2005 Year in Review

JANUARY

• Union signed a MOA implementing the holiday shut down for 2005-2006 Membership at CSC in Norwich voted to accept an improvement to their SSIP plan. The 12th Annual Region 9A UAW Civil Rights Awards Dinner was held on January 14, 2005..

FEBRUARY

• Representatives from the Local attended a meeting, which was hosted by Worker’s Compensation Attorneys concerning a company called Injured Workers Pharmacy. The Executive Council voted to appropriate funding to remodel and upgrade the Union office.

MARCH

• (4) Retirees attended the UAW lobby day at the capital promoting issues to support working families.

• The Union sent representatives to the Apprentice Week in Hartford, Ct. on March 24.

• Trustees performed their semi-annual audit and filed all necessary paperwork. The trustees reported all books and records were in order

• The Local recognized members who volunteered to work the 2004 elections with jackets containing the Union logo.

• The Union helped support the Environmental Health & Safety self-assessment at EB by providing 10 volunteer’s to participate.

APRIL

• The School to Work program was instituted again this year. There was a total of 15 students working with MDA-UAW members who volunteered to be mentors.

• The Worker’s Memorial Ceremony was held at Washington Park in Groton, Ct on April 28, 2005 at 6:00 AM The Local voted to donate $2000 to the UAW VFW National Home for Children.

MAY

• A Banking & Benefit day was held at the plant for the benefit of the membership.

• The Local voted to donate $2,000 to Local 1508 located in Green Island NY to attend Region 9A union activities.

• Through the efforts of the A/A committee and the Area Steering Committee the A/A Guidelines were re-issued and a specific in-plant training program was established.

JUNE

• The Local was represented at the Eastern Seaboard Apprentice Conference held June 19, 2005 through June 24, 2004.

• The Local had a member graduate from the AFL-CIO Union Community Action Network Training.

• The Local was well represented at the United Way Day of Caring held on Saturday, June 25 at the Terra Firma Farm in Stonington, CT

• President John Worobey, MTC President Ken Delcruz and Southeastern Connecticut Central Labor Council AFL-CIO President Wayne Burgess attended numerous meetings on the Sub base closure with Congressmen, Senators and State politicians.

• MDA-UAW Local 571 members attended the Sub-base rally on June 1st on route12 in Groton.

• The Local awarded 6 John F. Saffomilla & E. Roy Colville $2,000.00 scholarship awards. The recipients were Julie R. Comforti (Peter A. Comforti-member), Stephanie A. Edwards (William J. Edwards-member), Zachary T. Henry (William J. Henry-member), Jill A. Holman (Karl S. Holman-member), and Alexander V. Melesko (Marlene J Melesko -member) and Stephanie E. Sammataro (Michael Sammataro-member).

• Flag Day buttons were once again distributed. This was the 16th consecutive year that the Union has purchased Flag Day pins.

• The Local had representatives attend the Region 9A Joint Conference.

• The Local was well represented at the Region 9A golf tournament held at Tallwoods Country Club.

JULY

• The Local was well represented at the BRAC hearings in Boston on July 6.

• President John Worobey and 1st Vice President Pete Johnson presented a donation from UAW Region 9A Veterans Committee to the Veterans Hospital in Providence RI.

• The Local voted to sponsor a “ Hole” and a “Green” for the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center September 12, 2005 at Stonington Country Club in Stonington, Ct.

• The Union signed an MOA implementing the annual Performance Award Program for 2005. The memo provided for an increased award if certain milestones were achieved.

• The 2005 Family Day Picnic at Lake Compounce had the biggest turn out ever, with 750 members and their families..

AUGUST

• The School to Work summer interns & mentors visited the Windham Textile & History Museum in Willimantic, Ct.

• Trustees performed their semi-annual audit and filed all necessary paperwork. The trustees reported all books and records were in order.

SEPTEMBER

• The 11th annual golf tournament was held at Cedar Ridge Golf Course. There were 32 teams with two shotgun starts.

• The Union sent representatives to the Region 9A Veterans Conference in Farmington, Ct.

• Local Representatives attended the UAW Region 9A Leadership Conference in Hyannis, MA.

• The Membership voted to donate $10,000 to the UAW Region 9A Fund earmarked for the Salvation Army Hurricane relief fund..

OCTOBER

• 25,000 lbs of food was collected for the Gemma E. Moran food bank by volunteers who loaded food at the Foxwoods Casino Grand ballroom.

• The Union signed a MOA increasing Short & Mid Term EWA monthly allowance for the SSGN project.

• The company held an open house on October 1 and the MDA-UAW had a booth in building 88. Volunteers at the booth distributed MDA-UAW key chains.

• Our Local participated in manning the gates collecting $20,000 for the Hurricane Katrina relief fund.

• The Local was well represented at the AFL-CIO convention in New Haven, Ct.

• The Executive Council voted to purchase a table of ten tickets and a half page ad for the 8th Annual Region 9A Veterans Dinner Dance..

NOVEMBER

• Meetings were held for retirees concerning the over 65 Health Care and Prescription Drug Plan insurance coverage for 2006 at the Groton Motor Inn and the Comfort Inn in Warwick, RI. These meetings provided information concerning Medicare Part D, retiree medical and prescription drug plans.

• The 2005 Electric Boat Community Service drive was held with participation from the Local.

• (47) Members signed up to volunteer with the loading & distribution of food to benefit the United Way.

• The Executive Council voted to form a committee to look at ways to recognize members who volunteer time for Union Activities.

• The Union signed a memo regarding the processing of Disability Retirement.

• The Annual MDA-UAW Local 571 Holiday Dinner Dance was held at the Groton Motor Inn on November 26.

DECEMBER

• Turkeys were distributed at the plant to all employees. All unclaimed turkeys were donated to local food banks.

• The Local Safety Committee Chairman attended the UAW Safety Convention at the UAW Region 9A hall in Farmington, Ct.

• The Local 571 Retiree Holiday luncheon was held at the Seamen’s Inn in Mystic, Ct.