The Union would like to inform the membership that Ian Gretchen has tendered his resignation as President along with all other committees and functions within the Local. In keeping with the local by-laws of the USW, Corey Liebrecht now holds the position of President. The vacancy for Vice President will be filled accordingly by the Local Union Executive ASAP.
In Solidarity
Effective August 12, 2012 the rates in Kronos will be changed to reflect the CBA rate change of August 1 2012. Retro Pay for the period of August 1 to August 11 2012 will be calculated and then paid out to employees on the pay of September 14, 2012.
Should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact Lynn Jones at 924-7640.
And their changes would impact everyone. They’re threatening to swing labour laws firmly in favour of employers — and that means all the rights and protections we’ve worked hard to achieve for Saskatchewan families could be erased overnight.
We’ve built a prosperous economy based on fair labour laws, hard work and the ability of unions to speak out for workers. It’s the Saskatchewan way, it’s a balanced approach — and it’s working.
We only have until July 31 to tell the government to keep it working. Have a read of the information included in the tabs above, and then add your voice in our efforts to protect workers and families.
| Corey Liebrecht c.liebrecht@usw5890.com |
Submitted on 2012/08/06 at 10:56 pm
UPDATE: This grievance has moved to step #3 and was discussed during a meeting with Human Resources (HR) held June 28th. During that meeting it was agreed to place this file in Abeyance. This means we have granted the company 60 days from this date to respond further. During this time, the Union has continued gathering information to strenghten its position on this file. Anyone wishing to make a written statement pertaining to this group grievance is encouraged do so. Please submit it to a Steward or Executive member of the Local. |
Following is the opinion of Hubich, president of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, along with his provincial and territorial counterparts.
It has become clear that the federal government, supported by a number of employer organizations, has a plan for transforming Canada’s labour market in ways that will profoundly hurt Canadians.
It’s a four-prong strategy which includes the dramatic expansion of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), the erosion of Employment Insurance, raising the country’s retirement age, as well as a systematic effort to undermine the ability of unions to stand up for the rights of working people and improve their standard of living.
As everyone should know the Sask Party has started the process of a discussion paper to outline their ideas to dilute and minimize Saskatchewan workers ability to bargain and organize collectively which effectively attacks the rights of working people like us in general
The Sask Party are proposing sweeping changes of the scope of Unions, using laws of accountability that apply to no organization except Unions to undermine their ability to represent workers, certification and decertification rules that both make it difficult for workers to organize their Union but to maintain it under an attack from their employer and succession rights of a Union if their workplace is sold (Our local has gone through a sale twice in the last 5 years and its not inconceivable a sale could happen again)
Please read the complete document for all the information Submission to Saskatchewan Minister of Labour Relations
Please read this statement from the United Steelworkers regarding the recent attacks on working people prososed by Brad Wall and his anti worker Saskatchewan party.
The Company has announced 1.47 per eligible hour USW bargained profit sharing for the 2nd quarter of 2012. Maximum pay out is 520 hrs. The Company has stated they intend to pay the profit sharing on July 31.
On July 15th 2012 2000 members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) employed by Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium down tools in protest of salary cuts and retrenchments.
Russian multinational corporation, Evraz has ignored legislation and the collective agreement it has with NUMSA to make changes to workers’ conditions of employment. The company has cut workers’ salaries by half and retrenched more than 500 workers, in its pursuit of greater profits.
Workers have embarked on a legal strike to demand that the company reinstate dismissed or unfairly laid off workers, reinstate workers’ salaries and other conditions of employment and engage constructively with the union.
In response to the legal strike, Evraz has suspended its Highveld Steel and Vanadium operations and has said that it can’t guarantee supply from these mills. It has also brought in hundreds of security personnel and police to intimidate workers.
Workers remain committed to their action, according to NUMSA shop steward at the company,
“the situation is very tense but we are determined that we cannot accept such an outrageous act, they can’t just cut our salaries, we have laws here and we’ll fight this with our union”.
Benjamin Davis
Director of International Affairs
United Steelworkers
source: IndustrALL Global Union
After a 10 day lockout that attacked workers pensions and retiree benefits Camrose workers and Evraz have reached a tentative agreement.
Here is a message from CAW rep Todd Romanow
I am pleased to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement with the company as of 8:30 pm today, a ratification meeting will be held on Thursday May 24 at 3 pm. The picket line will stay in place until after the results from the ratification meeting are known. I would like to thank everyone who supported our members and the fight that this little group took on against a vicious employer. The support from the labour movement and all of our allies has been incredible and made all of the difference to our members in this fight.
From the Canadian Auto Workers in Camrose Alberta
Our dispute with Evraz rages on with no movement to speak of. My boss, Jerry Dias flew to Chicago today to have a one on one with Dario Cruz, while they were able to have some frank discussions the company has not committed to anything other than to get back to us on Tuesday. Jerry has made it clear that they need to look at a compromise that both of us can live with and made some suggestions that they are going to consider. The company told Jerry that they fully believe the membership will accept the mediator’s recommendations once they force a secret ballot vote. Our members voted 83 to 5 two days ago to continue to reject any concessions and a sub par monetary offer. The company has also said that they have moved a million feet of pipe to another plant from ours where it was slated to be made (we have no idea which plant). Our members are strong and are prepared for a long battle if necessary. We need to step up collectively and send a message to the company. We have been in contact with our brothers and sisters in Evraz locations in both the US and Canada and have their full backing and support. We will keep you updated as things progress.
In solidarity,
Todd Romanow | National Representative, Canadian Auto Workers
CAW unionized employees of Evraz Camrose Works, a pipe manufacturing plant, picketed May 5 after contract negotiations broke down only two days earlier.
By Mark Crown/ Camrose Canadian
More than 100 Camrose pipe workers are playing the waiting game as recent contract negotiations broke down last week.
At 9 a.m. May 5 Evraz Camrose Works locked out 105 Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) unionized employees at the Camrose facility.
Negotiations broke off May 3 after the two sides could not come to any form of settlement to ratify a new agreement.
Larry Luckwell, president of local 551 for CAW, said the two sides differed on issues of wage increases for current workers and concessions of pension and retiree benefits for future workers.
“Evraz is seeking to extract concessions from our contract and is refusing to provide a fair and reasonable monetary settlement,” he said. “Evraz is also seeking to remove our defined benefit pension plan and retiree benefits for future employees.”
A letter to the editor to the Estevan Mercury newspaper from Alan Murray regarding the upcoming review of Saskatchewan Labour laws
My wife and I sat in the car outside our polling station this last provincial election and discussed how each of us would cast our vote. Not being very involved in politics, but strongly believing in the importance of exercising her right to vote, she wanted to know why I was choosing to vote for the NDP, when her choice was otherwise. This is what I told her:
I really feel there is no good choice. I am voting for the NDP because I feel they are the better of the two evils. I don’t like the NDP’s platform, spending like wild men, similar to the old Conservative ways of the past Grant Devine era, but I feel better about that than the Saskatchewan Party option.
I explained how I like many of the things Brad Wall is putting out front in his campaign, but it is the hidden issues I believe are coming and he is not telling us about them. What I like is the responsible spending of our money, commitment to health care and even the essential service legislation, it just needs a dispute mechanism, as the courts have ruled, and it is good to go. What I am afraid of, is Brad’s personal attack on unions and how this is going to affect the Saskatchewan labour laws.
A message from the Canadian Auto Workers regarding the attack from Evraz on workers and retiree’s.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
At 9:00 am this morning Evraz in Camrose Alberta locked out our CAW members because they wouldn’t sell out new hires or take an inferior wage settlement. At the heart of this attack is the removal of our defined benefits pension plan and retiree benefits for future employees, but make no mistake the fight is bigger than that as it is an attack from a multinational conglomerate on working people and the middle class. All in the name of corporate greed and insatiable profits.
The attack comes to you next from your employer so we need to stay strong and support the Camrose Local 551 workers. Please drop by or send your support, further info will follow over the next few days.
Thanks,
Todd Romanow | National Representative
Canadian Auto Workers
The following is a message sent today from Todd Romanow, a representative of the Canadian Auto Workers regarding the attack on workers and retirees in Camrose.
The company gave us their final offer tonight which still includes new hires losing the DB (Defined Benefit Pension)plan and retiree benefits. The deal monetarily is substantially lower than the deal they did in September with the Steelworkers in Regina and Calgary. We gave them an offer of settlement with still some room to move before the deadline on Saturday but it looks like they will not counter or even meet with us and are intent to force a lockout to get the two big concessions. We will keep trying tomorrow but other than giving them what they want I don’t see us avoiding a dispute here that could last awhile. They have given our people paid leaves from now until the deadline so as to empty the plant as of tonight.
The following are the concessions demanded and the attack on retirees in Camrose Alberta
As well Evraz is proposing no base wage increases over the next three (3) years
(Pittsburgh) — The United Steelworkers (USW) today lauded the decision of the Mexican Supreme Court to restore legal recognition to Napoleon Gomez, General Secretary of the National Union of Mine, Metal and Steelworkers (Los Mineros).
The Court’s Second Chamber ruled 3-1 that the Mexican Labor Secretary acted illegally when he withdrew legal recognition from the union leader in 2008.
“This is a major victory for Los Mineros and all Mexican workers,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard.
Continue reading USW Welcomes Restoration of Legal Status to Mexican Labor Leader
Evraz has issued 72 hours notice of lockout of 105 Canadian Auto Workers at the Camrose facility in Aberta. It appears Evraz is locking out its employees to force an attack on retirees and employees pension plans.
Steelworker dies at Evraz plant
A 58-year-old steelworker died Tuesday in an industrial accident at the Evraz Pueblo plant.
The victim was identified as Raymond Duran.
Pueblo County Coroner James Kramer said Duran died before reaching St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center.
“I was told he was involved in an accident involving a forklift,” Kramer said.
Melodie Ruse, spokeswoman for the plant, said the mill was shut down and local authorities and plant officials were investigating the worker’s death.
Ruse said: “We are very saddened to report that one of our employees was fatally injured (Tuesday) when he was struck by a piece of mobile equipment at our Pueblo Rod & Bar facility. Our thoughts and prayers are with our employee, his family members and loved ones.”
Pueblo County Undersheriff JR Hall said that the accident occurred at 11:46 a.m.
“It was an industrial accident. We have no evidence to indicate foul play,” Hall said.
United Steelworkers Local 2102 declined to comment about Duran and his death.
By NICK BONHAM – The Peublo Chieftain
BURNABY, B.C. – The United Steelworkers (USW) union extends its deepest condolences to the families of workers killed and injured at the Lakeland Sawmill in Prince George, B.C.
The USW, which represents the sawmill workers, also is urging provincial authorities to make public information it hopes could prevent further tragedies at B.C. sawmills.
“On behalf of all USW members, I wish to express our heartfelt sympathy to the workers and their families trying to cope with this terrible tragedy,” said Stephen Hunt, United Steelworkers Director for Western Canada. Continue reading Unions Offers Condolences, Assistance to Prince George Workers and Families
The Company reported today that they expect to release a statement this week regarding the amount of profit sharing for this quarter.
The survey that Aon Hewitt will be conducting for the wage rate and retention was finalized today and will be going out to the target companies next week. Aon Hewitt is expecting to have the survey complete by June 30. If there is good co-operation and a fairly quick response from target companies then the survey results may be available earlier.
Any increase will be retro active to ratification date (December 9, 2011)
A message forwarded from the Company today by email, probably from Standard life:
Effective January 1, 2012, pursuant to Federal Budget Bill C-13, all employees who receive short and long-term disability benefits, under our ASO plans, are required to have deducted CPP and EI premiums from their paid benefit. This new requirement caused several questions and concerns by all employers and delayed the implementation.
However, starting immediately, the required deductions will be reflected on your disability benefit. For employees who have been receiving a disability benefit prior to today’s date, there may be additional CPP / EI premiums required to be deducted. In this event, we will ensure to pro-rate the deduction amount over the remaining year, if possible.
Follow this link for more information http://bhhbenefits.com/2012/02/06/new-cpp-requirements-for-employer-paid-disability-benefits-2/
The following nominees have been declared the winners.
Corey Liebrecht – Vice-President
Doug Massier – Treasurer
Mike Day – Chief Steward (Pipe)
Mike W. Smith – Bargaining Committee (P&M)
Thank you to everyone who voted and all the work the Election Committee did.
