LOGISTIC SERVICES, INC.

PRESIDENT, WALT DUVERNOIS - 810-232-4136

CHAIRMAN, BOB WEISSEND- 810-720-6355

Hello Union Brothers & Sisters,

Well, contract negotiations have begun. We have currently been meeting twice a week since the last week of January. We wanted to get started early this year to make sure we have enough time to get through what we anticipate to be very tough negotiations. We have currently settled on about ninety percent of the contractual language issues that we and the company have had issues with over the last four years. We are set to start monetary negotiations this week and will have all of you and your families' concerns as our number one priority.

A lot of people have asked me about who is on and how we pick our bargaining team and have showed interest in participating in this process themselves. We appreciate all of your willingness to help, but bargaining committees are usually made up of the people you elect to bargain for you on a day to day basis. There are several reasons why I use the committee people for our bargaining team. No one knows our C.B.A. better than the individuals who set and argue its interpretations with management every day. All of these people have been put through classes at Black Lake for bargaining and negotiating in preparation for these negotiations. Finally, we all understand what it means to have to take anything less than what we have earned through years of sweat, blood and hard work.
Everyone of us on your bargaining team are sick of hearing about what GM new hires are going to make and how much less we need to make to stay competitive. The idea that we don't deserve GM new hire wages is an insult to myself and every UAW member that finds themselves working in an IPS facility. We don't deserve GM new hire wages? Some of us have done this work going on fifteen years and have sustained life long injuries! We don't deserve GM new hire wages? I'm pretty sure our children don't get any less sick or any less hungry or ourselves wanting any less for a dignified life because we work for an IPS. We don't deserve new hire wages? GM taking the same work that GM employees did, moving it off location and slapping an IPS label on it, doesn't entitle us to a lower standard of living. A livable wage is a livable wage no matter what label you slap on it.

With all this being said, we understand the hardships our company has went through over the last year or so with the American Axle strike, down time weeks, and most importantly, the GM cutbacks in payments to their suppliers. We will do what we can do to assure our company remains profitable.

Until next time, have a wonderful SPRING season.

/s/ Bob Weissend, Shop Chairman

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