Regular Membership Meeting
Sunday, October 19, 2008 is the date for the next Union meeting at 2:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Also, Sunday at 8:00 a.m. is Day of Caring, we will be working around the Union Hall and Breakfast will be served to those volunteers. Also, we will be having a Halloween Get Together with Local 845 at 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. with Inflatables, a Hay Ride, Pony Rides, Pumpkin Painting with 100 Pumpkins and Apple Bobbing. First come, first served.

Knight F.M.
The NLRB has notified Knight FM and the UAW that the workers at Powertrain, Willow Run are now, as of October 13, 2008, represented by the UAW. Congratulations, we will be requesting an all employee meeting, by shift, with you as soon as we have the details of how we fit in. In the meantime, keep up the good work. We are working behind the scenes for you already, you are welcome to come to the Halloween Get Together this Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. Bring the kids or grandkids. You are also encouraged to attend the Union meeting! So, once again, Welcome to the UAW, you just joined the greatest Union in the World!

Pat Murphy Chili & Salsa Cook-Off
Mark your calendars, November 1, 2008, Pat Murphy, 1st Annual Chili & Salsa Cook-Off, watch for Flyers for details.

UAW-GM Sub-Council
The Union Leadership attended the UAW-GM Sub-Council in Toledo last week. At the Sub-Council, all GM-UAW Locals report on the status of their plants including plant populations, laid-off employees, protected status employees, products made and schedules of products. Cal Rapson, The UAW-GM Vice President spoke to all Locals there and stated there would be no consolidations of Powertrain Plants at this time. This announcement was good for our plant, but we also know that GM is moving the dates ahead on plants that are closing because the life cycles of their products are at an end.

The Leadership learned that all GM Plants are expecting downturns in volume, some worse than others. Example: Toledo reported that they had only 363 active employees and over 800 in protected status or on lay-off.

We all know that GM has been in talks with Chrysler about some type of merger, but as of October 15, 2008, GM has not approached the International Union with any information.

Apprenticeship Program
There are currently no plans at this time to test or re-test seniority members for the Apprenticeship Program.

Car Vouchers
The car vouchers are now available at the Willow Run Satellites Personnel Office. You will need a copy of your purchase or lease agreement, as well as the voucher form filled out completely and accurately. You also will need to use your GMID number instead of our social security number.

Team Concept Training
All of the employees in the 4T80, last week and this week are in Team Concept Training. The Leadership from the Union and Management are having the all employee "roll out" meetings this week on how we are going to implement Team Concept in Willow Run and how Team Concept affects all of us. We have been able to avert lay-offs these last two weeks by doing the training.

We will continue to utilize this process as much as possible to avoid future lay-offs, if possible. Our goal is to have everyone through the training by March 2, 2009. We know this concept is new to Willow Run, but it is necessary. We want you to feel free to ask your questions and express your concerns. Your Committeeman can help you, the Shop Committee is here along with your President and Executive Board and all of our appointed people. We are in a fight for our future here at Powertrain, but if we all pull together as a team, our voices will be heard in the hopes that we can achieve our goal of getting new work for our Plant.

Election Day
Election Day, November 4, is a paid Holiday negotiated by the UAW in order to give you the time to vote for candidates that protect your job and hold Unions in their best interest.

Judge Diane Hathaway
By now, we are all aware of the need to return an advocate for the middle class to the White House, but there is an equally important decision to be made this November, one that will impact every Michigan citizen. It is the battle to remove the extreme, far right Justice Clifford Taylor from Michigan’s Supreme Court. A native Michigander, Judge Diane Hathaway will stand up for the middle class by being a voice for us, not big insurance companies or big business.

Remember: The Breadbox is directly tied to the Ballot Box,
so please vote:
November 4, 2008

BARACK OBAMA - PRESIDENT
JOE BIDEN - VICE PRESIDENT

Democrats always lean in Favor of Labor!!!