The UAW is an organization that is unapologetic in our demand for justice. Th at’s why we are joining with a coalition of people that are like-minded in the belief that there is a better way to live, work and fight the status quo of business as usual through nonviolent direct action. We fully support the 99% Spring and together, during the week of April 9-15, in small towns and big cities all across America, 100,000 people will come together for an unprecedented national movement-wide nonviolent direct action training.

We will learn to tell our own the story of how the economy has aff ected our families—how we got here, who’s responsible and how we can change it—through non-violent, direct action in the spirit of Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez and other movement leaders. Th is spring we will work to forge a new economy that works for all of us, not just for the 1%.

We are at a crucial point in America where if we continue to ignore the opportunity to rebuild this great country, then we risk losing the very essence of what has made this country great. Fighting to end poverty and exploitation through international solidarity and direct action is the morally right thing to do. The only path for justice for American workers is to fight for justice for all workers.

• Millions of our family members are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and to fi nd a decent job –meanwhile, the rich keep getting richer.
   
• We’re at a crossroads as a country. We have a choice to make. Greater wealth for a few or opportunity for many. Tax breaks for the richest or a fair shot for the rest of us. A government that can be bought by the highest bidder, or a democracy that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people.
   
• Organizing is a human right. It’s a First Amendment right. Free choice cannot take place in a climate of fear. Workers who want a union should not have to risk their jobs to exercise their rights. We are going to fight for workers’ right to organize without terrorism by the boss – without threats of plant closings and firing workers for trying to join a union. Th e UAW will rise to the historic challenge of leading the fight to regain the right to organize.
   
• UAW members are once again determined to turn things around – to protect collective bargaining rights for all workers and guarantee workers the right to make their own decisions about forming or joining a union whether with a private company, such as an auto manufacturer or with a public sector employees.

The 99% Spring Movement is growing stronger by the day, and we’re not going away until we have an economy that works for ALL of us.

UAW Legal Services Updated On: Jan 10, 2012 (20:04:00) As you know with the ratification of the 2011 UAW National agreement the Legal Services Plan will be terminated on December 31, 2013. At that time any pending legal maters will be processed until their conclusion. Therefore I am urging our members to take advantage of this opportunity and call one of the following locations to open a case or cases while you still can. THE UAW LEGAL SERVICES PLAN IS AVAILABLE TO ALL ELIGIBLE UAW PARENT COMPANY MEMBERS They provide full legal services including court work on many legal problems at NO COST TO YOU. Everyday they help The Membership with: Wills and Trusts Debt-related issues Credit problems Foreclosures Divorces Buying or selling homes Social Security Medicaid planning Litigation Probate Adoption Guardianship They can even do wills for a member's parents or the member's spouse's parents. Also they will provide members with a referral to outside attorneys for legal problems that are not covered under your benefit and you will receive a DISCOUNTED FEE from that attorney.  Call our UAW Legal Service NOW at (1-800-482-5007) and see if they cover your legal matter.  In Solidarity, Jake Richardson UAW Local 1284 President

Membership,

You can read the newly negotiated Chrysler Salaried Highlight Book at UAW.ORG.  There will be hard copies sent to the local for disbursement soon.  Any questions see your local Union Office.  

Jake Richardson    
UAW Local 1284 President

Our local has currently been involved in local negotiations for over a month with progress occurring.  The National Bargaining Team is also negotiating on every members behalf to get the best contract they can.  All Local 1284 Bargaining Unit support is crucial to allow all our represented bargaining teams to keep pushing forward.

Also, congratulations to our latest round of new seniority bargaining unit employees:

• Joel Armstrong
• Samuel Brown
• Morell George Sr.
• Robert Horvath
• Richard Hunt
• Traver Prichard
• Matthew Wasenko

in Solidarity,

Jake Richardson 
UAW Local 1284 President

I would like to take a moment and congratulate our newest CPG bargaining unit seniority employees:

• Ulysses Adams 
• John Howe
• Carl Massa
• Mike Spence
• Larry Surber

Please keep an eye out on all the Local Union boards for openings at the grounds.  Also, do not hesitate to submit your transfer requests in Human Resources to be considered for employee openings and backfills.  Transfer requests are good for one year.

Jake Richardson
UAW Local 1284 President

DETROIT -- The United Auto Workers union is gaining members after years of declines.

In a filing with the U.S. Department of Labor, the union said Thursday that it had 376,612 members in 2010. That's up 6 percent from last year, and the first time since 2004 that the union has gained members.

UAW President Bob King said the gains were due to more hiring in the auto industry as it recovered from the recession. Ford Motor Co. hired 1,200 workers in Chicago last year to make the new Ford Explorer, for example. General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC also have committed to hiring more workers.

The union also has had some success organizing workers outside the auto industry, such as graduate students and casino dealers. But the union's membership is still far below its peak of 1.5 million in 1979, and is currently at its lowest levels since the mid-1940s.

Our local on Monday, April 4th 2011 had the company seeing RED in a show of solidarity.  I wanted to personally thank all of the members for taking action when called upon.  This was a show of solidarity on behalf of all Unions to say we are united in the struggle to organize, build power and win justice.   

Jake Richardson
UAW Local 1284 President

 On Monday, April 4th 2011 our UAW President Bob King is calling all Union’s to action.  In remembrance of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, the UAW chose this day to rally solidarity for all Union’s to wear RED and show support.  This is a new time for our Unions who are under constant scrutiny in the fight for working men and women to receive a fair shot at a livable wage.  Please support your Union and its causes by simply wearing RED on Monday.

Department 5460 2nd Shift had a paczki eating contest on Paczki Day. The winner, Kevin Luce ate a stomack aching 10 paczkis.  Following Kevin was Tom Broniak (8), Garrett Branham (8), Aaron Lake (8), Brian S. (Smurf)(3), Rich Meyer (3).

You can see more pictures of this event in the Photo Gallery.

The Vietnam Veterans Committee supports the following program:

THIS IS A DOCUMENTARY THAT EVERYONE "MUST SEE" , THIS COMING MONDAY NIGHT  FEB.21st AT 9:00 PM ON TBS.!!! THIS DOCUMENTARY WAS SHOWED AT THE "FOX" IN JAN. FOR WHAT THE THE VIETNAM VET'S ARE ALL ABOUT.AND WHAT THEY STAND FOR. PRIDE ,PERSEVERANCE ,& PATRIOTISM. AND NOW IT'S COMING INTO YOUR LIVING ROOM, & HOME !!!!
  THIS COULD BE ABOUT ONE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS.  THOSE THAT GAVE THERE LIFE, AND OUR POW/MIA,S THAT ARE STILL MISSING FOR 40 YEARS,   LIKE WE VIETNAM VET'S SAY, YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND THE VIETNAM WAR UNLESS YOU WAS THERE,  THIS "DOCUMENTARY"  YOU WILL SEE THOSE WITH THERE PERSONAL INSIGHT, AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN WE CAME HOME FROM FIGHTING FOR THE FREEDOM THAT WE ENJOY TODAY!!! AND WHAT WE VIETNAM VET'S ARE DOING TODAY,  SO KNOW ONE ELSE WILL BE TREATED THE WAY WE WERE WHEN WE CAME HOME, FROM WAR, KNOW ONE CARED,   THIS DOCUMENTARY WAS A GOOD WELCOME HOME,  AND SAID JOB WELL DONE!! 42 YEARS TO LATE!!!  I HOPE YOU CARE AND WATCH THIS MONDAY NIGHT AND FELL WHAT THE VIETNAM VET'S HAVE FELT, FROM THE DAY "WE"CAME HOME!!!!  
                                                               ALL GAVE SOME & SOME GAVE ALL !!

• John Coleman
• Erik Charlson
• William Hargreaves
• Steven Windegarden
• Peter Conway
• Robbie Buti
• Dian Drlicka
• Matthew Gac
• John Jarvis
• Ginger Kucharczyk
• James Bell

Second, for the first time our local has been awarded with a new Internationally Appointed Alternate Benefits Representative. Please take time to congratulate Jason Freeman who was earlier awarded with the local appointment. Our local and company we work for is constantly changing so stay alert for upcoming notifications.