February 2023

I hope you all enjoyed a much deserved holiday break and were able to enjoy some downtime with your families. Our extra two weeks off came with some headaches getting our Sub pay but I am so thankful for our Beneftis reps and our Unemployment rep that helped us navigate those systems.

February brings us Black History month and UAW local 602 will be joining with UAW local 2256 to hold our Taste of Black History program on Sunday February 19th with doors opening at 2:30 pm and program beginning at 3 pm. Our address is 2510 W. Michigan Ave. Lansing, MI 48917. This is the first time we have been able to have this event since prior to COVID and we hope you will be able to join us! We will have food, prizes, entertainment and speakers the event is free so bring your family and enjoy the afternoon with friends.

Next month our Women’s committee will be having their women’s international day event on March 25th. Please keep an eye on www.local602.org for more soon to come details.

I received a surprising phone call the other day. Rep. Elissa Slotkin called me to ask if I would like to be her guest at the State of the Union in Washington D.C., she said that she wanted to shine a light on supply chain issues and that I would be speaking media and elected officials about the chips shortage and our parts shortages. I was stunned but of course I accepted the offer. By the time you read this I will be back from Washington D.C. but I think its important that the country hears from us as often as possible that America needs to build things. Shipping manufacturing jobs outside of the United States for decades has eroded our stability and made us beholden to other parts of the world that may not have our best interest at heart. Rep. Slotkin told me that I wouldn’t be representing just local 602 but all autoworkers and working families that have been affected by this issue. It is an honor and I couldn’t be prouder to be the voice speaking for all of us!

In Solidarity,

Mike Huerta