COVID-19 Halloween recommendations 

“The way we celebrate Halloween in Michigan will be different this year due to COVID-19,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “However, there are still many ways to celebrate safely. The guidance MDHHS issued today provides tips for trick-or-treaters and their parents along with homeowners who wish to hand out treats.”

Tips for all groups include staying home if you are sick; maintaining social distancing of at least six feet; wearing a cloth mask that covers both the mouth and nose; and washing hands often or frequently using hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recently issued recommendations and considers trick-or-treating a high-risk activity. The CDC offers alternative activities to consider as well as safety tips if parents and children choose to trick-or-treat.

Sisters & Brothers,

I hope this message finds you in good health. President Ray and the Local 223 Executive Board would like to say Happy Labor Day to all of our Union Family! The Labor Day Parade has been cancelled due to COVID-19 but our spirit has not. Enjoy these photos of previous Labor Day Parades to keep the movement alive!

Remember…

WE ARE 223 STRONG!!!

Local 223 General Council selected Bill Dyer as the Local 223 Treasurer on June 3. The General Council selected a new treasurer because of the time frame to the next election in January, according to Local 223 Trustee Leroy Huckleberry who oversaw the selection process.

The selection was an historic and unusual event due to this happening during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The voting occurred on the first hot, humid day this year. We did selection in the parking lot and people were very understanding considering the circumstances we’re in due to the coronavirus,” said Huckleberry. “We practiced social distancing and brought people into the hall in small groups to vote due to the need for secret ballots. Everyone wore masks, gloves, and we gave out individually wrapped lunches with sandwiches and bottles of water.”

Dyer has served as Fermi 2 Board Chair for more than eight years and six years prior to that as the Chief Steward. He has worked at Fermi 2 for 19 years.

Prior to Local 223 and DTE Energy, he served in the United States Navy for 10 years and was a Hull Tech Nuclear Welder, E-6.

Congratulations Bill! We look forward to your leadership!

Sisters & Brothers,

I stand speechless over the events that have transpired in our country, not just in the last days and weeks, but also in the last few months. We have been hit with a virus that has claimed the lives of over 100,000 Americans and has changed the way we will interact with one another.

Now we must face another challenge that has lurked in the shadows for many years and has erupted into nationwide protests due to the despicable acts against people because of their color. To think that the police would be called and told lies about a black man, Christian Cooper, being a threat, because he asked a woman to put a leash on her dog. A young man, Ahmaud Arbery, is stalked, shot, and killed by a white man while simply jogging. Then George Floyd, who was on the ground, handcuffed and murdered by a white police officer who put his knee on his neck, as he cried out saying he could not breathe. And these are only the names that we know. This has to stop!

Help protect others from COVID-19 by practicing social distancing, and by wearing a cloth face covering that fits snugly and reaches above your nose, below your chin, and completely covers your mouth and nostrils. Learn more: https://bit.ly/2R9av5m

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations.

• Cloth face coverings may slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.
• Cloth face coverings can be made from household items.

Local 223 recently partnered with DTE and the Hantz Group to provide an online Retirement Conference Call for those who need some assistance with making their decision about retirement.  

• DTE Retiree Pension Options
• DTE Medical & Dental Plans
• Empowerment Retirement 401(k)
• Information from Hantz Financial on how to decide when you’re ready

If you couldn’t attend, please email benefits@local223uwua.org to get more information and request the presentation from the retirement conference call. You can send any questions you have to have to the same email address

Support good jobs this Valentine’s Day with union-made chocolates!

Earlier this month, we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Let’s be proud that we had great men like Martin Luther King Jr. who advocated and believed in the greatness of labor unions.

It’s not too late to order your UWUA 2020 calendar! This year’s UWUA Women’s Caucus calendar is full of inspiring stories from amazing ladies across UWUA!

What are you waiting for? E-mail Valerie King (vking@uwua.net) or Ursula Grant (Ursula.grant@uwua1-2.org) to order NOW!