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GM Chairperson's Report - April 2022

Lindsay Alexander
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UNIT 1 (GM) SHOP CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT - APRIL 2022
KENNETH D. HINES, UNIT 1 (GM) SHOP CHAIRPERSON

OPEN LETTER TO THE MEMBERSHIP

Arlington Assembly is in a very good position when it comes to the product that we build and volume.  Currently, we are still the only facility to build all full-size SUVs for General Motors.  We are faced with a problem that most other General Motors facilities are not faced with, but all the same it is still a problem.  Although we are blessed with a hot-selling product and almost unlimited overtime available to our members, it requires us to work six days a week with one of those days being a 9 hour shift during that week.  The required additional overtime has taken a toll on our members and makes it difficult to have any type of work/family balance.  The Shop Committee has put certain elements in place to try to relieve as much of this burden as possible for the membership.  With that being said, we lead General Motors in unscheduled absenteeism.  We asked the membership that if you know if you are going to be taking off, please make sure you schedule your absence.  Unscheduled absenteeism is not a good metric for any plant to have, especially when it is trying to secure its future for many years to come.

We are confident of the future of this plant and its place within General Motors when it comes to the next generation industrial combustible engine (ICE) version of the product that we build.  As electric vehicles (EVs) become more and more mainstream and carve out their own future within General Motors, we must make sure that we are in that conversation, as well, when it comes to securing our product in General Motors’ new electric vehicle (EV) future.

TEMPORARY TO PERMANENT TRANSITION

For the month of April, we will transition six (6) individuals from temporary to permanent status.  We would like to extend a congratulations to all that made this transition.  It has been a long journey for many individuals and many people doubted if this day would ever come.  We would just like to say congratulations to all!

UAW NATIONAL SUBCOUNCIL

UAW President Ray Curry spoke to the membership of the National Council about how the cost of living affects our members and that it is something that must be addressed in the next round of negotiations in 2023.  President Curry talked about General Motors’ EV transformation and how we have three facilities, with a possible fourth coming online soon, to build the current versions of electric vehicles for General Motors.  He advised the membership to start early in saving additional funds in case we must strike General Motors again to secure gains for our members and to secure our members’ future as we move into the electric vehicle (EV) phase within General Motors.  Out of the Big 3, he stated that General Motors is the most difficult to deal with when it comes to its workers and contract negotiations.  We must make sure that everyone in General Motors has a job in the electric future of the company.

PART TIME TEMP (PTT) TRANSITION TO FULL TIME TEMP (FTT)

Management has informed the Union that the transition from part-time temporary (PTT) to full-time temporary (FTT) status is currently on hold.  Management stated, “With the amount of new transitioning people to Seniority status we are close to our Total Authorized Head Count of the plant.”  We are aware that we have many of our PTT employees that would desire to work full time hours.  When there is a change in the plant headcount and we resume this transition, it will be shared with the plant.

GRIEVANCE COUNT

  • Grievances at Step 1:  319
  • Grievances at Step 2:    64
  • Grievances at Step 3:      9
  • Grievances at Step 4:      0
  • 183 Grievances:              2
  • Health & Safety:             8

PLACING A CALL FOR A UNION REPRESENTATIVE

Lately there have been many of our members trying to reach out to their Union Representatives through Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, and other forms of social media.  Some members also try and call or text the personal phone of a Union Representative.  None of these are official calls.  To make sure that we have a record of your placed call, we ask that you please place a call with your supervisor or call the Union Hall.  These are the only two official ways of contacting your Union Official and maintaining a record of your call.

SOLIDARITY WEDNESDAY

We would like to thank all members that are participating and wearing their Red Shirt on Wednesdays. This shows a form of SOLIDARITY and is an important statement to the membership as well as management.

In Solidarity,

KENNY HINES
UNIT 1 (GM) CHAIRPERSON

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