25,000 United Auto Workers Members are walking picket lines after their strike expands to more GM and Ford plants. The union is holding a stand-up strike, meaning that it adds more members to the picket line as negotiations continue. The strike started with one Ford, Stellantis, and General Motors facility striking. After week one, the UAW added 38 GM and Stellantis plants. Ford was spared the first round of additions but was the target of the UAW last week.

Local 776 Member Rick Smith, host of the labor-themed radio broadcast “The Rick Smith Show” and his son Alex recently visited the Toledo Jeep plant, a Mopar distribution facility in Centerline MI, and the Ford plant in Wayne MI in a show of solidarity with our striking UAW Brothers and Sisters.  Rick went to talk to UAW local leaders to build relationships to get people to come on the radio show and promote the call to “Adopt a Striker.” Rick also dropped off cases of soda donated by Local 776 to help the picketers on the strike line.

Follow the link below to be directed to the home of “The Rick Smith Show”-Where working people come to talk."

The Rick Smith Show

Local 776 Member Rick Smith (R) along with his son Alex (L) with striking UAW Members.

This gentleman knows his rights!

Wherever Rick and Alex Stopped they were met by UAW Members intent on getting a fair contract!

At the UAW Union Hall in Wayne MI, the site of a Ford plant.

Throughout the Labor Day weekend, there were various stay-at-home activities in the area. The York/Adams County Central Labor Council-AFL-CIO sponsored a fishing derby at York’s Kiwanis Lake. Local youth tried their fishing skills (with a little luck!) to catch the largest fish on Labor Day morning. Youth ages 1-15 were eligible and were divided into two age groups: 1-8 years of age, and 9-15 years of age.

Local 776 Business Agent Dave Wolf was on hand, helping out where he was needed and taking plenty of photos. It was a hot morning out on the lake, with all that casting and reeling going on everyone was thirsty, so Dave had a cooler full of bottled water on ice for the kids.

Once the derby ended the kid’s fish were counted and trophies were awarded. But all of the kids were winners; to assure that no one left empty-handed a new fishing rod and reel were presented to each participant! Local 776 BA Bill Olmeda scoured the York area for a good deal on a quantity of rods and reels to purchase and the Local Union donated 15 rod/reel combinations to the derby! The stay-at-home celebration continued with vendors, food, and music set up around the lake.

Commented Local 776 President Ed Thompson; “Thanks to Dave and Bill for taking the time to make sure the fishing derby was a success and the kids all had a good time!” “It’s always about the kids, they are our future!”

All smiles for the fish he landed!

A trophy and a smile!

Walking out of there with both hands full!

Pick a rod, any rod!

Nominations for Local 776 officers and Business Agents were held on Sunday, September 10, 2023, at the Local 776 Union Hall in Harrisburg.

The nomination meeting was conducted by William Gross of WDG Consulting. Once nominations were opened to the floor the incumbent Officers and Business Agents, collectively known as the Thompson-Hicks Slate-Teamsters for Teamsters, were each nominated, seconded, and then the nomination was accepted by each candidate. Mr. Gross called a second time for nominations from the floor. Hearing none Mr. Gross called a third and final time for nominations from the floor. Hearing no nominations after the third call Mr. Gross declared nominations closed. He then declared the Thompson-Hicks Slate Candidates winners of the election by acclamation.

Congratulations to all of the Slate Members on their successful bid for reelection. The elected term of office commences on January 1, 2024. The entire Thompson-Hicks Slate would like to thank all the members of Local 776 for their continued support in leading Local 776 in the best interest of the membership.

The Thompson-Hicks Slate:

First Row: L-R: Secretary-Treasurer Ron Hicks, President Ed Thompson.

Second Row L-R: Vice-President Chalmer Edgin, Trustee Dipan Patel, Recording Secretary Mark Cicak, Trustee Rob Smiley, Trustee Patrick Hollingshead.

Third Row: BAs Dave Wolf, Jason Kraft, John Taylor, Spencer Dearth.

Fourth Row: Dave Vrona, Bill Olmeda, Dave Licht, Shane Weaver, Mark Andreozzi.

Never Forget:

The cowardly acts perpetrated against our country by those who seek to destroy us and our way of life.

The innocent men, women, and children who lost their lives on this tragic day; only for being in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

Our courageous first responders; who ran toward the disasters to offer help to those in need and perished while trying to help and serve their fellow Americans.

Our Country may have been down, and many would have crumbled under such crushing blows, but while we watched in horror as the events unfolded before our eyes, our strength and resolve grew and we became a determined people to punish those who promote terrorism and to make sure this tragedy would never happen again.

Most of us can recall where we were that tragic day, what we were doing as we first got word of the attacks on our country, and stood in shock as we watched the Twin Towers in New York City crumble. Please take a moment today to pause and remember those who perished on 9/11. Remember our first responders who face danger daily, and finally remember and thank our armed forces; both here at home and deployed around the world ensuring that America remains the Land of the Free and the home of the brave.