Level 5 boards because the permanent workforce has become so disenfranchised by GMS, that should set off alarms. The permanent workforce has not seen tangible results in resolving the problems they struggle with on a Page 11 daily basis. By heavily staffing Level 5 boards with Temps, GMS as an entity begins to take on a temporary feel. Also, how can GMS ever take root in the non-MTS areas of PPO if there aren’t stable teams? There is a significant portion of this membership that has come to believe that one of the prime motivators for management’s constant movement of people is to intentionally blunt the power of the teams and limit GMS in affecting change in the workplace. Shuffling people around like a deck of cards pretty well ensures that a person never really truly learns a job, but just as importantly I think gives one hell of an insight into how the skill sets of this workforce are regarded. Trying to take what was considered a skilled trades shop that had SSOs as helpers and turning it into a production operation with the assistance of skilled trades is what has really occurred here. I suspect that schemas have a lot to do with this, especially when the true nature of the work is not understood. That would explain the comment I have heard several times from members of management “that I can train a monkey to do this work.” This attitude has become pervasive in PPO. I find those words and that mindset extremely insulting to the people I represent and to which I will respond with the comment that if we had properly functioning GMS here, then it could be “managed by a monkey.” The shops would run themselves. Many times, I have tried to explain to management how GMS can make their jobs easier and more manageable in addition to creating a more satisfied, productive workforce and fixing a laundry list of issues including efficiency. I may as well talk to the wall for as far as that has gone. If someone could step back in time and look back a few years at the shop floor, I suspect that they would quickly come to a stark conclusion: Most knowledgeable and experienced supervision has been deliberately and systematically removed. Maybe their schemas didn’t coincide with the new schemas that came into this organization. There seems to be a belief on the floor that old supervision has been replaced by bobble heads that nod yes to whatever orders they are given and have no clue as to the ramifications. One of the loudest complaints I hear from the membership is that an SSO will come on board and a couple of months later be made a Per Diem supervisor without ever really learning the business that they are now supervising. Quite frankly, many of the journeypersons have told me they find this downright insulting. Without a solid understanding of the business, some really questionable decisions are made. Again, based on the feedback I’ve been getting, the problems are eerily similar in GA. The alternative path to GMS that has been chosen appears to be an increase in the amount of supervision on the floor. And with so many new supervisors trying to make a name for themselves, what empowerment the teams had has been pilfered. What is truly needed is the exact opposite of what has happened; reducing the number of supervisors will allow the teams to actually function. In my opinion, given the background and collective experiences of current management, there has been a See COMMITTEEPERSON on Page 13 Credit Unions... of the People. by the People. for the People. The appeal of the democratic concept is that it puts people first. As cooperative financial institutions based on democratic principles, Credit Unions are true people organizations that serve the common good. The people who use a Credit Union are its members...and its owners, all with an equal say. A Credit Union exists for the sole benefit of its members and among all financial institutions, stands alone as the only one which operates on a not-for-profit basis. Take advantage of Credit Union membership. People always come first at the credit union. UNITY CREDIT UNION CU CREDIT UNION 7240 East Twelve Mile Road Warren, Michigan 48092 (586) 573-4110 TECH ENGINEER Page 12 Summer 2014 All Elections have Consequences! MICHIGAN VOTING INFORMATION Michigan Primary • August 5, 2014 General Election • November 4, 2014 Registration Deadline: (Generally 30 Days before vote date) • Primary Registration Deadline - July 7, 2014 • General Registration Deadline - October 6, 2014 Absentee Ballot – Absentee voter ballots are available for all elections. They provide voters with a convenient method for casting a ballot when they are unable to attend the polls on election day. Your request for an absentee voter ballot must be in writing and can be submitted to your city or township clerk. Pick up an Absentee Voter Application at the Union Hall or online: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/AbsentVoterBallot_105377_7.pdf DATES to REMEMBER JUNE, 2014 15 16 16 18 21 22 30 Father’s Day UAW Local 160 Golf Outing Deadline for Local 160 D. Henson Scholarship Application Retiree General Membership Meeting & Lunch, 10:00 a.m. Summer Begins General Membership Meeting Cancelled for Summer Start First Week of Shut Down JULY, 2014 4 16 23 Independence Day – UAW/GM Holiday Off Retiree General Membership Meeting & Lunch, 10:00 a.m. WTC Employee Car Show 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. AUGUST, 2014 17 20 Local 160 Family Picnic Retiree General Membership Meeting & Lunch, 10:00 a.m. September, 2014 1 11 17 17 20 25 28 Labor Day Parade GM Unit Membership Meeting, 1:30 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. Retiree General Membership Meeting & Lunch, 10:00 a.m. Retiree’s Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser (ARC), 12:30 p.m. Women’s Committee Fall Steak-Out 3rd Party Unit Membership Meeting, 2:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. General Membership Meeting, 10:00 a.m. could go but I'll get to the point. How's it going sisters and brothers All Elections Have Consequences! of Local 160!? It's This upcoming election might not 10O below zero be the only chance we have to repeal RTW, not to mention we any longer, so at might lose the chance to ever the very least we win any state-wide election if have that going for they (Mchigan Republicans) split us! After such a the way the Electoral College is brutal winter that represented in Michigan. we thought would If you still don't care, here is never end, the sun is the part that will really get your shining once again attention. We are going into and seeds we have sown are beginning CAP CHAIRMAN negotiation for a new contract to sprout. next year and you better believe And on the subject of planting seeds GM management has been paying that we wish to bring to harvest in the attention to what has gone on in fall, you know it is my duty to discuss Lansing. If you think they haven’t, what we have before us politically in you’re fooling yourself. the upcoming November elections and We got lazy after the 2008 election, primaries August 5th. and a lot of folks did not bother to show up and vote in 2010, and look at All elections are important, but everything that has happened. We got this one is a little different than past taken to the woodshed and whipped elections here in Michigan. The good. They don't win elections if we Governor who ran as a moderate in just show up and vote! This isn't about 2010, and only participated in one an R vs D any longer. This is about gubernatorial debate, was elected and a couple of extremely rich people then it started... First, it was an attack wanting to be able to buy elections on our school children by defunding and put their own laws into place so public education, followed by a huge they can take more money out of your give-away to his corporate friends to the tune of $1.8 billion. Then he started pocket and put it into theirs. But I will save Dick DeVoss and the Koch picking on our retirees with a pension brothers for another writing session. tax, and if that wasn't enough he took Right now what I need you to do is away the home credit tax, further if you’re not already registered to vote, hurting seniors on a budget. Then he please to do so. If you know a family went after school teachers unions and public sector unions, some of which are member or friend who isn't, get them to register. UAW members. Hope you all have a very safe and Next came something that most fun-filled summer and hope to see never thought would happen here in you all at the Local 160 Picnic! And a the state where Labor Unions built special thanks to all the membership America's middle class; back-door who signed up for precinct delegate this legislation in a lame-duck session made Michigan a right-to-work (for less) state. year...THANK YOU!!! Now as if that wasn't enough, I Together we win! JARON garza For ALL THE LATEST News & Updates find us online by visiting: www. uawlocal160.org UAW Local 160 Sign up for “UAW Local 160 Email Alerts” and “ETech” in lieu of the paper issue. NOTE: The Alerts and ETechs are two separate lists. Just include in the Subject line the desired action(s). EMAIL BECKY ERVIN, EDITOR at: becky@uawlocal160.org Summer 2014 COMMITTEEPERSON Continued from Page 11 reinforcing and self-validating spiral that has taken place. There is a term for that: Group Think. Merriam-Webster defines Group Think as “a pattern of thought characterized by self-deception, forced manufacture of consent, and conformity to group values and ethics.” The term was coined during the Kennedy administration when an analysis of the decision-making process leading up to the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion occurred. What researchers discovered was that the individuals advising President Kennedy had, on a personal level, doubts and misgivings about the plan, but didn’t voice them because of the dynamic of the group and the commonalities they shared. Group Think occurs very readily when people have similar backgrounds and experiences. Nobody wants to “rock the boat.” Hmmm, seems very familiar and very “old GM” to me. At the risk of overstepping my bounds or airing dirty laundry, I’ll share some of my frustrations as a representative. Since the bankruptcy until a couple of years ago, we had a Union/management relationship at this location based on respect and, yes, even trust. In the last couple of years, I have heard the phrase “Paragraph 8 gives me the right to run the business” more times than I have heard it in my prior twenty-some years being employed at GM. I have also heard the utterance “Do you have that in writing?” an awful lot as of late. So you can see how I find it rather remarkable that management has repeatedly claimed and tried to uphold “verbal” agreements allegedly made in the past. However, when I investigate a matter, I get told “we talked about it once, but we never had an agreement.” Well you know what, we have also been given a lot of “verbals” in the past. Things such as: “GMS teams would be empowered to run their own area,” “teams will be tasked with the day-today operations on the floor,” “teams will handle their own vacation scheduling and other absences,” “team leaders will be responsible for the movement of manpower,” “once GMS has matured, CCO will only need two supervisors.” So how’s this supposed to work? When it benefits management, then alleged verbal agreements of the past are okay, but if they don’t like what the Union puts forward then we need to produce a signed document? Seems to me that there is an attempt being made to take advantage of the TECH ENGINEER relationships, understandings, and trust that were built in the past with others. I believe that the majority of the shop committee would echo my sentiments. I have to be honest with you, whenever I hear the term “partner in the business” used by some members of management anymore, it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand. What it used to mean was that decisions would be made jointly with the input, experience, knowledge, and voice of the membership being an important part of the decision. At any rate, that is what GMS was being sold as and what I signed up for. Anymore, when I hear the term “partner in the business,” it has come to mean one of two entirely new connotations to me: “I got my rear end is a sling and I’m going to need you to save me,” or “I’m going to screw you and the membership over.” When uttered from the lips of some members of management these days, it even seems to have a certain amount of sarcasm attached to it. A lot has changed since the heady days during and shortly after the bankruptcy when a new vision and direction for this business had been charted for PPO. One thing I’ve learned from raising kids and life in general is that people will meet the lowest expectation set for them. If management at PPO continues to proceed in the current direction of treating this operation as a manufacturing plant, then they need to be prepared for the type of workforce that they will get. There is an old saying: Management gets the Union they deserve. Perhaps another way to look at this that might register with the MBAs is in terms of “value.” Value can be defined as the cost of something paid versus the amount, quality, or level of goods and services delivered. The current approach to increase value seems to be strictly by lowering cost. The problem with this approach is that the level of goods and services being received is no longer equivalent to what was being given before. In my opinion, if the other part of the equation was addressed, increasing what you get for your money, then value would increase well beyond what the simplistic approach up to this point has yielded. By pushing real GMS to the side, the true value of PPO is not being realized but is instead being squandered. The fundamental issue now, I believe, is if and how are our Bargaining Unit members going to be allowed and enabled to do what they do best to the fullest of their potential. But, brothers and sisters, we are not without fault. Part of the blame for this situation does belong to us, the membership. Often times, we have failed to appreciate the intense competitive and cost pressures that we face. Both as individuals and collectively, we have failed to demand strongly enough that the spirit and vision of GMS be followed. Maybe we have just gotten worn down by trying to save these folks from themselves. As representation, there are limitations as to what can be addressed in this arena, since GMS really is more of an attitude and operating philosophy than a contractual matter. I’m of the opinion that the management that has been put in place has taken advantage of the new hires and temps to obfuscate and redefine the purpose and scope of GMS to more closely resemble what they were used to in a production environment (schema again!). Giving this membership the power that is necessary for GMS’s success at this location is beyond what the majority of new management has experienced and must seem very foreign and unsettling to them. However, if only one thing has come through loud and clear to me via the meetings I’ve attended and informal conversations that I’ve had, it is that this membership cares and wants to be successful. With the events of the last few weeks, one thing that I consistently hear from this membership is that you want to do your jobs like the professionals that you are. But impediments must be taken out of your way. You take great pride in what you do, and see what you do as a reflection of yourself and who you are. My impression is that the majority of the membership wants what they do to matter and have purpose and meaning. This is much more than just a job for most of you. But we have never had such a turnover of management here. And for better or worse we are all a product of the experiences that we have had and the schemas that are formed through those experiences. Don’t get me wrong, I do not necessarily think that all the new managers we have here are bad people or incompetent. In fact, from my layman’s perspective, I see some incredibly talented, capable and promising ones. But I do think that virtually all of our newer arrivals are prisoners of the schemas they developed elsewhere and came here with. And maybe I’m nothing but a spoiled little Tech Center brat, but I believe that this place is unlike any other operation in GM, if not the world. Page 13 What I will fault the new regime for is a failure to accept what is different from their past experiences and for ignoring this membership when we point this out and how it is detrimental to the business at hand. The bottom line is that the wholesale changes in management are a major part of our growing pains and more specifically the schemas that they have brought with them that are often just plain wrong. This creates the astonishing lack of respect for the history, accomplishments, people, and capabilities of this location that so many of you have complained to me about. There seems to be no clue whatsoever of the potential of this operation or the people that made the difficult changes needed for us to be successful. Magic has and does happen at the Tech Center when the appropriate environment is created. One only has to look at how many of GM’s proudest moments can trace their roots back to this square mile. Maybe I’m a romantic and am bound by my own outdated schemas in regards to what I think is possible here. Perhaps times have changed to the point where making cars and trucks can be done using nothing more than algorithms and cold, hard analytics. But I think history shows that GM was most successful in the marketplace when its vehicles had soul and stirred the public’s heart. And I don’t believe a car can have soul without being made by humans who have passion and enthusiasm. In its inception, the Tech Center was supposed to be where dreams became reality. It’s this inability or refusal by our new management to grasp this place that I think the membership finds so maddening. If we as a membership have learned only one thing from recent events it is that if we do not grab the reigns then we are going to get exactly what we have gotten. Those of you who have been on the fence about GMS should take some time and think about that. I have said this before, but I will repeat it. I have the privilege and honor of representing the most capable, innovative, and intelligent workforce in the world. It is a crying shame to see the direction GMS and this entire operation have taken and the effects from that. As of late, there has been a great deal of discussion about what has gone wrong and how we got to this point. But the most important question that should be on everyone’s mind, regardless of position or role, whether bargaining unit or salary, should be: What do we do now? TECH ENGINEER Page 14 Summer 2014 Twelve Step Programs they’ll try a 12 step program to tackle the problem they can’t seem to shake. The 12 steps of recovery programs are: As EAP Work/ Family Reps, we 1. We admitted that we are powerless often recommend over our addiction, that our lives have to people that they become unmanageable. attend various support 2. Came to believe that a Power greater group meetings. than ourselves could restore us to sanity. The vast majority 3. Made a decision to turn our will and of these meetings our lives over to the care of God as we are patterned on the understood Him. model established by 4. Made a searching and fearless moral Alcoholics Anonymous inventory of ourselves. in about 1935. 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to If you go on the another human being the exact nature of internet, there are EAP REPRESENTATIVES our wrongs. literally hundreds 6. We’re entirely ready to have God of sites that promote 12-step recovery programs. remove all these defects of character. Some of the more popular ones besides AA are, asked Him to remove our shortcomings. 7. Humbly Narcotics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous, Nicotine Anonymous, Families 8.Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. Anonymous, and Emotions Anonymous. Some of 9.Made direct amends to such people wherever these support groups also have components to help possible, except when to do so would injure loved ones of the addict deal with their issues also. them or others. Most people don’t end up in a support group 10.Continued to take personal inventory and when meeting by accident. They’ve tried to arrest the problem on their own countless times, and have had little we were wrong promptly admitted it. success. Usually this involves trying to go “cold turkey,” 11.Sought through prayer and meditation to going to friends, counselors, and sometimes the clergy. improve our conscious contact with God as we Sometimes, the court system is involved as the result of understood Him, praying only for knowledge of an arrest. Or a person’s work life can be affected and His will for us and the power to carry that out. they can be in the disciplinary process. As a last resort, 12.Having had a spiritual awakening as the result kenNANCY jones kelly of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. The first part is admitting a problem exists, and that you have a desire to face it. The rest of the steps are about finding a power to help you on a daily basis, looking at yourself honestly, and dealing with your issues so they don’t come back to haunt you. Finally, you end up helping others with similar difficulties. Although the word “GOD” is mentioned in several steps, recovery programs are not religious in nature. No one preaches to you. The major thrust of recovery programs is about change, getting one to return to as “normal” a lifestyle as possible. These changes don’t occur overnight. It often takes years to get one’s self into a destructive lifestyle; consequently it takes time to change the bad habits a person has acquired. Support groups meet on a regular basis throughout the community, and provide, through fellowship, a place to talk about one’s particular affliction with others who have faced similar problems. They are proven to work, as evidenced by millions of people worldwide who have been able to overcome crippling addictions, and resume normal, productive lives. If you have any questions about these proven effective programs, please contact one of your Work/Family Reps., we’ll be happy to direct you to a group that meets your particular needs. We are: Nancy Kelly at 586-751-4474, and Ken Jones at 586-986-4166. A ccommodating Dis A bled People in Transition by Ken Jones, ADAPT Representative • Link Building • (586) 986-4166 Changes in the Adapt Program I, along with my salary counterpart, the Plant Medical Director, and the nursing supervisor recently attended the roll out for the changes made to the ADAPT (Accommodating DisAbled People in Transition) program called for during the last round of contract negotiations. The national parties put together a focus group of ADAPT representatives, who made suggestions as to how the program could be streamlined to ensure better delivery to the employees seeking ADAPT help at our facilities. Though most of the changes were to the administrative side of the program, which we as reps administer, the six-step process we use in the day-to-day delivery of the process has been greatly simplified. The medical department is now charged with showing the affected employee a video showing how the program can be used to help a person with restrictions to be retained or return to work if he/she so desires. It is then up to the employee to decide if he/she wishes to use the program to do a job search if their home department decides it has no work available for them within their restriction (NJAWR). Job availability within a classification and seniority also play a role in our placement efforts. If no work can be found site wide, the person is then put on sick leave under the NJAWR designation until they can perform their duties as determined by the Plant Medical Director. The six steps of the ADAPT process: REVIEW documentation JOB search placement DISPOSITION JOINT INTERVIEW Initiation STEP 1 Initiation: Restrictions are issued, video viewed, referral to ADAPT team. STEP 2 Joint Interview: Employee is interviewed by the ADAPT team (Voluntary). STEP 3 Job Search: The team does a job search based on the person’s restrictions. STEP 4 Placement Disposition: If the employee is not placed, they return to Medical. STEP 5 Documentation: We document everything we due to ensure consistency. STEP 6 Review: The disability team meets weekly to review cases. We are here to help you if you desire to return to work after an injury or illness. A letter about the ADAPT program is included in the disability packet you receive from Sedgewick upon your request for sick leave. If you have any questions concerning how the ADAPT program can help you, please feel free to give me a call at (586) 986-4166. TECH ENGINEER Summer 2014 Page 15 A Memorial Day to Remember we requested assistance with this On behalf of task, the response we received was the Barlow family, overwhelming. I would like to Mr. Brinker went out of his way extend our deepest to find and donate a new marker appreciation to that contained not only the World Mr. Bob Brinker, War I emblem, but also the years Chairman of the of the war embossed on it. As a Veterans Committee result of Mr. Brinker’s prompt at Local #160, for response to our request, we were all of his help in able to adequately decorate the reparation of the grave in time for the holiday. marker on our In a time when father’s grave. Just before uaw RETIREE such assistance seems to be overlooked and Memorial Day, we underappreciated, I felt it discovered that the flag holder on his paramount to acknowledge the grave was damaged. He was a veteran responsibility assumed by Mr. of World War I, and we wanted to Brinker, and again, to express replace the marker with one of the my family’s enduring gratitude. appropriate era for his service. When DAN barlow IN MEMORIAM MEMBER UNIT SENIORITY RETIREMENTDECEASED DATE DATEDATE MEMBER UNIT SENIORITY RETIREMENTDECEASED DATE DATEDATE Fredrick G. CantMCD Headquarters 1/29/1958 3/1/1993 1/6/2014 Norman F. Bartle Engineering 3/1/1958 3/1/19933/12/2014 Beulah M. BanksMCD Headquarters 6/13/1977 4/1/1989 1/7/2014 H. Buddy Dodson Powertrain 4/25/1977 3/1/19933/14/2014 Henry PfuerstingerMCD Headquarters 9/12/1955 1/1/1992 1/9/2014 William D. JenkinsSite Operations 5/24/1982 7/1/2008 3/18/2014 Andrew J. RiversMCD Headquarters 7/9/1984 3/1/1993 1/10/2014 George XiromeritisMCD Headquarters 6/23/1953 1/1/1984 3/21/2014 4/4/1978 8/1/19971/12/2014 James A. KitkaMCD Headquarters 9/12/1973 1/1/2007 3/26/2014 Vivian L. Smith CCO Alex MezdreaMCD Headquarters 12/18/1985 1/1/1992 1/13/2014 Roy O. Breuhan Carl Angelilli, Sr.Site Operations Design 9/24/1942 5/1/19903/30/2014 6/22/1981 2/1/2000 1/16/2014 Georgia G. Ulch CCO 2/16/1990 6/1/20064/1/2014 William D. HamiltonMCD Headquarters 9/12/1955 3/1/1993 1/22/2014 Robert L. Willett Design 1/8/1962 8/1/20064/8/2014 Eva M. BabayMCD Headquarters 10/20/1980 6/1/2005 1/25/2014 Pamela Shahid 1/7/1985 8/1/20084/9/2014 Virginia PerryMCD Headquarters 10/4/1965 Lucian E. Brittain Design 2/15/1988 6/1/19954/11/2014 Robert CampbellResearch 4/7/1969 1/1/19984/11/2014 Albinas SadauskasMCD Headquarters 10/17/1955 5/1/1986 1/29/2014 Stanley R. McWilliamsSite Operations 1/7/1985 7/1/1997 4/13/2014 Phillip E. Jenkins Design 1/7/1985 7/1/20062/12/2014 Stephen L. UcinskiSite Operations 6/22/1978 4/1/2012 4/23/2014 Richard R. RoseMCD Headquarters 12/10/1959 8/1/1991 2/13/2014 Harold E. SeverSite Operations 1/7/1985 10/1/2001 4/25/2014 William C. Beattie CCO 4/30/1984 3/1/19932/15/2014 David J. EssenmacherDesign 6/11/1979 7/1/20104/27/2014 Albert L. Zykowski, Jr. Site Operations 12/15/1969 8/1/1989 2/26/2014 Michael E. Miles CCO 6/2/1972 7/1/20064/27/2014 Joseph F. Donato Powertrain 4/16/1984 9/1/19922/27/2014 Carol A. Monberg Parts Fab 5/21/1979 10/1/2007 5/9/2014 Robert D. BeltSite Operations 2/5/1979 1/1/2007 5/12/2014 James KohoutMCD Headquarters 11/11/1957 11/1/1990 3/1/2014 Ross R. McNeil Design 10/14/19681/1/2007 5/12/2014 Josef PautzMCD Headquarters 6/28/1965 6/1/1986 3/2/2014 Michael Scarangella Design 8/13/1979 2/1/20045/12/2014 Delores AdamczykSite Operations 1/1/1996 3/5/2014 Walter MadurskiMCD Headquarters 7/11/1963 1/1/1981 5/14/2014 8/1/1982 3/6/2014 Robert J. BollenbergheDesign 8/1/2005 5/19/2014 Frank C. Janowski Design 2/15/1956 3/1/19931/28/2014 Jeanne E. WicksMCD Headquarters 2/25/1980 1/2/1979 Paul R. AndersonMCD Headquarters 8/20/1952 James M. DexterGSB 1 8/1/1983 1/26/2014 1/1/1998 2/28/2014 10/28/1983 6/1/2011 3/7/2014 Engineering 3/4/1981 Herbert MauMCD Headquarters 8/1/1955 5/1/1991 5/20/2014 The Officers, Representatives, Staff and Members of UAW Local 160 wish to extend their deepest sympathy to the friends and families of these Local 160 Brothers and Sisters for their recent loss. TECH ENGINEER Page 16 LOCAL 160 Summer 2014 FAMILY PICNIC LAKE ST. CLAIR METROPARK Waterslides 31300 Metro Parkway u Miniature Golf Harrison Township, MI 48045 u Fishing & Tennis Courts Hot Dogs u Corn u Potato Chips u Nature Center and Bike Trails Ice Cream u Pop u Olympic-Sized Swimming Pools u Boat Launch ($7 fee paid to park) u Kids’ Squirt Zone Spray Ground u ~ ADMISSION ~ $5.00 PER CAR – Advanced Ticket Sales $7.00 PER CAR – At Park Refreshment Tickets – 3 for $1.00 TICKETS AVAILABLE AT LOCAL UNION OFFICE OR SEE YOUR COMMITTEEPERSON IN THE PLANT. Giant Raffle at 4:00 P.M. $1.00 Donation FUN FOR ALL!!! SUNDAY, AUGUST 17th • 11A.M. - 5 P.M. ALL FOOD & DRINK CONCESSIONS CLOSE AT 4:00 P.M. PARK CLOSES AT 10:00 P.M. David Small, Acting President • Becky Ervin, Financial Secretary-Treasurer Nancy Kelly, Recreation Chair • Dennis Henry, Retiree Chapter Chair