MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY: Our next paid holiday, is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 19, 2004. You must work the day after, Tuesday, January 20th, or have an excused absence for that day to receive holiday pay, but MUST work your next scheduled day. Example: If you have January 20th and 21st off with an excused absence, you STILL MUST WORK Thursday, January 22nd, to get paid for the holiday.

UNIT 1, ECONOLINE SYSTEM "TENTATIVE" FUTURE SCHEDULE: The Econoline System is scheduled to return to a 10.0 hour production schedule on Monday, February 2, 2004, with TENTATIVE MANDATORY SATURDAYS scheduled as follows: January 31st, February 14th, February 28th, March 13th, March 27th, and April 3rd.

UNIT 2, ESCAPE SYSTEM: Official "Job 1" for the 2005 Escape is January 26, 2004, and the all new 2005 Mercury Mariner is on August 9, 2004. Both launches are crucial not only for Unit 2, but the entire plant.

MANDATORY HOME DELIVERY (MAIL ORDER) PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM: Members with Traditional Blue Cross/Blue Shield health coverage, effective with the fourth fill after January 1, 2004, certain maintenance prescription drugs (long term medications) MUST be filled through Medco Health Home Delivery Pharmacy Service. If the prescription you are taking is on the list of about 100 "maintenance" drugs in the UAW-Ford Collective Bargaining Agreement, you will be REQUIRED to have that prescription filled at mail order in the future. For order forms or any questions, see or call your Benefits Representative Dotti Washington at the local hall at 934-3151 Ext 29, or Tom Orlando at the plant at 933-1322. You should have received this notice in the mail from Ford Motor Company.

MEMBERS WITH OTHER HEALTH CARRIERS: The mail order program is an OPTIONAL program you may want to look into for cost savings.

OPTIONAL LIFE INSURANCE: An open enrollment will be held January 15th thru March 1, 2004, for the Employee and Dependent Optional Life Insurance Plan. This was agreed to by Ford Motor Company and the UAW, in conjunction with Mutual of Omaha. This is a limited opportunity to enroll or increase benefits regardless of health history. If you wish to participate in this enrollment you can receive the necessary forms by calling the Optional Insurance Plan office at 1-800-742-8215.

COSTCO MEMBERSHIP: A special rate group offer from COSTCO Wholesale Club will be available at the Local Union Hall on January 29th and 30th, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. till 5:00 p.m. This offer will only be available at the hall on the above dates. New or re-newed memberships include two cards. Cash, checks or American Express will be accepted. For further details call the union hall, 934-3151 ext 21.

CLOTHE-A-CHILD COLLECTION: Many thanks to all who participated in this collection. $7,587.16 was collected.

NEXT UNION MEETING: February 8, 2004 at 2:30 p.m. at the local union hall.