CLOTHE-A-CHILD: $3,815 was raised in this year’s Clothe-A-Child Collection. Thanks to all.

OUR NEXT PAID HOLIDAY is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which will be observed on Monday, January 18th. You must work the day after the holiday or have an excused absence for that day to receive holiday pay.

HOLIDAY CONVERSION: Eligible hourly employees who work and wish to convert the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday must do so from Monday, January 18th through midnight on Wednesday, January 20th. The books will be open on the counter in Human Resources during that period.

CALL FOR ACTION: Your help is needed. National call in-day is set for January 13th. A dangerous provision inserted in the Senate version will impose an excise tax on health care plans that will force many to drop coverage and increase co-pays and deductibles for working families. Hitting working families with added expenses is no way to help them out at a time when many are particularly economically vulnerable. Instead, UAW members should call their representatives and senators on Wednesday, January 13th to urge them to fix the final version of this otherwise good piece of legislation before President Barack Obama signs it into law. Please call (877) 323-5246 to convey this message to your representative and senators. Tell them Congress needs to pass health care reform now. But emphasize that they need to insist that the Senate’s excise tax on health care plans must be removed, and instead that progressive measures be substituted that will require wealthy individuals and employers to pay their fair share.

TENTATIVE FRIDAYS: We are scheduled six Fridays with four more that are not scheduled but are material protected. They are as follows: February 19th, February 26th, March 5th, March 12th, March 19th and March 26th. Material protected: April 9th, April 16th, April 23rd and April 30th. As always, schedules are subject to change.

REMINDER: The first quarter 2010 Special Programs’ open window period ends January 22nd at 5 PM. FOR INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR ACS (FORMERLY FIDELITY) ACCOUNT: Please contact the NESC at 1-800-248.4444.

UNION OFFICES CLOSED: Local 2000 (including the benefits office) and all UAW International Offices will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Day on Monday, January 18th. Human Resources and UAW Legal Services will also be closed.

PREMIER EMPLOYEES’ UNIT MEETING: The next monthly membership meeting will be on Sunday, February 14th at 1:00 PM at the UAW Local 2000 Union Hall, 3151 Abbe Road, Sheffield Village, Ohio.

MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING: The next monthly membership meeting will be on Sunday, February 14th at 2:30 PM at the UAW Local 2000 Union Hall, 3151 Abbe Road, Sheffield Village, Ohio.