March 2006 Bedford, IN 47421 Phone# 279-1113 Home Page www.iue-cwalocal84907.com LOCAL IUE-CWA REPORTS UNION MEETING Our next regularly scheduled Union meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 at the U.A.W. Hall, 1411 “H” Street, Bedford, IN. Meeting Times: Night Shift: 1:00 am (TUESDAY, after work) Day Shift: 4:00 pm Midnight shift may attend either of the above meetings. NOTICE There will be a show of hands vote taken at the March Union meeting on the proposed amendments to our Constitution. These amendments will bring us in line with the International CWA Constitution. Copies of the proposed amendments are available in the Stewards’ office for you to be able to review before the vote is taken. TRUSTEE NOMINATIONS AT MARCH MEETING NOMINATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF TRUSTEE WILL BE TAKEN AT THE MARCH UNION MEETING! OFFICE AT STAKE: 3-YEAR TRUSTEE POSITION VOTING WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE APRIL UNION MEETING AT THE UAW HALL 1411 H STREET, BEDFORD, IN 47421 VOTING TIMES: NIGHT SHIFT: APRIL 4, 2006 FROM 10:00 PM TO 2:00AM. (Tuesday after work) DAY SHIFT: APRIL 5, 2006 FROM 2:00 PM TO 6:00 PM. IN THE CASE OF A TIE, THE RUN-OFF ELECTION WILL BE HELD AT THE UAW HALL, 1411 H STREET, BEDFORD, IN 47421 AT THE FOLLOWING VOTING TIMES: NIGHT SHIFT: APRIL 11, 2006 FROM 10:00 PM TO 2:00AM. (Tuesday after work) DAY SHIFT: APRIL 12, 2006 FROM 2:00 PM TO 6:00 PM. REMINDER: YOU MAY VOTE AT EITHER OF THE VOTING TIMES AVAILABLE, NOT JUST YOUR SHIFT TIME Duties of the Trustees According to the current Local Constitution, the duties of the Trustees are as follows: To audit all books and records of the Local, quarterly – January, April, July and October - witness the official report by the President and Financial Secretary-Treasurer of the Local Union to the International Secretary-Treasurer informing him that the Local’s books and records have been audited. This notice shall be mailed to the International Secretary-Treasurer no later than forty-five (45) days after the close of the period for which the audit is made, and shall state what the condition of the books and records is. Safeguard all properties of the Local Union. Make written report of findings and recommendations at the next regular meeting following such audit. Take an inventory at least once a year. Trustees may monitor or audit lost time. From the desk of the President I want to extend a special thanks to everyone for their hard work and dedication that makes the Bedford Plant excel in quality and best in class business practices. This can-do  attitude sets our plant above the rest and proves to Visteon that we are deserving of their support and continued business. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to Dave Highland and Sandy Lynch from H-R for their assistance and hard work in helping us obtain the Trade Adjustment Assistance from the U. S. Department of Labor. Many of our displaced union brothers and sisters are currently participating in this program that was launched this month through the Bedford Work One office. TAA and ATAA benefits and services include : Reemployment services Job Search Allowance, up to $1,250.00 Relocation Allowance, up to $1,250.00 Training up to 104 weeks full time Income support up to 104 weeks while participating in full time training Health Coverage Tax Credit These programs are a great benefit and should be given serious consideration should further layoffs occur. The U. S. Department of Labor has ruled that any employee who accepts a voluntary separation package ($25,000.00)provided for in our Collective Bargaining Agreement is NOT eligible to participate in these programs. However, should any employee, through no fault of their own, be forced to accept the buyout through inverse seniority and in accordance with our CBA, they WILL be eligible to participate in these programs. In Solidarity, David Baker President IUE-CWA Local 907 Insurance issues yet again The insurance issues never seem to end. We, again, have been having problems with our insurance provider. If for any reason you as a member or the provider calls the insurance company to verify coverage for a specific benefit, please make sure you get the name and title of the person to which you are speaking. We have had several members call for a pre-approval or to verify coverage of a certain procedure and were given the wrong information. It is impossible for us to question why the wrong information was given or to prove that the wrong information was given if we don’t know who gave the incorrect infomation to the member initially. Help us help you—get those folks’ names and titles ! Vision Coverage Reminder Blue Vision, through Blue Cross/Blue Shield, is the current vision provider. Your should have received a new card recently and this card is what you will use when using your vision benefit. Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit at no cost to members IUE-CWA Local 907 is pleased to announce the continuation of the NO COST $2,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment benefit provided through American Income Life Insurance Company, a 100% Union Label Company. This benefit covers all members and retirees. Additionally, American Income will be providing free Child Safe Kits, endorsed by the International Union of Police Associations. These potentially lifesaving kits help you gather vital data, a photo, even fingerprints for your children and/or grandchildren. So, if the unthinkable ever happens, you can get this potential lifesaving data to the authorities quickly. The informational letters and reply cards will be forthcoming in a matter of a few weeks. This information will be sent directly to our members at home. American Income Life lay-off waiver Several members of Local 907 have supplemental insurance benefits through American Income Life, a 100% Union Label Company. These benefits are important to union members and American Income Life wants to make sure our brothers and sisters are covered in both the good times and the lean times. If you are on lay-off, the premiums for these benefits may be waived for up to 3 months. To obtain this waiver, please stop by the union office to pick up the blue “Lay-Off Premium Waiver” card. Many members may already have this card at home in the American Life folder. American Income Life is proud to support American Labor! FYI……. Alan Resler, from the Crane Federal Credit Union asked that the following information be passed to our members. Crane Federal Credit Union is promoting their bill pay and electronic statement programs. If you sign up for online bill payment and e-statements between March 1 and April 30, 2006, you will automatically be entered in a drawing to have the bills you pay online for the month of May reimbursed by the Credit Union, up to $300.00 maximum. *Up to $300.00 will be reimbursed by the Credit Union, only for bills paid online through CFCU bill pay during the month of May for one randomly selected winner. The money for bills must actually be deducted from the member account between May 1 and May 31 to qualify for reimbursement. Online Bill Pay is free of charge if you have a CFCU checking account and receive your statement electronically. With CFCU Web Connect online banking service you can perform the following transactions: Check your balances, make transfers between accounts, review your transaction history, re-order checks, make Visa payments, make loan payments, complete an online loan application and use our Online Switch Kit, which makes it easy to switch financial services, such as loan payments or direct deposits from other financial institutions to CFCU. For more information, contact the nearest Crane FCU branch, or visit www.cranecu.org. Bedford: 812-276-2900 Bloomington: 812-323-9200 Crane: 812-854-1414 Linton: 812-847-0777 Washington: 812-254-0444 Toll Free: 800-692-3274 See the flyers posted in the Union cases. Monthly grievance report The last second step grievance meeting was held on 02/16/06 with 19 grievances being heard. We currently have 7 grievances in the second step stage. There was no third step meeting in February. The next third step meeting is scheduled for 03/02/06. There are currently about 87 grievances in the third step stage. The last 31/2 step grievance meeting was held on 02/10/06. Eight grievances were heard. The grievance for the second tier employees’ pay increase was favorably settled and is currently being processed. The grievance concerning the double jeopardy when a person leaves the plant without permission has been favorably settled. The employee will receive either a DAR or an occurrence (Company’s discretion), but not both. There are currently 2 grievances in the 31/2 step stage. Scholarship Opportunities Reminder Just a quick reminder about the IUE-CWA 2006-2007 Scholarship Opportunity. There are a total of 17 separate scholarships available. All of the scholarships will operate independently from any local or CWA scholarship program. Scholarships will be awarded for one year. Applicants must have demonstrated certain qualities such as a commitment to equality of opportunity for all, a concern for improving the quality of life for all people and interest in service to the community. The winners must have also demonstrated good character, leadership ability and a desire to improve and move ahead. The scholarships will be awarded without regard to race, sex, creed, color, age or national origin. All applications for the 2006-2007 awards must be submitted no later than March 31, 2006. If selected as a winner, you will be required to provide a photograph of yourself and proof of GPA before a check can be issued. Applications will only be accepted online at www.iue-cwa.org. All information concerning the names of the scholarships and additional qualifications for each are posted in the glass bulletin boards, the vendeteria bulletin board and the bulletin board outside the smoke room. Be sure and check this information out to help someone with the high cost of college. We would really enjoy being able to report to our members that we had some winners of these scholarships ! Bill would revoke trade with China Associated Press Washington – Two senators introduced a bill that would revoke normal trade relations with China, saying Beijing is cheating the United States out of billions of dollars. Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Byron Dorgan, D- N.D., said a worsening trade deficit, currency manipulation and Chinese piracy of copyrighted American products make competition impossible for U.S. workers and companies. The legislation faces hurdles, including the likelihood of strong resistance by the Bush administration. But it reflects the growing worry of some lawmakers over China’s booming economy and the way global trade influences American workers. The real truth about Wal-Mart Wal-Mart recently launched a multi million-dollar advertising campaign to silence its critics and hear the truth about the company. The following are REAL facts about Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart and Wages In 2001, the last year for which Wal-Mart has released figures for most occupations, sales associates, the most common job in Wal-Mart, earned an average $8.23 an hour for annual wages of $13, 861. The poverty line for a family of three was $14, 630. A 2003 wage analysis reported that cashiers, the second most common job, earn approximately $7.92 per hour and work 29 hours a week. This brings in annual wages of only $11,948. Wal-Mart can cover the cost of a dollar an hour wage increase by raising prices a half penny per dollar. For instance, a $2.00 pair of socks would then cost $2.01. This minimal increase would annually add up to $1,800 for each employee. Wal-Mart and health care Wal-Mart’s health care plan fails to cover over 600,000 employees. Wal-Mart reports that its health care insurance covers only 48% of its employees. Wal-Mart has approximately 1.3 million American employees. The health care eligibility is restrictive. Part-timers – anybody below 34 hours a week – must wait 2 years before they can enroll. Moreover, part-time employees are not eligible for family health care coverage. Full-time employees must wait 180 days (approximately 6 months) before being able to enroll in Wal-Mart’s health care insurance plan. Managers have no waiting period. This is only the beginning. More info on Wal-Mart next month.

 

IUE-CWA Local 907