UAW Local 435

Region 8
 
 
        

 
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CHAIRMAN'S REPORT
 
11/1/2009
Brothers and Sisters,

Nearly 4 months ago, Larry Zahner, GM vehicle manager walked into our plant and made the announcement that they were closing the Boxwood Rd. facility.  Three months ago, we produced our last Pontiac Solstice and rolled it off the final assembly line.

These were two of the hardest days I have ever personally experienced.  The first was to be notified on Monday morning upon entering the plant that we were being closed.  Then later that morning, to have to stand there with President Myers and listen as Larry Zahner told the membership of Local 435 that GM was closing our plant.  The second toughest day I have ever  experienced was to get into the last car built at our plant, and drive that car off of final line.

Brothers and Sisters, today President Myers and I are here to tell you a different story.  We are here to tell you the story about how our plant will once again build cars, and provide manufacturing jobs for thousands of people.

Since that last vehicle rolled off the line there have been many tough situations for so many of our members.  Brothers and Sisters have relocated to other GM facilities, taken early retirement packages, and buyouts.  At the time of this writing, we have approximately 210 production workers and 70 Skilled trades collecting unemployment and SUB pay.

Since the plant stopped producing vehicles there have been countless discussions between President Myers, Plant manager Bob Dolan, the Delaware delegation led by Governor Markell, Senator Carper, Larry Wyndlay, Alan Levine, and myself.  We all agreed that there were many options that remained for our plant.  We had an experienced workforce that truly wanted to work.  We agreed that as long as the building was standing, we had a real chance at bringing manufacturing jobs back to Delaware, and back to our facility.

Governor Markell immediately went to work convincing GM and Motors Liquidation Corp. to leave the plant intact to make it more attractive to potential buyers.  In hind sight, this was a brilliant move on his part.  This was one of the reasons FISKER Automotive took an immediate interest.  Fisker could purchase a turn key operation with a state of the art paint shop and also have access to an experienced work force. 

The meetings with various investor groups led to a succession of events, with many people from different entities viewing the plant.  Countless ideas were surfaced ranging from resurrecting the Solstice and Sky, to making rail cars, and even making windmills.

The whirlwind of talks took on a new direction when Governor Markell convinced Fisker Automotive CEO Henrik Fisker and COO Barney Koehler to tour our plant, meet our dedicated work force along with introducing them to Plant Manager Bob Dolan, President Myers, and myself.

These efforts of Governor Markell, Senator Carper, DEDO Alan Levin, Larry Wyndlay, President Myers, plant Manager Bob Dolan and myself culminated with the recent announcement from FISKER Automotive that they will be purchasing the plant.

With the plant purchase by FISKER AUTOMOTIVE, there is projected to be a creation of up to 2500 UAW manufacturing jobs within the facility.  The total number of jobs to be created in Delaware will be over 5000.  This includes suppliers and other manufacturing work needed to support FISKER operations coming to Delaware.  Manufacturing of the FISKER line of vehicles is set to begin in 2012.

Please keep in mind that the Wilmington facility is no longer a GM facility.  UAW Local 435 is no longer GM - UAW Local 435; we are now FISKER Automotive – UAW Local 435.  With that said, there is an enormous amount of issues that need to be worked out. 

Brothers and Sisters still on layoff from GM need to understand, that they still need to protect their GM benefits and pensions.  Due to our facility no longer being a GM facility, there are no provisions in place for there to be any transition of GM seniority, wages, benefits, pensions, return to former community, or anything GM related to FISKER automotive.  At this time, there are thoughts and ideas on how some of these issues might be accomplished.  It is far too premature for anyone to be speculating this may happen, and furthermore, nothing contractual has been ironed out, at this point.  

Since the announcement by FISKER automotive took place, we have been swamped with questions about the hiring process as well as other equally important questions.  I would like to be able to tell all of you the hiring details have been worked out.  The reality is that we are just beginning to identify the countless issues.  If anyone would like further information pertaining to job opportunities with FISKER AUTOMOTIVE, I would suggest contacting FISKER directly through their web site WWW.FISKERAUTOMOTIVE.COM

President Myers and I are working with our Region 8 Director Gary Casteel to identify the many issues associated with this situation.  We have asked for assistance from our Regional Director in coming to resolutions that will benefit all of our UAW members as well as Fisker Automotive.  I am sure everyone can understand that these issues will not be resolved over night.  We will get these issues resolved and will certainly communicate the information to all as quickly as possible once completed.

At this time, I can tell you that we will be under a completely separate UAW contractual agreement with FISKER automotive.  Although there may be some similar language, we will not be covered by the current provisions of the National Agreement.  With that said the actual contract negotiations will begin in the near future.

The truth be told, no plant closed by GM has ever been in this situation.  Our UAW International President Ron Gettelfinger summed it up best.  President Gettelfinger stated “so many facilities have been closed in recent times it was totally remarkable to be coming to a plant opening....... This is the first time the UAW has partnered with an automaker outside the Big 3.”

At this time, I would like to openly thank UAW President Ron Gettelfinger, Region 8 Director Gary Casteel, Governor Markell, Senator Carper, Senator Kaufman, Plant Manager Bob Dolan, Fisker Automotive COO Barney Kohler, Fisker Automotive CEO Henrik Fisker, Department of Economic Development Alan Levin, Senator Carpers assistant Larry Wyndlay, Local 435 President Dave Myers and Vice President Joe Biden for all of their help and support in making this a reality.

The email addresses of these previously mentioned individuals have been posted on the UAW web site under the heading of EMAILS for those that would like to send a note of thanks.

I would also like to thank the members of UAW Local 435 Executive Board, as well as Lew Graham, Keith“Newt” Newton, Bob Gland, Jose Gonzales and the UAW Local 435 membership for their patience and support during this entire process.  I would like to extend a special note of thanks to UAW Local 435 Trustee Jerry Kryspin for keeping up with all of the changes as they happened on the UAW Local 435 Web Site. www.uawlocal435.com .   Thank you Jerry for all your hard work!!

I would also like to thank Sister Ruth Jones.  During the time frame of the plant closing announcement I was walking the plant floor.  I went through the bird cage area and stopped to talk with Sister Jones.  We were discussing the closing and Sister Jones said to me, Joe don’t worry, when the good Lord closes one door he always opens another.  That saying has been in my head ever since. I never knew then how right she was.  Thank you Ruth!!

The UAW local 435 Benefits Rep. Shawn Patterson has been  relocated to the UAW local 435 Union Hall.  Anyone having benefit related issues or questions for Shawn may contact him at 302-995-6001 – Ext - 16

Anyone having questions or concerns can reach me at the Union Hall 302-995-6001,my office in the plant 302-428-7755, or on my cellphone 302–420-9477.

In Solidarity

Joe Riccio

Chairman

UAW Local 435

 
6/5/2009
Brothers and Sisters,

First off, I can not find the words to explain my emotions about the plant closing.  I knew, almost one year ago, when the membership voted me into this position, that one day I would have to stand before all of you and say that our efforts were successful and we would continue forward, or I would have to stand and tell all of you that our plant was closing.  The twelve years I have spent serving this membership as a Shop Committee member on the plant floor never prepared me for the plant closing information I received on Monday morning when I got to work.  I honestly believed that we could beat this thing like we did back in 1992. 

I do not for one minute believe that the plant closing was due to any failure or fault within the plant.  I want to thank all of you for the dedication and committment you put forth on a daily basis, always willing to do what was neccessary, regardless of the hurdles, to make our plant the best it could be.  The support put forth by the UAW Local 435 membership always made it easy for us, the Shop Committee, to do our job, and I thank all of you for that.  I am proud and honored to be able to serve all of you.

I believe that GM made a decision, although a bad decision, to move forward with their plans and Wilmington was not part of that plan.  When the Lord closes one door he always opens another.  With that said, let me reassure all of you that President Myers and I are not going anywhere.  We have discussed the situation at length and made the commitment to stay in place, serving this membership, until everyone within UAW Local 435 is situated, afforded opportunities to transition, and taken care of.  We made the commitment to all of you when we were elected and we will keep that committment.

I want to report to all of you that Governor Markell, Senator Carper, Congressmen Castle, Senator Kauffman and Delaware Economic Development Opportunities Director Alan Levin along with their staff have worked and are working their tails off for our membership.  The Delaware delegation lobbied GM right down to the last minutes of the decision making process on our behalf.  I want to openly thank the aformentioned delegation for all of their efforts on our behalf. 

Once the decision was made by GM to close our plant, the delegation, led by Governor Markell shifted gears and provided us full support, transition teams, and are working on career opportunities for our membership.  The previously mentioned members of the Delaware delegation have been in constant communication with President Myers, Plant Manager Bob Dolan and I.  The delegation has committed to provide every opportunity they can, to ensure the best possible transition for our membership, to new careers.  Truthfully, their help has been a blessing to our membership and we are thankful to have them helping us.  I might suggest a letter or email of thanks to the Delaware delegation when time permits.  

Please understand that the Shop Committee is, as of the time of this writing, 7 days into NEW contract language, and 5 days into a plant closing announcement.  Further compounding the situation is the fact that everyone is on lay off and communication to the membership that is spread across 5 states is a challenge to say the least.  If anyone would like to have their email address added to our Electronic mail distribution you can contact the UAW Local 435 Union Hall at 302-995-6001 or drop me an email.

I want to let everyone know that we understand your desire to have the information you need to make decisions as quickly as possible.  We understand everyone wants this information so they can begin to make the best and most informed decisions possible for them and their families.

The Shop Committee is working as quickly as possible to get the information that everyone needs.  The problems we are encountering are with the NEW contractual language.  We want to make sure that we request the information you need as the questions arise, then verify for accuracy the information we receive, prior to putting anything out to the membership.  We realize the decisions that all of you will make in the upcoming months are life altering decisions based on the plant closing.  Please be patient as we gather and confirm, for all of you, the information necessary for you to make these decisions.
 
The State of Delaware will be offering informational meetings for every person that will be displaced due to the closing of the Wilmington Plant.  The informational meetings that will take place at the UAW local 435 Union Hall will provide an over view for re-training opportunities, job placement programs, and various other services that will be provided by the State for our membership.

The State of Delaware has partnered with Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania to make sure that our Brothers and Sisters in these States are also provided the same opportunities.  Governor Markell has worked very hard to ensure that every opportunity is made available to every member of our membership and properly put forth. 

Notification cards for the State program meetings were mailed out today to everyone who was not working in the plant.  There will be 4 scheduled meetings pertaining to the State funded programs to be held at the UAW Local 435 Union Hall.  These meetings are being provided for everyone so they may understand their Job seeking / Re-Training and educational opportunities provided by the State Governments.   If you have the proper address on files, you should receive one of these notification cards soon. 

Once you receive your notification card for the State funded program meetings you will need to call the UAW local 435 Union Hall to reserve a seat at the meeting.  You will need to schedule and reserve a specific day and time you would like to attend.  The reason for reserving a seat at the meeting is so that we can keep the groups small, allowing more interaction and question and answer time from the State officials. 

Meetings with the State officials were already held in the plant for those Brothers and Sisters that were working.  The reasons for these meetings in the plant were 1) for the information to be given to the people in the plant prior to them being laid off thus allowing smaller groups at the hall, and 2) to make sure that we had opportunity to iron out any issues that arose prior to rolling the entire package out to a large group.

SAP packages have been mailed out to everyone.  You should begin receiving your package in the mail as long as you have the proper address for your residence on file.  Once you receive your SAP packages you can contact the UAW Local 435 Benefits Reps, Angelo Piner & Shawn Patterson at the UAW Local 435 Union Hall - 302-995-6001 Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM.

UAW Local 435 Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Representative Jim Cosby will also be assigned to the UAW Local 435 Union Hall to facilitate the needs of our membership via the UAW-GM work family program.  Jim Cosby will be available between the hours of 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM.

For those who desire to request a transfer to another UAW - GM facility, GM plant Cisco codes are posted on the UAW Local 435 web site.  WWW.UAWLocal435.Com.  Once you decide which plant or plants you would like to make application to - you may call the 1-800-NAT-HIRE number and follow the prompts to register your transfer request.  There are people assigned to the National Hire Facility to personally answer your questions.  Dave Carilli is doing his level best to set up the relocation program.  Again, the new language on relocation has slowed the process but I can assure you that Dave is staying with it, working through the issues, and will work out the details for all of you.

The reset date for SUB pay was June 1, 2009.

Anyone having questions can contact me via email or feel free to utilize any of the numbers listed below my name.
In Solidarity,

Joe Riccio
Chairman
UAW/Local 435
Desk: 302-428-7755
Union Hall: 302-995-6001
Cell Phone: 302-420-9477
WWW.UAWLOCAL435.COM
 
 
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 UAW Local 435     3304 Old Capitol Trail     Wilmington, DE 19808
Phone:  302-995-6001     Fax:  302-995-9618