Our heartfelt sympathy is extended to the family of Brother Thomas Tucker who died Sunday, May 4.  Brother Tucker, a Millwright on second shift, retired June 1, 1998.  A Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, May 13, at Holy Redeemer Cemetary in Phoenix, AZ.

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How much longer will the ShopTalk be published? I am still interested in updates from OKC. If it continues, can I still get on the email list?

Have you heard something I've missed? E-mail the hall and they will put you on the list. RC - editor

Thank you for you prompt reply. I do greatly appreciate it. Our local could take some lessons from you guys, it took four days for me to get my last commite call answered. Thanks again

We do what we can. RC - editor

Hey, Im an employee at the Doraville, Ga plant which is scheduled to close on 9/26. I was wondering if you guys could offer any info on what happens. Right now we are being told that we are not going to get 48 weeks before we are offered and have to accept an offer to transfer or lose our job. We are also being told that GM has plans to extend our area hire. We are being pushed into the SAP, one option or another. I have moved once before, so I will again. but I would like a little information from people who are at a closed plant already.

Thank you and any information would be very appreciated.

It appears that GM is going to deal with your local differently than they did 1999. Any information we offer might be useful in a general sense but for specific information your best source of information is your bargaining unit representative. If he or she does not have the information it is because it is not available.  RC-editor

I'd like to extent my personal condolences to his family. Earl was a good friend, and a strong union supporter! He had a hardy laugh in life! And when it came to the union he was not afraid to take a position and had strong opinions to support his position! He not only won an election, but won several elections and their hearts because his brothers and sisters respected him and what he represented! Earl will be sadly missed!

Nicely put Nick. There was another option you omitted. You can fret yourself to death. We have lost a lot of our friends, brothers and sisters, who succumbed to the pressure, speculative of course, of trying to decide. GM loves their actuary tables. I wrestled until the end even though I knew I was going to pre-retire. Once I signed those papers, the burden lifted. I love this retirement. After working for 50 years (started in the cotton fields at 9) I find play/working the best of all worlds. Sure, GM's handling of the whole thing will always leave a bitter taste, but I'm again thankful for what we had. God speed to all.

Our heartfelt sympathy is extended to the family of Brother Earl Cecil who died Sunday, April 20.  Brother Cecil, who retired from first shift Paint in 1991, was elected Committeeman in his District.  Services will be held Wednesday, April 23, at Northgate Baptist Church, 3786 North Porter, Norman, OK.

Nicks comments were both funny and sad. I can see how it could be a hard choice for some. I, unlike you, moved on my own four times. My home is/was Atlanta. But after being gone for more than 17 years and going back I found out that it was not for me. So here I am in Virginia! Also, one plant is no worse than the other. In fact the last one here in Virginia was the best of all! Speaking of OKC being like home, I spent more time in that plant than any other, fifteen plus years. I did come back for a visit after the tornado, and in my mind's eye I knew every inch of the plant. What a surprise! I was lost after coming in the door! So, the bottom line is things do change! Where you take your shoes off is where you can make your home! Good luck to all of you! It's a grand world out there!

11:05 am. 04/20/08.

Sitting on the fence biting bullets. I feel like I'm choosing between the Hangman's noose and the Guillotine. If I transfer I will have to drop out of school and I'm almost done. But will completing school guarantee a new career in that field? Can my body take the punishment of the line after softening up for the past two and a half years or so? I've suffered through near fatal blood clots and developed diabetes, plus gained about 35 extra pounds on an already over stressed frame? Can my body take it?

What about my kids who have special needs of their own? Single parent family. Closed family with little outside support? Do I try and leave kids here with a close neighborhood friend so they can stay in their comfort zone and come home on weekends? Will we strike at the next place? Will we be laid off? What is the seniority list looking like that we never could get to help with decisions?

If I retire I'll get lower pay than I already have and worse medical benefits. Don't have to move. Can't pay bills with retirement only. Will the plan I had in place take hold? Will it fit comfortably? Six to eight weeks before first retirement check because I sat on the fence too long, paralyzed, frozen, waiting, watching, hoping, praying, going internally nuts while reassuring everyone around me it would all be ok and work out.

I walked through the plant Friday to see Clyde, Jim and Steve Starr. It felt good. I felt like I was home. It also felt cold, barren, empty, quiet. Minimal lighting. But it was my home! I have been kicked out! Like a child turning 18, I was told to leave. Go live elsewhere. Learn to make it on my own. The economy, the war, gas prices, and being kicked out of my (GM) home. I feel like my personal, physical internal hard drive is about to crash. Will I shut down? Speed up? Process the information in the best possible way? Or, simply flip a coin a multitude of times until I find that even that doesn't give me the results I seek?

If I bored you, I am sorry. If you can relate, then I empathize with you. I think I'll go fishing for a while. At least there I can silently suffer through my personal misery in the beauty of nature and the out doors. Take care everyone. And if your also still on the fence, remember, we have to get off it no later than 3:00 pm Monday, the 21st of April.

I know a lot of people are in limbo about their decisions. You know, I thought the delay in the SAP for those of you in OKC was so you could make an informed decision based on how many members at other plants took the SAP. However, if you guys have to decide by April 21 and we have until May 22 (29th with the 7 day grace period), then that doesn't help much at all. There is absolutely no way of knowing at this point how many openings will be created after the SAP. Also, no way of knowing how many or the seniority of transfers into Kansas and Arlington or wherever.

I transferred to Kansas nearly two years ago and personally, I like living here very much. The plant is not fun, but how many assembly plants are? Not everyone shares my enthusiasm over the move. Many people are miserable and can't wait to take the SAP this time around.

It is such an individual decision that no one can give another person advice. It is a shame that some of you are reduced to only two very difficult decisions. Hard to know what is best, but you have to make the wisest decision you can, based on your own situation.

One thing we should keep in mind is that we are all very fortunate in many ways. Some people are let go from their jobs with no options at all. I am not being unsupportive of the position we are all in, I'm just trying to look at the positives. As was said, being bitter will just drive you crazy. Best to make a decision based on your own needs, and live with that decision as positively as possible.

As far as American Axle and strikes, etc., these are just my opinions, but I don't think the Axle strike will affect the people in OKC at all. Our plant in Kansas will most likely keep running because they are doing all they can to keep us supplied in parts. We issued a 5 day letter but that doens't mean we're striking. However, it would be a shame to strike at a time when we may run out of parts due to a transmission plant being on strike. But, we heard that they want our stamping plant to make parts for another plant that's on strike to keep them running. That would be a shame and show a total lack of support for our striking brothers and sisters. We heard that International reps will be here Monday the 21st to help with negotiations. It seems totally ridiculous for Arlington to issue a 5 day letter when they are being laid off for three weeks because of too much inventory. Not much of a threat there, General Motors will be thrilled for them to strike since they're laying them off anyway, right? I hope things work out for everyone concerned. It's tough times, but could be much tougher.

A very interesting opinion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAs7XZVgKhI&eurl=http://www.aristocutionor.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=195&Itemid=3

Thanks BB for the positive comment. I just needed to blow off some steam there. It helps to hear "You can make it" now and then. Thanks again for the kind words.

It is true that it is a sad thing to think about picking one of the 2 options that you have. I was just like you when i moved but trust me it gets better as time passes. I trust that you will make the right choice for you and your family, But just try and not be bitter cause that will drive you crazy.

Hey Paul, I once heard it said, that there would not be any transfers from SPO to SPO or from other production plants to SPO because former GM employees would not want to take the lower pay rate. Now that this core and non-core is set in place already at the SPO, SPO transfers would fit the category of non-core. I could be wrong or it could have changed, so ask your Committee person.

Also, RC, you were right with the word requisition. I just used rec for short. I knew everyone would know what I meant. But, thanks for asking! God speed

Wanda

I have kept quiet for what seems like a long time because people just said to "get over it and take what is handed to you". 45 years old 14 months short of 26 years. I am pretty angry to have to take 140k or pack up and move for being 14 months short. As I understand it Flint North gets till Oct 1 to reach 26 years which would still put me 8 months short I know. Even the Jan 1 2009 retire date would leave me 5 months short. All I can say is again. What a shame. I have been smiled at and called a "tweener". Seems a little insensative when so much is on the line.

A question to our leadership: Can those of us left in Oklahoma get to Kansas and if so what's the latest we can possibly go? Of course I know some of this will be speculation on our leadership's part but an educated and informed guess is more than we have now.

Correction, not req but rec Wanda

Wanda. My mistake. I thought the word it was short for was requisition. What does it stand for? RC - editor?

Nick and Wanda you are both great! Thanks for all the help.

I have also asked the local union leadership in Denver about a transfer list so that I might see where I stand with my transfer to another plant. There are a number of people at the Denver SPO wishing to transfer to another location to work. We would like to know from the other SPO in Fort Worth or the assembly plants in Kansas, Arlington or Wentzville MO the number of openings they expect after this round of SAP. Any info from another former local 1999 member who might now be working at one of these GM plants would be of help.

Why is it that you don't post exactly what I write and all of it? Please explain. It is nothing again the bulletin board rules or guidelines!

These comments apply to all submissions, not only yours.

1. I edit to maintain consistency with standard written English. (#1 cause of edit)
2. Material best left to private e-mail is removed.
3. Stuff gets lost in transferring it from the original submission to the final post. (#1 cause of stuff being left out)
4. If I can not turn something into proper English without being sure I haven't changed the meaning - it's gone!

If you saved what you submitted this time you'll see I edited this submission as well. RC- editor