President's Report - June 2023

President’s Report
June 2023
Mike Cartwright

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of UAW Local 276 for allowing me the honor of representing you as President these last 2.5 years.  Protecting the bargained rights of our membership is tremendously important and a charge I take very seriously.  There are still many serious issues that need to be addressed.  Members need to support our leadership during this tumultuous time.  This is a contract year for all of our bargaining units (GM, Caravan, and HydroChem).  Solidarity is especially important now as we must work together to bargain for our futures.  It is imperative that we educate ourselves on the issues that affect us. 

I am excited to announce that UAW Local 276 is working with Aflac to offer our members supplemental insurance as a benefit to our members (the cost of the plan is the responsibility of the member).  Supplemental insurance is additional coverage that can be used to help with the out-of-pocket expenses that come up when you are injured or sick.  Please contact Kathy LeBlanc at (817) 988-7748 for more information and to receive full program details.

Notes from UAW-GM Sub-Council:

  • The Top Committee, including our Shop Chairperson Kenny Hines, are headed back to Detroit to get things ready for negotiations.
  • GM has 45,951 employees with 6,344 skilled trades employees and 4,305 temporary employees.
  • The Skilled Trades Department has agreed to place 261 employees in the apprenticeship program.  GM will modify and update the Appendix A list for our plant.  The goal is to exhaust the internal list first.
  • Per diem employees are considered external candidates.
  • GM will transition temporary employees within the apprenticeship program to permanent status and will request the credentials of direct hire skilled tradespersons within ninety (90) days.
  • New employee training will be updated to fit the current UAW-GM environment.
  • The SUB pay fund is financed at 91%.  No strike target has been decided yet.
  • The strike fund sits at $828,425,408.62.
  • As of April 1, 2023, our benefits plan now covers autism care. 
  • The pension plan is well funded.  Please be sure to check on and update your beneficiary.  See Benefits to make sure everything is in order before retirement, or you will not receive your pay on time. 
  • GM had 19,000 new hires opt into PSP.  We have about 20,000 members eligible for pension and 45,000 members ineligible. 
  • The GM Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) has paid about $300,000 to approximately 1,000 participants seeking additional educational opportunities.
  • ADAPT resolved and communicated to each local about temporary employees being able to utilize the process.  GM and the UAW working to strengthen ADAPT training.

In Solidarity,
Michael Cartwright
President
UAW Local 276

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