CLOTHE-A-CHILD: Our annual collection will be next held Monday, December 14th in the plant. Employees at the Ohio Assembly Plant historically have been the largest contributors to the Clothe-A-Child Collection. Please remember to bring a cash donation.

SPECIAL LOCAL 2000 RETIREES’ MEETING: On December 15th from 1 - 4 PM there will be an informational meeting for Local 2000 retirees regarding the upcoming retiree healthcare changes. The meeting will be held at UAW Local 2192 Hall on Baumhart Road (former UAW Local 425 Hall).

CASINO BUS TRIP TO GREEKTOWN 1/17/10 (the Sunday before MLK Day): The Recreation Committee is sponsoring a casino bus trip to Greektown on Sunday, January 17th. The cost is $40 per person and everyone going will get a free Greektown T-shirt. Please see Linda at the union hall for further information or to drop off deposits for the trip. The deadline for dropping off your deposit is Tuesday, December 15th.

The plant will cease production for the Christmas holidays on December 23rd (at the completion of the 3rd shift) and will not resume normal production until January 4th.

It is important that you understand the general eligibility rules on Christmas holiday pay:

1. A seniority employee absent without excuse on either the last scheduled working day prior to or the next scheduled working day after the Christmas holiday period shall be ineligible for one of the holidays for which he/she would otherwise be eligible in the holiday period.
    
2. If an eligible employee misses both the scheduled day before and the scheduled day after, he/she will not be eligible for any Christmas holiday pay.
    
3. Seniority employees who have gone on sick leave during the workweek prior to or during the workweek in which the holiday(s) falls shall receive pay for such holiday period. A seniority employee who is on sick leave when the holiday(s) occurs, who would return to work following the holiday(s), but during the week in which the holiday(s) falls, shall receive pay for such holiday(s).

SUPPLEMENTAL OPT OFF POOL FOR NON-APPENDIX F SKILLED TRADES: Sign up is now through December 31st.

THE INVERSE SIGN UP period is now through Friday, December 11th. You must sign up in Human Resources if you want to work during down weeks. If you do not want to work during down weeks, you need not do anything.

CHECK PICK-UP SCHEDULE DURING THE HOLIDAYS: Paychecks for pay ending December 27th will be distributed on Thursday, December 31st for all employees on all shifts. Employees can pick up their paychecks in Human Resources between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM.

HOLIDAY CONVERSION: Eligible hourly employees who work and wish to convert the Christmas holidays for December 24th and 25th must do so by midnight on Friday, December 25th. The book will be out on the counter in Human Resources at midnight, December 23rd. A second sign-up book for holiday conversion for December 28th through January 1st will be available beginning Sunday, December 27th. You must sign up by midnight on Friday, January 1st to convert these holidays.

VETERANS COMMITTEE COLLECTION: The Veterans Committee collected $1,460.00 at their annual gate collection on Thursday, November 12th. Thanks to all who participated in making it a great success.

UNION OFFICES CLOSED: Local 2000 (including the benefits office) and all UAW International Offices will be closed during the holidays and will not reopen until January 4th. UAW LEGAL SERVICES will also close on Friday, December 23rd and will not reopen until January 4th.

HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED throughout the entire Christmas holiday period.

PREMIER EMPLOYEES UNIT MEETING: The next monthly unit meeting will be on Sunday, December 13th, 2009 at 1:00 PM at UAW Local 2000 Union Hall, 3151 Abbe Road, Sheffield Village, Ohio.

MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING: The next monthly membership meeting will be on Sunday, December 13th, 2009 at 2:30 PM at UAW Local 2000 Union Hall, 3151 Abbe Road, Sheffield Village, Ohio.

THE EXECUTIVE BOARD, CHAIRPERSONS, COMMITTEE STRUCTURES, APPOINTEES, STANDING COMMITTEES, OFFICE PERSONNEL AND I WISH YOU AND YOURS SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS.