United Auto Workers Local 249

C Crew Schedule Change

Our union provides us with the tools to take ownership of our safety. We must do everything we can to put ourselves and our brothers and sisters in the best position to come home safely each day. We cannot risk our health or our safety, especially with the heat. If you experience or witness any member struggling with the heat or showing signs of heat stress please immediately seek medical attention for them or yourself and sit down to wait for medical transport. Some tips s...hared by other members who have experienced extreme heat in the plant are: Drink water. Even if you aren’t thirsty, keep hydrating. Avoid drinking energy drinks, soda and alcohol, especially the night before your shift, it dehydrates you. Avoid heavy meals when at work and eat plenty of high water content fruits and veggies: tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, citrus, etc. Use a spray deodorant, powder or anti-chafe stick anywhere that clothing may dig into or rub your skin, or anywhere skin touches. Wear lightweight moisture wicking clothing, and bring a sports towel (or kitchen towel!) to soak in ice water and wrap around your neck periodically. If you are consuming large amounts of water and do not eat much salt, bring in a salty snack to add to your diet. (Plain lays, pretzels and beef jerky are some mentioned.) Try to get plenty of rest at home and give your body time to recover from the day. Suffering muscle cramps? Members recommend eating bananas before work and pickles or pickle juice after work. All of these are tips shared by members in the plant, but the main thing to remember is that we ALL tolerate heat differently. What isn’t hot for one may be too much to handle for the person next to them. Don’t feel like you need to tough it out if you are experiencing heat stress symptoms, or if you are feeling worse on a day that isn’t as hot as the last. Only you know your limits and without issues being reported or documented it is hard to fight for better conditions.

As all shifts return back to work in the plant it is important to take the dangers of heat stress seriously and do all that we can to ensure we all go home the same way we came in. There are many signs of heat stress related illnesses to watch out for. (see image) If you or someone near you is experiencing any symptoms, please immediately seek medical attention. Do not try to diagnose which illness is occurring. Diagnosis is often difficult because symptoms of multiple heat-related illnesses can occur together. Time is of the essence. These conditions can worsen quickly and require proper medical treatment.

Sparkie's Fireworks is setting up at the UAW Local 249 union hall! A portion of sales from this tent go to our Veteran's Committee. Help fund the great work of all of our standing committees by getting your fireworks here! Sales begin June 25th and go through 11pm on July 4th.

UnionCare program with Hagerty offers collector car or motorcycle insurance for union members. For detailed information follow the link below http://www.unioncare.com/Hagerty

The UAW Local 249 Education Committee's James "Frog" Moran Solidarity Award was presented by Gary Thomas to member Sam Wilson yesterday at the June monthly membership meeting. --------... In April, a newly formed union, put out a call for solidarity. This union, a collective of houseless people said, "Stand with us so we may stand for ourselves." It was a call Sam Wilson did not hesitate to answer, and the Homeless Union ended up winning recognition that day, thanks in no small part to individuals like Sam standing with them for 10 hours in the heat, with no restrooms, food, or water. She stood strong, she stood fast and she stood proud. As one of the only two LGBTQ labor union members out there on that April day. Sam understood the significance of fighting for something so deeply personal and important. She understood fighting for recognition and did her part. While this is a month of Pride for our LGBTQ+ siblings, it is also a month of recognizing the strength and sacrifices it took to get this far. Sam fought that April day. She stood up for what was right, and helped shine a light on a forgotten part of society and helped the Homeless Union be victorious that day. Because of the actions of those, including Sam Wilson, who participated that day, 10 people now have permanent homes and another 44 are employed, some at UAW represented jobs Our local is playing a very major role in the new history of unionism. When that history is put into writing, the first numbers it will write will be 249. Members like Sam cement that role with with every action taken.

The leadership of UAW Local 249 is asking that you report any concerns in specific regards to plant COVID-19 screening, facility cleaning, or general concern about KCAP COVID-19 Protocol. This information will be used to track and document for issue resolution and safety grievances. Members should fill out the online form at bit.ly/KCAPCovid19Concerns or email [email protected] to report issues with plant COVID-19 screening, facility cleaning or general concerns about KCAP COVID-19 Protocol.

UAW Local 249’s American Ninja Warrior By Gwen Starkey Most people who work for Ford Motor Company on the assembly line realize that the demanding work schedule leaves little time for family life and outside social activities, but not Kaleaha Rayner. She was a warrior before she became famous as a ninja on the NBC series American Ninja Warrior. Rayner, who works in Transit Trim on the night shift decided back in 2015 that she wanted a change in her life and began a workout re...Continue reading

Today is Election Day! If you haven't already voted, visit www.uawendorsements.org for the UAW-endorsed candidates on your ballot. And, be sure to share your 'I voted' selfie with #UAWVoter for a chance to be featured on our social media!

Did you have one of these yard signs? Did you vote no on Proposition A? Do you want to prevent another Prop A in the future? Vote NICOLE GALLOWAY for GOVERNOR!

Today is the day we vote to have a Governor that stands with us!

We are family at UAW Local 249 By Gwen Starkey Car was the last word he remembered her saying as he was lying on the ground struggling to recall the events of the last few seconds. The moments flashed through his mind like a slow motion screenplay. All he could think about was Emily. As the EMTs scooped him up on the stretcher, all he cared about was his wife. Forget about me, he said. Where is my wife? Please help my wife. Take care of Emily. Just minutes earlier UAW L...Continue reading

Sisters and Brothers of UAW Local 249! We have one job to do on Tuesday November 3rd. Please get out and Vote! https://uawendorsements.org/

Rhonda Dolan stands with us! If you live in the 31st House District please please vote to send her to Jefferson City to represent our voice and stop the attacks on our Union...

UAW-Ford ends Wheelchair Ramp Program By Gwen Starkey What began in 2012 as a joint UAW-Ford community outreach program whose purpose was to show how collective bargaining between unions and corporations not only helps its union members but also was beneficial to our communities as a whole has finally come to an end. Funding for the UAW Local 249 Wheelchair Ramp program has been eliminated by Ford. It’s a sad ending to what was once such a wonderful project that provided wh...Continue reading

The November issue of Local 249's award-winning newsmagazine, First Local News, is coming to your mailbox soon, but you can read it online now by clicking on this link: https://local249.org/3d-flip-book/November-2020/

Something to be thankful for By Jason Starr Part of my job as Local 249 President is to mobilize the membership of our union and its standing committees to do as much for our members and the communities we live in as they can. Sometimes, the constant drive to do all we can finds me a little too focused on what we might have done if we had more people and resources, than the good we actually accomplished. That can be really frustrating. Now that we are approaching Thanksgivin...Continue reading

The Trump administration has a dirty little secret: It’s not just planning to increase taxes on most Americans. The increase has already been signed, sealed and delivered, buried in the pages of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. President Trump and his congressional allies hoodwinked us. The law they passed initially lowered taxes for most Americans, but it built in automatic, stepped tax increases every two years that begin in 2021 and that by 2027 would affect nearly everyone but people at the top of the economic hierarchy. All taxpayer income groups with incomes of $75,000 and under that’s about 65 percent of taxpayers will face a higher tax rate

KCAP management changes trades schedule By Jim Fisher On October 28, the company notified the Local Union that starting on January 11, they would be moving the Truck Side Skilled Trades to a Four Crew Schedule. There is National Contract Language that supports a Four-Crew Schedule on pages 356-358 of Volume 1 of the National Contract. However, this schedule violates the Local 249/KCAP Overtime Equalization Agreement and we are prepared to enforce our local agreement throug...Continue reading