Here you will find up to date news, information regarding Retiree benefits, new Retirees, deceased members, Veteran's benefits, and more.
Local 10 Retiree Mike Brown passed away Saturday August 31, 2010. Brother Brown retired in April 2009 and worked in Skilled Trade as a millwright. Visitation will be held Friday September 3, 2010 from 9am-9pm at Gregory B. Levitt and Son Funeral Home, located at 914 Scenic Highway, Lawrenceville Ga, 30045. Funeral services will be held Saturday September 4, 2010 at 1pm at Extraordinary Life Community Church, located at 1879 Smyrna Road, Conyers Ga, 30094. For more information please call (770) 338-5558
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Family of Mike Brown.
Local 10 is saddened to report the loss of former Local 10 President Robert T. Gunter, who passed away Thursday August 19, 2010. He was 92. Brother Gunter was elected 1st President of Local 10 in 1948. He was elected again in 1952 and 1953, but resigned as President on January 25, 1954.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Robert T. Gunter.
The 2010 Labor Day Picnic will be held Monday September 6, 2010 from Noon until 5:00pm at the UAW Local 882 Recreational Facility, located at 3915 Ruby Harper Road in Hapeville, Ga. Food will be served from Noon to 4pm. There will be door prizes, kid games, and a drawing for a 50 inch HDTV during the picnic. Family, friends, and neighbors are welcome to attend. Picnic blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged. For more information please call the Labor Council at (404) 525-3559.
David Buice, Willie Monroe, Charles Riley, and Zane Payne would like to thank the members for sending us to attend the 35th annual Constitutional Convention. During this convention, new Executive Board members were elected: President-Bob King,Secretary Treasurer-Dennis Williams, 4 Open Spots for Vice President-Joe Ashton, Cindy Estrada, General Holiefield, and James Settles, 1 Open Trustee-Phyllis Bust, and Region 8 Director Gary Casteel was re-elected. He also announced that Ray Curry would be the new Assistant Director when acting A.D. Joe Rypkowski retires. Ron Gettlefinger and his Executive Board were praised for serving during difficult times. Several guests attended the convention and spoke: Governor of Michigan Jennifer Granholm, Georgia Senator John Lewis, a representative from Michigan's 15th District, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumpka, Mike Smith from Wayne State University, Barry Bluestone, Marian Wright Edelman, Senator Tom Harking (via satellite), IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina, NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Jealous, United Farm Workers President Arturo Rodriguez, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor Hilda Solis, and Ricky McDowel, President of Local 5285.
Many issues were covered. People were reminded that the Labor Movement is not an inheritance and has to be fought continuously. At one time, 1/3 of American workers were covered by a UAW contract or something similar. Cost of living allowance, pension, health benefits, and life insurance bargained for freed up money for the workers to spend which in turn helped put others to work. After World War II, the UAW helped build the middle class in America (1947-1973). America saw wages increased by 80%. In the glory days (1966-1969) unemployment was no more that 4%. The UAW battled for others such as raising minimum wage, health insurance, democracy around the globe, dignity, and a living wage for everyone. At one time, the UAW had approximately 1.5 million members, but now are down to 355,000. Workers wages are declining, and benefits are going under. The union is fighting to save the core of American industry and rebuild the economy. The UAW is not afraid of Free Trade if it includes Fair Trade. We need to bring other nations' standards up to ours, not ours down to theirs. In the Social Justice area it was pointed out that ignorance is a lot more expensive than education. The U.S. should make productive workers, not prisoners. The UAW has always been a strong voice for Social Justice. Workers worldwide need to unite and form Global Solidarity. To be a unionist in some countries can mean death or jail. There are approximately 80,000 non-union workers in U.S. foreign transplant plants. "LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD".
In Solidarity
David Buice President UAW Local 10
The new GM Retiree website Socrates went live on May 3, 2010 with additional functionality and features not available for public viewing. This new website allows Retirees to access enhanced benefit information, announcements, notices, exclusive GM marketplace offers/discounts, club information, GM news, and product information.
The new GM Retiree website is a secure site that is password protected. The registration process will ask Retirees to provide the last 4 digits of their Social Security Number, Zip Code, Birth Month, and Birth Day to confirm their identity as a GM Retiree. In addition, they will be required to provide a valid email address so they can receive Retiree E-News as well as information on local GM events and activities.
Hourly Optional Life Insurance Premium Holiday Effective May through December 2010
Hourly Employees, retirees, and surviving spouses/same-sex domestic partners enrolled in our Optional Life Insurance (OLI) and/or Dependent Life Insurance (DLI) offered through General Motors Life and Disability Benefits Program for Hourly Employees will have their monthly contributions waived for two (2) months for Optional Life insurance and eight (8) months for Dependents Life Insurance beginning May through December 2010.
Participants will not receive deductions and will not be required to make payments for OLI coverage for the months of May and June and for DLI coverage for the months of May through December 2010. Monthly contributions and payments will resume in July 2010 for OLI contributions and in January 2011 for DLI. Those plan participants who currently pay their contributions in advance should send their personal checks or money orders for amounts minus the premiums for the months that are waived.
In Solidarity
Skipper Rish
On behalf of UAW Local 10, I would like to congratulate Zane Payne, who on February 16, 2010 was elected Chairman of the Region 8 Retiree Workers at the Region 8 Retiree Workers Conference. Zane has served the Local 10 membership for over 30 years. His knowledge and tireless efforts have made him loved and respected not only by the Local 10 Retiree Chapter, but the active membership as well. These days, Zane serves as the Local 10 Retiree Chapter Chairman as well as serving as a benefits representative as the Region 8 Drop-In Center.
Congratulations Zane, and thank you for your years of loyal service to the Local 10 membership.
In Solidarity
David Buice President UAW Local 10
Medco is now offering special rates on certain mail order drugs, as low as $10.00 for 90 day supply. For more information on your specific medication call Medco at 1-(800)-464-4679 or visit Medco on the web at www.medco.com and sign in.
This notice is in response to the many calls we have gotten from retirees wanting to know if DentFirst was going to continue to give a break on dental services. Today we received a call from a representative from DentFirst and they have made a decision not to give us the same write off that we have had with them since they opened their doors approximately thirty years ago. Their appreciation for your loyalty is if you don't have insurance coverage they will give you a twenty percent discount. I'm sorry that we couldn't get this resolved. If we ever needed a break we sure need it now since we are now forced to pay the premiums. We have other dentists that have agreed to give us the same break that we are accustomed to. We will provide those names and addresses later.
Fraternally,
Zane Payne Chairman Local 10 Retiree Chapter
In December of last year the storm clouds were rising and GM, Chrysler, and the UAW's future were looking bleak. Although the UAW had already been negotiating recent contracts with the wisdom of trying to help the auto industry and it's members from going under the future wasn't looking too good. The House and Senate were getting tremendous pressure from it's voters to let the auto industry sink. This included the perceived greedy, overpaid auto workers. As much sense as it made to pass the Bridge Loans (Not Bail Out), a majority of voters were not in agreement and were willing to see the auto industry and it's people go under. The sitting President at that time. George W. Bush, and the incumbent, President Obama, saw the wisdom in helping the industry and it's people and came through with the Bridge Loans. Thanks in part to the Presidents, UAW leadership, and it's members who again through contract renegotiations and concessions, the industry has survived and, according to some news reports, were on the verge of paying back some of the loans. At this time, things for the industry and it's members are looking much better. There were a lot of prayers made and the Good Lord listened and answered. There was a lot of help that kept the industry viable, but you can imagine what would have happened to us if the UAW wasn't here for its members.
David Buice President UAW Local 10
This message from Skipper Rish:
If anyone needs to verify employment, they can contact the Benefit Servie Center at 1-(800)-489-4646. We the UAW cannot verify employment. Please call the number and ask for Other Programs. This will get you to employment verification.
I would like to start this report by apologizing to the
many retirees who sat through two hours of speeches and reports today.
Our meetings are normally around one hour. Today was a special occasion
and sometimes we have to run over the one hour period. We heard speeches
from Congressman David Scott and Coordinator of Region Eight retirees,
Tom Savage. We had a doctor and a representative from Kaiser Permanente.
Steve Templeton spoke briefly on vision care. J.C. Phillips gave a
report from the Atlanta Area and Kenny Bradford spoke on things that
were being planned by the Alliance for Retired Americans. Kenny said
plans are underway for a bus trip to Washington in October for the March
on Washington. We will have more information on this later. J.C. said
we are going to have a meeting of the Atlanta Area Retired Workers
Council in October and will elect officers at that time. We will have
more on this later but the meeting will be held at the Local 882 Union
Hall and will be the second Monday in October. The meeting will start at
10:00 a.m. and lunch will be served after the meeting.
Fraternally,
Zane Payne Chairman
David Buice-President Belinda Echols-Vice President Claude Willis-Recording Secretary Kathy Fowler-Financial Secretary Harold Wise-Trustee Michael Petersen-Trustee Bob Humphery-Trustee Kenny Bradford-Guide Warren "Mitch" Mitchell-Seargant At Arms
Recently we have had many classes offered at the Union Hall paid through your tuition assistance program. This information is sent to you by mail. If you have not recently received information regarding classes such as computer courses, home inspection, financial planning, etc., this could mean your address is incorrect at the Union Hall. Please update by calling (770) 457-3128.
The GM Doraville Plant Last Reunion Tour on August 9, 2008 was a huge success. Special thanks go to all who attended as well as all of those who volunteered their time to make the tour such a special event. Pictures from the Reunion Tour can now be seen in the News Section.
