This report comes to you under very hopeful and exciting circumstances of our plant’s new future. Chairman Joe Riccio and I want you to know we have been working for the membership since the announcement in June that GM was closing the Boxwood Road Plant.
By June 4th we had submitted a Petition for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) which provides assistance to workers in firms hurt by foreign trade. Program benefits include long-term training.
During the five weeks starting in June and into July that the plant was down we brought the Benefit Reps., Angelo Piner and Shawn Patterson, to the Union Hall to make it easier for our members to have access to him. On August 1st Angelo Piner retired.
The Department of Labor held classes at the plant on June 4 and 5th and at the Union Hall on the 10 and 11th. Their mobile unit was at the plant in June to make it easy for our members who were still working to have access to these services and information. On October 13th they held workshops at the Union Hall to answer questions provide information and help with such things as filling out resumes.
We continue to be in weekly contact with The Department of Labor searching every avenue possible to help our members acquire any and all benefits and training available through the State.
We also want our (General Motors) retirees to know that we, UAW Local 435, are still servicing our retired membership. Although we will be the union for the new company, Fisker Automotive, we will still continue to service our retirees. The Union Hall iso perating under reduced hours to help conserve money. We are here Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
I would like to take this time to thank UAW President Ron Gettelfinger, UAW Region 8 Director Gary Casteel, Governor Jack Markell, Senator Tom Carper and his Assistant Larry Windley, Senator Edward Kaufman, Plant Manager Bob Dolan, Department of Economic Development Alan Levin and his Executive Assistant Bonnie, Fisker Automotive Chief Operations Office Barney Kohler, Fisker Automotive CEO Hedrick Fisker, Chairman Joe Riccio and the Bargaining Committee and Vice President Joe Biden not only for all of their hard work and many hours spent in making this happen, but also for making time in their busy schedules to be here with us and a part of this momentous announcement that took place at our plant on Tuesday, October27, 2009.
Here are email addresses if our members would like to send a thank you:
Ron Gettelfinger, President,UAW International Union and Gary Casteel, Director
UAW Region 8 should be sent to:region8@uaw.net
Vice President Joseph Biden:Kevin_Bailey@ovpeop.gov
Senator Thomas R. Carper;larry_windley@carper.senate.gov
Senator Edward E. Kaufman:John_DiEleuterio@kaufman.senate.gov
Representative Michael N.Castle: Jeff.Dayton@mail.house.gov
Governor Jack A. Markell
by way of his personalsecretary: Victoria.jones@state.de.us
Alan Levin, Secretaryalan.levin@state.de.us
Economic Development
(Bonnie, Assistant)bonnie.ingram@state.de.us
I would like to thank the Executive Board and all of our Local 435 members both active and retired for your years of service, faithfulness and support through the good times as well as the times when things didn’t look so good. You are the Best! As the weeks unfold we are looking forward to things getting steadily better. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as the many details are getting worked out.
On October 22nd Shawn Patterson, our union benefit rep. was moved permanently back to the Union Hall. He can be reached at our number, 302-995-6001 extension 16. General Motors has approved Shawn to remain in the Benefit Rep. position until December 31, 2009. We are working with General Motors and the International Union to get that time extended, but as it stands right now, Shawn will only be in that position until the end of December.
David J. Myers
President, Local 435 UAW
(302) 995-6003
President's Report