By: Shaun Windels

Greetings Brothers and Sisters,

On behalf of myself and the rest of the Bargaining Committee, we hope that all of you had a great, safe, healthy, and relaxing holiday, and you were able to spend time with family and friends, and that you are well rested to come back and start 2026.

We are excited to see what 2026 has in store for us, as the company has changed ownership. Hopefully, with that change comes new work.

Hopefully, you’re not having issues with unemployment, and have some income coming in over this extended layoff.

In the plant, there has been a lot of cleaning being done to gondolas, trash cans, fans, work areas, etc. Some of you who work towards the back lunchroom will see a new conveyor that GM asked us to try out to see how it will work out. It will not be staying in our facility. It’s primary home will be in another plant.

The conveyor will be moving tires out of a trailer, where the operator on the end of the conveyor would unload them and load the tires onto a pallet or rack. The conveyor, as I said, will be just temporary and will stay here for about four to six weeks.

Some other changes that you may or may not know are that at the end of the month of January will be the end to our container work that we are doing at the old AI Genesee building. That will affect three of our members, as they come over from that location. Please be welcoming to them, and be kind. It’s never an easy situation when someone has to make a change in what they do on a daily basis.

As a reminder, to those laid off right now, you do not have to claim MLK Day on your unemployment, as you will get paid for that at a later date. Those who are working will get paid for their MLK Day, for the actual day.

Something to think about as you return from layoff is that we are entering a long stretch of work. (without any holidays) until Easter. Plan on doing those Saturdays that you are scheduled, and try to not stress out too much about work.

Remember, first shifters, you are due back on January 23rd, while third shift will come back on the 25th and 26th. Tenneco was due back on January 20th.

One other thing before I sign off. To those who never picked up a contract, please get with your Committeeperson and they will get you one.

That being said, again on behalf of the Bargaining Committee and myself, we hope everyone had a great holiday season, and we are excited to see you all back to work soon!