At the UAW National Ford Council Meeting, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the UAW National Ford Department to take a proactive stance and enter into discussions/negotiations with Ford Motor Company regarding the future of Ford Motor Company, our retirees, active workers and plants. At no time was our plant or any other plant mentioned as plants that may or may not be in danger of being shut down.

ELECTION DAY is Tuesday November 8th. Election Day is a negotiated day off with pay so you can exercise your “Right to Vote”. Please VOTE. Please note: You must work Monday November 7th (the day before) and Wednesday November 9th (the day after) or have approved day(s) off to be paid for Election Day. Again, be sure to VOTE.

HOLIDAY CONVERSION: Eligible hourly employees who work Election Day (November 8th) and wish to convert it must do so before midnight Friday November 11th, 2005. Also, to convert the Veterans’ Day holiday, November 14th, 2005, the books will be open in Human Resources through midnight November 18th.

NEXT PAID HOLIDAY: Monday November 14th, in observance of Veterans’ Day, is the next scheduled paid holiday. You must work Tuesday November 15th, 2005 or you must have an approved day off to be paid for the holiday.

UAW CAP RECOMMENDATIONS: CAP recommendations are available online at your website. Go to www.uawlocal2000.org to view them.

GATE COLLECTION: A gate collection will be held on Friday November 18th to collect money to purchase food for the needy within Lorain County. We are hoping that they, too, will have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

47th ANNUAL REGION 2-B, UAW BOWLING TOURNAMENT: Open to all Region 2-B UAW members (active and retired) and spouses ONLY. The selected weekends for the tournament are as follows: January 28th and 29th, February 4th and 5th, and February 11th and 12th, 2006. Only official entry forms will be accepted (no copies). Entry forms are available at the local union hall. Your entry fee must be paid by CHECK or MONEY ORDER ONLY, made payable to Region 2-B, UAW. Because of new regulations, absolutely no cash will be accepted. The deadline for entries is November 18th, 2005, no exceptions.

BENEFITS -- DEPENDENTS’ AUDITS: Ford Motor company is continually running audits on eligible dependents on your health care coverage. If you have a son or daughter or ex-spouse who is no longer eligible to be covered, it is YOUR responsibility to call the N.E.S.C. to remove that person or persons. Their phone number is 1-800-248-4444. We have many members who are repaying the premiums paid by the company for dependents not removed in a timely manner. In order to be an eligible dependent, you must be able to claim them on your 1040 Tax Return. If you have any questions call Dotti Washington, Benefits Representative, at 440-934-3151 extension 29 or Tom Orlando, Benefits Representative, at 933-1322.

NEXT UNION MEETING: The next scheduled union meeting is Sunday November 13th at 2:30 PM at the Local Union Hall, 3151 Abbe Road.