Mike Keeler
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|
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| Recording Secretary |
| UAW Local 599 |
| 812 Leith St. |
| Flint, MI 48505 |
| (810) 238-1616 Ext. 15 |
| FAX (810) 238-3378 |

|
|
![]() |
| Recording Secretary |
| UAW Local 599 |
| 812 Leith St. |
| Flint, MI 48505 |
| (810) 238-1616 Ext. 15 |
| FAX (810) 238-3378 |
|
|
| June 10, 2008 |
|
Changes to the Headlight As of June 1, I became the editor of
the Headlight. The new Bylaws made the Recording Secretary
and Financial Secretary part time, and
added the Editor’s duties to the Recording Secretary Job.
The Bylaws also changed the publication of the Headlight
from bi-monthly to monthly, effective January 1, 2008. During the Bylaws debate, the Editor
was requested to compare rates of publishing the newspaper
to try to find ways to lower the cost. We are in the process
of getting bids to compare with our current rates. You will notice a few changes in the
newspaper that will save some expenses. The newspaper will
stay at eight pages, while in the past it has been as large
as 16 pages. We will be printing in black ink only.
I have talked or will talk with the Officers and retirees,
and others who routinely write articles in the Headlight.
The retirees agreed to work together to make a smaller
edition possible. The goal of the newspaper is the same –
to educate our members about labor issues. Like most
publications these days, we will be urging people to go to
our website for more information. For example, if there is a
forum held at the Union Hall, we will run a notice of it in
the paper, but provide more details, including photos, on
the website. Don Wilcox, our webmaster, has done a
spectacular job with our website. Also, we are working on getting extra
articles by Officers, retirees and members on our web page.
We are working out the details and will keep everyone
informed. Another aspect you may notice is our efforts at
making information more readily available to you. In future
editions, we will be running an anchored column on page 2
with information about Local 599. It will include the
members of the Executive Board and their contact numbers. It
will include the Officers and their contacts, our editorial
policy, change of address directions and other details. We
will still run everyone’s favorite, the want ads.
NAFTA – Lower Wages for Everyone When NAFTA (North American Free Trade
Agreement) was drafted in 1993, we were told it would raise
the wages and working standards of people in Mexico up to
our standards. It turns out, just the opposite has happened.
The Associated Press reported not only U.S. wages are
dropping, so are those of workers in Mexico. The Mexican
Unions are offering two-tiered wages now, with the second
tier equal to what is paid in China. This lowers their wages
from $6.00 per hour to about $1.50 per hour. The AP report said nothing in NAFTA
stops the drive to the wage floor. It reported: “The treaty
requires countries only to enforce their own minimum wage
laws, which in Mexico means about $5 per day.”
Contact Me If you have Workers’ Compensation or
unemployment questions, contact me at (810) 238-1616, ext.
15. |
UAW Local 599 - 812 Leith St, Flint, Michigan 48505 - 810-238-1616 - FAX 810-238-3378
UAW Local 599
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