It has been about ten days since the Ratification Meeting and we have refrained from any comments regarding the new contract.  The last posting on the webpage speaks for itself.  Now we move on. 

     Information is forthcoming regarding the Local's plan to go self-insured with our medical benefits.  The takeaway message for now is the plan has a continuous six month buffer of operating funds that will be continually funded by the Company if it should dip below the buffer.  Also, beginning July 1, 2010,  members will receive new Horizon medical cards.  Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield will be our new provider.  Members will have access to the same doctors, care, and networks as before.

     We want to thank the members who sent us Solidarity photos for the picture contest.  It seems the Company Policy of no picture taking on plant site limited the creativity of our union photographers.  Thank you to all who participated.  We are working on getting the pictures to our webpage technical guy Jim Mahoney and hope to post in the multimedia gallery in the near future. 

     Luke Mercurio and Matt Walsh, sons of members Paul Mercurio and George Walsh were two of six winners statewide of the Hugh Carcella District 10 Scholarship Awards.  Congratulations to Luke and Matt.

     Finally, we would like to note the increased activity on the website.  During negotiations we received hundreds of requests from members to become registered members of our webpage.  We had thousands of hits during this time and we feel this is a good thing.  As the members of the Communications Committee undergo more training in the future on how to manage and utilize the site we hope to use this powerful tool to better inform and promote unity in the Local. 

     In Solidarity.