Please be aware that Evraz in Calgary has allegedly reported to EI that members of Local 6673 have abandoned their jobs because they became ill on their last day of work before layoff on March 22.
If you become ill in the last week before a layoff please make sure you report the sick day to EI and inquire and report to EI any incorrect information on your record of employment (ROE) especially box 18.
The Company has stated they intend on having the 25 year award ceremony and social function on May 29.
For reasons unknown the Company has decided to move the Steel Division weekly schedules and lay off notice from the entrance of the change room building.
Presently the schedules are posted on the bulletin board marked “Tubular Communications” in yellow above the board.
The layoff notice that appears to be for all employees in the steel division is on the bottom right side.
Please check on your status and refer to article 12 for your bumping rights if the layoff does not involve every member.
As well please be careful that the door workers travelling from the plant utilize doesn’t hit you while bent over studying the notice.
THE NOMINEES FOR THE ELECTION OF THE FOLLOWING LOCAL UNION EXECUTIVE POSITIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS;
President –Mike Day (Acclaimed)
Vice President – Corey Liebrecht
– Scott Mackie
Recording Secretary – Courtland Klein (Acclaimed)
Financial Secretary – Dave McAlpin
– Tory Sand
Treasurer – Dana Faul (Acclaimed)
Chief Shop Steward Pipe – Ryan Makenzie
– Mike Smith
Chief Shop Steward Steel – John Forster (Acclaimed)
Chief Shop Steward O&T – Paul Euteneier
– Kim Roberts
Guide – Vasco D’Almeida (Acclaimed)
Outside Guard – Andrew Polishak (Acclaimed)
Inside Guard – Trent Gagner (Acclaimed)
Trustees (3) Positions – Kurt Chernishenko
– Doug Massier
– Scott Trenamann
– Ryan Sande
– Nick Little
Congratulations to the members who were acclaimed to their respected positions and good luck to all the nominees. April election date TBA.
In light of Evraz’s recent implementation of Article 12.13 every member should be reminded that article 15.05 (last paragraph) applies. If you shift is cancelled you do not have to report for work if the Company changes its mind. If you do decide to work a cancelled shift it is at double time rate.
Article 15.05
Reporting Allowance If the work for which the employee was scheduled to report is not available, or if there is no substitute work for him which is within his reasonable capacity to perform, and which is not of such nature as to involve material change in the employee’s working conditions, he shall be paid nevertheless for four (4) hours of work. The rate of pay shall be the standard hourly rate and any shift premium or out-of-line differential that applied. If he refuses such substitute work, he shall not get the four (4) hours reporting pay. If the work for which the employee was scheduled would have been paid for at overtime rates, he shall receive four (4) hours reporting pay at the applicable overtime rate. The Company shall not be liable for reporting pay if it has notified the employee not to report to work at least four (4) hours in advance of his scheduled reporting time, or if the failure to provide work is caused through a natural disaster or power disruption.
If an employee is told not to report to work for his regular shift, the employee will consider that shift cancelled and if he is called to work before his next regular shift, he will be paid two (2) times his hourly rate.
Leslie McNabb will now be assigned to the Staff Rep. position in the Regina office and Brother Sonny Rioux will be assigned to the Staff Rep. position in the Winnipeg office. The assignments will take effect immediately with both of them working together to ensure a smooth transition.
On behalf of the membership and executive, I would like to thank Brother Rioux for his hard work and dedication during his past 7 years with us. I also would like to welcome Sister McNabb to the Regina Office. She is a long time activist, organizer and has been a Staff Rep. for 6 years. We look forward to working with her.
The payroll department has released the Profit Sharing results for the 4th quarter of 2014 resulting in a payout of a $1.10 per eligible hour and will be deposited on February 27th, 2015.
Official notices have been supplied to the local in regard to pending lay offs in both the Tubular and Steel Divisions respectively. These lay offs will commence on March 2nd, 2015 and will affect 10 members in Tubular and 6 members in Steel.
A reminder Brothers & Sisters;
NEW language in the collective agreement states that annual vacation requests with eligibility based on seniority, must be submitted by March 15th, 2015. Approvals will be posted by the company no later than April 1st, 2015.
Vacation requests submitted after March 15th, 2015 will be approved on a first come first serve basis with a response to be provided by the company within two weeks of the request.
If you are having any trouble with your vacation request. Contact a shop steward.
In Solidarity!
The following Ratification meeting dates have been confirmed:
Tuesday January 13th 7:30pm Turvery Center
Wednesday January 14th 7:30am Turvey Center
Ratification vote:
Friday January 16th
Due to the union’s lead negotiator being called away to other union business next week. Bargaining for November 17th, 18th & 19th has been cancelled. More bargaining date for December 2nd, 3rd & 4th have been scheduled.
The monthly membership meeting scheduled for November 17 has been moved to Monday November 24.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
Please make an effort to attend.
TORONTO – In a referendum vote counted today, members of the Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU) have voted 73.7% in favour of joining the United Steelworkers (USW).
The TWU represents 12,000 members across Canada who work for telecommunications companies including TELUS and Shaw Communications, as well as employers in related telecommunications sectors. Continue reading Telecommunications Workers Union and United Steelworkers Announce Merger
Congratulations to Sister Dana Faul who was recently nominated and accepted to represent our local on the South Saskatchewan Area Council USW as Vice President. Dana has also accepted the position as a representative of the United Steelworkers in a VP role on the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) for the next three years. She also currently holds the position on the Executive of 5890 as Treasurer. Is a member of the Bargaining committee and Shop Stewart.
When you are injured at work, it is very important that you do the following. Always make sure you report your injury at work by documenting it. This information will assist in processing any future Compensation claims for the injury if there is any further complications were you may require time off work.
If you are deemed unfit to return to work by your physician, a specialist or surgeon because of a injury you sustained on the job. Make sure the doctor is specific when documenting any restrictions you may have and the amount of time off work that they recommend. We strongly advise that you follow ALL the recommendations of the physician including remaining off work until they have cleared you for a return. Continue reading Navigating A Lost Time Injury At Work
Matheson – November 13, 2014 (Suspension) *Resolved/Cancelled
Kups – November 21, 2014 (Disqualification)
Little – January 22, 2015 (Substance Testing)
Ross – February 12-13, 2015 (Suspension/Substance Testing)
Sim – March 18, 2015 (Suspension)
Bork – April 8, 2015 (Suspension)
Simank April 9, 2015 (Suspension)
Recently, our union worked with Global TV’s 16×9 documentary program to deliver a full episode that covers the Babine and Lakeland sawmill explosions. It’s a moving and powerful program that drives home the importance of our Stop The Killing, Enforce The Law campaign.
http://globalnews.ca/video/1610255/full-episode-saturday-october-11th
Brad West
United Steelworkers Communications
October 8, 2014 Toronto:
Our union has a fatality approximately every 9 days.
Bringing this sad reality even closer to home for the delegates on this third and final day of this conference was the families of three members. Jordan Fram, crushed by 350,000 tons of muck (water, sand and mud). Sam Fitzpatrick, crushed by a boulder the size of a car. John Savinkoff, drowned when his excavator overturned into a slough.
Oct 6, 2014 Toronto:
Today marked the opening day of this conference that has brought together hundreds of USW delegates from across Canada who are hearing about the latest issues and trends affecting workers. They are participating in workshops, sharing ideas and gaining new incite to practical skills and knowledge that will help make our places of work safer. Continue reading United Steelworkers National Health, Safety and Environmental Conference Oct 6-8, 2014
Brothers & Sisters;
One more round of negotiations concluded this week in Regina with both bargaining committees from locals 5890 and 6673 making gains that will positively affect all members. We have reached tentative agreements on a number of local and joint common language proposals.
Locally some of these include: Amendments to the 24” agreement, pay stubs, seniority, job postings, lines of progression as well as amendments to Appendix “A”, “B” & “E”.
Tentative agreements have also been reached on common non monetary proposals: Temporary Supervisors, Union orientation for new members, Inter- plant transfers, discrimination & harassment, Pension Trustee language, disciplinary & suspension procedure and contracting out.
Updates will continue to be distributed through the CAT members, web page and Facebook page.
Dates for the next round of discussions regarding “Non Monetary” language proposals are October 27/28/29, 2014.
Remember this is your future…
“We are Stronger Together”
In Solidarity!
Bargaining Committee
USW 5890 / 6673
We are pleased to announce that Sister Shannon Fletcher who has been a member of the local for 4 years and Brother Joe Semere who has been a member for 20 years, have been nominated and accepted by the membership to become shop stewards. Please welcome Sister Fletcher who works in the Operations Building and Brother Semere who works in the Melt Shop to their new roles.
In Solidarity!
The July 2014 CPI release date from the federal government used to calculate the COLA will be on August 22nd. The accumulated COLA amount after the adjustment of July 2014 compared to April 2014 will then be rolled into the Standard Hourly Scale as part of the base rate for wages as per the Letter Of Understanding Section 3 in the current CBA. The new rate will be reflected on the Sept 12th pay day with retro pay for the adjustment to be paid on the Sept 26th pay.
In Solidarity!
Recently you received a benefits statement from the Company that should include the name of your beneficiary. Please check that your beneficiary is correct. If it is not, contact Cody Thoring or Meghan Fetch with the Company who will assist you in making the proper correction. If you have made changes to who your beneficiary will be, please also make sure your beneficiary card is updated at the union office.
