C.O.L.A. RAISE: You will be receiving a cost of living raise of twenty-five (25¢) effective Monday, September 6, 2004. Therefore, the total cost-of-living received in your paycheck will be sixty-two cents (62¢) per hour.

10TH ANNUAL LORAIN COUNTY ORGANIZED LABOR, LABOR DAY CELEBRATION - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH: Plan on attending our celebration at Lakeview Park in Lorain from Noon till 8:00 P.M. The event is the largest in the state of Ohio. Continuous music, amusement rides, pony rides, 25¢ hot dogs, soda, bottled water and chips. Many free giveaways and $9,000.00 in door prizes, such as, Disney World trip, Las Vegas trip, $300.00 gift cards for Tops and Giant Eagle and much more, will be drawn at 6:30 P.M. Free drawing tickets will be given away during the event.

NEXT PAID HOLIDAY: LABOR DAY, September 6th is our next paid holiday. You must return to work the day after, Tuesday, September 7th, or have an excused absence to receive you holiday pay, but MUST work your next scheduled day. Example: If you have September 7th and 8th off with an excused reason, you STILL MUST WORK Thursday, September 9th to get paid for the holiday...

LABOR DAY CONVERSION: Those employees who WORK Labor Day, September 6, 2004, are eligible to sign up in Labor Relations (Human Resources) during the week of September 6th through September 10th, to convert their holiday.

SHIFT PREFERENCE SIGN UP: UNIT 1 (ECONOLINE SYSTEM)-ONLY-- Sign up for shift preference is Monday, September 6th at 6:00 a.m., through Friday, September 10th till midnight., in Labor Relations (Human Resources).

CANDIDATES' NIGHT: The Lorain County UAW CAP Council will be presenting Candidates' Night at our union hall on September 2, 2004, at 5:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND AT LORAIN SPEEDWAY -- NASCAR: Saturday, September 4th, Four Divisions of Racing and Demolition Derby..racing starts at 7:00 PM....Monday Funday! Sept. 6th at 3:00 PM! Grand Nationals - Spectator Stocks and "Dodge the Neon" Demo! $5 Admission for Union Members...Lorain Speedway located on Rt. 58, just south of Rt.113 in Amherst, Ohio.

DAY OF CARING: Day of Caring is scheduled for Friday, September 10th. We will once again be collecting baby products or cash donations for the Lorain County Labor Agency/First Call for Help.

4TH ANNUAL REGION 2-B SPORTING CLAY SHOOT will be held at the Elkhorn Lake Hunt Club, 4146 Klopfenstein Road, Bucyrus, Ohio on Saturday, October 9, 2004. Entry fee for this event is $30.00 per shooter. Open to all Region 2-B members (active & retired) and spouses. Forms are available at the union hall. No entries will be accepted after the deadline of September 29th.

BJ'S WHOLESALE CLUB has a special promotional mail-in offer for UAW Local 2000/Ford employees, family and friends from Friday, August 27th through Friday, October 29th. A $25.00 membership fee, which includes a primary card, as well as a free card to a spouse or household member. You will receive 15 months of membership. Forms available at the union hall.

NEXT UNION MEETING: Sunday, September 12th at 2:30 P.M., at the local union hall.