UAW Local 31

President’s Report

Sisters and Brothers,

Welcome to all newly transferred employees to the UAW Local 31 Fairfax plant.  We are glad you are here.  I look forward to your help and input.  As I always say, if there is anything I can do to assist you in your new endeavors, please do not hesitate to call.  Again, welcome.

As the political campaigns are 8 months away from elections, we must do our homework.  Trade agreements in this country are horrendous.  Look what it is doing to our UAW brothers and sisters at American Axle.  They went on strike almost 1 month ago.  American Axle had profits of $37 million, with sales of 3.2 billion in 2007.  The company has cut it’s workforce in half since 2004, but continues to expand its overseas operations.

November cannot get here soon enough we must elect men and women who will protect the American dream to be middle class.

Boeing, which in 2003 had won the contract for the air force refueling tankers, only to have Presidential Candidate John McCain step in and pressure the U.S. Air force to open the tanker contest to competition and to disregard concern over European Union subsidiaries of Airbus.  This is at the heart of a U.S. Trade Representative complaint against the E.U. before the World Trade Organization.  This is a very complex issue.  Nonetheless, Boeing is missing out on a $35 billion contract to Airbus, a French owned company which employs 44,000 existing and new jobs in 40 states.  Boeing is protesting the contract asking the U.S. Government to consider U.S. jobs, and national security in awarding contracts.

I am still looking for volunteers to be on the Worker-to-Worker program.  This is a good way to get involved and help educate the membership on issues affecting all of us.

Some members of the CAP Committee will be attending the legislative conference in Jefferson City, MO on March 31 to April 1st.  They will be representing labor and trade issues affecting the UAW.

Thanks to everyone who attended the March Union Meeting.  The newly elected Election Committee will be working on putting together the Guidelines for the General Elections for the Executive Board Elections in May.

Thanks to the Recreation Committee, members and their families enjoyed our Spring Extravaganza.  Thank you for all your hard work in making this event a success.  Please support the upcoming events such as the Women’s Committee Luncheon, Heart Walk, and March of Dimes.  We are the blessed few to be able to fight for the less fortunate.

I hope everyone had a Blessed Easter and enjoyed your Union Negotiated Holidays on Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Remember April 28 is Workers Memorial Day.  Mourn our fallen brothers and fight for every American that they are able to go to work and come home safe, sound and healthy at the end of the day. The UAW along with other unions has always helped assure a safe and healthy work environment.  We will be commemorating this day with an event in April.

The next regular membership meeting will be held on April 19 - 2:00 p.m. following the Executive board meeting at 1:00 p.m.  Plan on attending.

Solidarity-Solidarity-Solidarity

May God Bless and Keep you always,

Jeff Manning, President