Author: Mike Day

Members,

This is a reminder that the June monthly membership meeting has been moved to this Monday, June 14th due to bargaining the week of June 21st.

Members,

After many cancellations due to Covid restrictions we are pleased to inform our membership we have confirmed dates with the company to begin the bargaining process. On June 21st both the Regina and Calgary bargaining committee’s will meet and June 22nd to 24th we will be exchanging proposals with the company.

We have also confirmed June 28-30 for Regina specific bargaining.

With the Provinces restrictions being eased and with the re-opening plan moving ahead, we expect these dates to remain in tact.

Recently, the company sent out a release dated May 21, 2021 dealing with COLA adjustments for bargaining unit employees at the Regina and Calgary plants. This is to advise that the release was sent out in error.

Pursuant to the Regina and Calgary Collective agreements, the COLA amount of $1.33 was rolled into the base pay effective 7-31-2020 for employees covered under the existing agreements. According to such agreements and established practice, COLA payouts were discontinued effective 7-31-20 and during subsequent negotiations of the renewal agreements.

Please disregard the release dated 5-21-21 dealing with COLA adjustments and the company apologizes for the misunderstanding.

Members,

Please see the attachment for a recent update regarding the Evraz Benefits Team.

Congratulations to Tubular Millright Ian Finn on reaching the 50 year milestone. Ian started with Ipsco on May 7, 1971.

Congratulations Ian on this accomplishment.

Solidarity Brother!

The company is going to begin contacting the individuals that are being granted the transfers to the Steel Division. Beginning with the individuals for the permanent positions to begin training.

Members,

Due to the Covid restrictions in place till at least April 26,2021 , the membership meeting scheduled for April 19,2021 at 7p.m will be cancelled.

In a follow up to an early post regarding Interdivisional Transfers, the Company is now looking for 16 permanent positions and 27 temporary production positions. As well as 2 maintenance positions. The below attachments are for those transfers and shows how to apply.

If you are making application for a transfer, please specify if you are applying for permanent, temporary or both.

Members,

Yesterday afternoon members from your Executive met with the Company regarding the possibility of Interdivisional Transfers from Tubular to Steel.

The Company is going to be looking for 8 Permanent Production Employees, 1 Heavy Duty Mechanic and either an Electrical Technician or Instrument Technician. They will also be looking for 27 Temporary positions for vacation relief.

A rough start date will begin in May. Once we have an agreed to Letter with the Company we will post on this site.

Member’s,

With the Provinces recent changes to Regina regarding Covid restrictions, the decision has been made postpone proposal exchange with the company.

We had previously secured dates with the Company for April 27 & 28,2021. We will now be using those dates for the proposal exchange.

On Monday March 15th nominations were held for the 2021 Local Executive. The results are as such;

PRESIDENT- Mike Day by acclamation

VICE PRESIDENT- Ryan Mckenzie & Garett Rosko- Election to be held

RECORDING SECRETARY- Steve Olson by acclamation

TREASURER- Dana Faul by acclamation

FINANCIAL SECRETARY- Tory Sand by acclamation

STEEL CHIEF SHOP STEWARD- Brad Gibbons by acclamation

TUBULAR CHIEF SHOP STEWARD- Kyle Fisher by acclamation

O&T CHIEF SHOP STEWARD- Kim Roberts by acclamation

GUIDE- Court Klein by acclamation

TRUSTEE’S- Kurt Chernishenko, Scott Trenaman and Jim Cassano- all by acclamation

INSIDE GUARD- Terrance Renkas by acclamation

OUTSIDE GUARD- Bruce Blue by acclamation

We would like to thank everyone who volunteered their names.

THE ELECTION FOR VICE-PRESIDENT WILL BE HELD APRIL 5TH, 2021 AT THE OPERATIONS BUILDING{THE HILTON] FROM 4A.M TILL 7P.M. PLEASE COME AND VOTE

Sisters & Brothers

The bargaining committees from USW Local 5890 & 6673 originally had set dates to exchange non-monetary proposals with the company on May 6^th and 7^th, 2020. With the COVID-19 pandemic, that was put on hold. The new dates to exchange non-monetary proposals with the company will be March 30^th and 31^st, 2021.

Both locals have been working independently on their Local Non-Monetary proposals, and cooperatively on Non-Monetary issues that are common for both locals. These will be completed in advance of our chain meeting slated for March 29^th, 2021.

As always collective bargaining is an important process for all of our members and their families. Your bargaining committee is committed to keeping all of our members informed so watch for further communications to be provided. Your solidarity is important in everything we do. We would like to remind the membership that these bargaining updates come directly from your bargaining committees

Members,

Yesterday afternoon members from your executive committee met with the company and discussed the Tubular recalls which are attached below.

We asked the company how they did their recall and the answer from Mr. Forster was ” by plant seniority, article 12.10[m]5.

Recall from layoff will be on the basis of plant seniority
from among those people who can still perform that job
efficiently with a familiarization period. The employee with
the greatest job seniority within the line of progression
demoted or laid off due to lack of work shall have the right
to their regular job before those with less job seniority in
that line of progression. Employees recalled must return to
their original line of progression or bid job and be willing to promote to any job where they possess job seniority.

We asked, how is it #419 is recalled and #66 isn’t then? Mr. Forster’s response was ” I don’t believe those people would be able to perform the job efficiently with a familiarization period”. The Union responded with “so you recalled by Job Seniority, not giving these members their rights under the collective agreement that you signed your name to?” He added it wasn’t by job it was by plant, then reiterated “he doesn’t believe SR members will be able to perform efficiently within the familiarization period”. Our members are entitled to their rights, not what his opinion is.

This is another attack on Seniority and by this company and their upper management, who is not even giving our SR members the opportunity to perform the job’s recalled. If it wasn’t clear to everyone before, it should be now. This company has no respect for the Union, its members and the C.B.A. The group grievances were handed to the company for improper recall.

Members,

We have been informed that the company has been sending emails to our members regarding an annual policy acknowledgment. It is your locals opinion that if the company wishes to go through policies with it’s employee’s this must be done on company time. We are in discussions with legal and have sent an email to the company regarding this.

It is your decision to sign these documents or not but as stated above, we believe this should be done on company time. Not your private time where you have no chance to ask questions regarding the policies. There are also documents they are looking for signatures on that have no relevance to you our members.

If you have questions regarding this document we recommend calling Human Resources or talking to your Supervisor.

Members,

Attached is the S.U.B fund requirements update. If you are emailing the company and having issues with receiving funds cc m.day@usw5890.com to your email.

BURNABY, B.C. – Let’s cut right to the chase. It’s time that we demand all levels of government adopt Buy Canadian policies to protect Canadian jobs.
Thousands of Steelworkers were laid off in 2020 not due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but due to the policies of governments across Canada.
Steel is being illegally dumped in Canada to lower its price. Governments at all levels are failing Canadian workers by allowing major public- and private-sector projects to import offshore steel and pre-fabricated parts, all at the expense of Canadian manufacturers and workers.
We produce steel using iron ore and metallurgical coal mined in Canada or by recycling scrap to use in electric arc furnaces. The foreign steel our governments are importing has a significantly higher environmental impact than steel made here at home. By using steel made in Canada we can save 12 million tons of greenhouse gases annually.
It’s time for governments to step up.
I find it deeply concerning that government procurement policies for major construction projects like the new Pattullo Bridge in Surrey, the Kitimat LNG project, replacement lines for SaskEnergy and the Northern Alberta TC Energy project do not prioritize the use of Canadian steel.
It’s disturbing to see that we have bridges, pipelines and other important infrastructure projects being built with foreign imported steel. We can and must do better and that starts with buying local.
We know the only way to get the economy restarted will be the injection of massive funding into infrastructure projects. And, that work must be done with workers in mind.
The Canadian steel industry employs 23,000 people directly and another 100,000 indirectly. The steel industry is essential not only to the Canadian economy as a whole, but it provides community-sustaining
jobs across the country. For every job in direct steelmaking, three-to-four spinoff jobs are created.
Many workers involved in making steel in Canada have workplace protections that come with a union – a voice on the job, better pay and benefits, respect and dignity at work – elements that would be often missing from some foreign steel manufacturers.
Major steel mills and service centres form the lifeblood of many small and medium-sized communities.
With government investments in our steel sector, we can keep our communities strong. Canadian workers cannot afford more job losses and having good-paying Canadian jobs moved offshore.
To have a strong economic recovery plan for 2021, governments will need to commit to investing in creating new jobs and building new infrastructure projects. When those projects are being planned and sent for procurement, let’s remember to Buy Canadian.
It’s time to act now to stand up for Canadian steel.

Attached below again is the information regarding the S.U.B Fund. This is administered through the COMPANY, not the Union.

Submit your stubs to Payroll.Canada@evrazna.com

From your USW5890 executive, we’d like to wish all our members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

May everyone stay safe and look forward to better times ahead.

Tubular Members,

Here is a list of members we have filed grievances for improper layoff. If you don’t see your name on this list please contact a steward or executive member.

Shannick	Chinski	Larson	Heshka
Deguzman	Tangeman	Doutkevich	Leibel
Tahiraj	Demyen	Olson	Amon
Johannesson	McKenzie	Itong	Moffatt
Ybanez	Olsen	Reeder	Affie
Tedford	Renkas	Moggey	Brewster
Kanu	Pennington	McFadden	S.Kumar
Dizdari	Patel	Atkins	Cabiles
Tahiraj	Culhman	Markwart	Pambrum
Kumar	Spelliscy	Savoie	Velasco
Cipriano	Bezan	Kowalski	Bruch
Whitehawk	Hussain	Blackmore	Montgrand
Campbell	Patel	Dela Cruz	Brodziak
Bosch	Case	Santiago	Highmoor
Burdzy	Florentino	Lepiten	Peterson
Ritchie	Group	Caron	Patel
Turnbull	Navales	Langit	Bodnar
Pandora	Malabo	Morante	Galloway
McRadu	Basco	Goodwin	Batan
MacDonald	Tahiraj	Siddique	Cody
Blackmore	Bhatoa	Forster	Karchewski
Cruz	Klassen	Misakaewicz	Vikraman
Cantin	Vargas	Saydarath	Cahill
Middleton	Tumala	Vonau	Jacob
Butalid	Smith	Cardiff	Vorreiter
Bear	Gulliet	Shera	Palanisamy
Kieh Roberts Nomura Collinge	Dudhat Nugent Briere Zhabko	Witteron Patraschuk Horvath Coutts	Sopjani Massier Wahl

Attached are the cancelations and new notices.

Friday we received the decision and the reasons for the OCTG expiry review regarding dumped and subsidized OCTG from China. The case was successful. SIMA duties will be renewed for 5 years on OCTG from China. 

The Tribunal held a hearing by way of written submissions. There was no video argument in this case, so a hearing without the presence of the parties took place on October 8, 2020. 

The USW filed substantial material in the matter – 5 witness statements (a statement from Mike Day, Robert Gosse, Cody Alexander and John Collinson and one from Mark Rawlinson regarding global oversupply). In addition, the USW filed a legal brief concerning the interpretation of “employment” that we argued should be adopted.

The Union’s position was given a fair hearing. There are multiple references to USW evidence and argument at various paragraphs of the Reasons. 

Our testimony is referenced at para. 96. Interestingly, our evidence was apparently given equal weight to the Companies’ testimony – with respect to impact on domestic industry. Our legal argument is specifically acknowledged by the Tribunal at the bottom of page 16.

“I know that this is not an easy time for our members in Regina and Calgary, and that the OCTG market in Canada is not strong right now. I know that hundreds and hundreds of our members have been laid off, and we think first and foremost of those members and their families, especially at this time of year”.

“Nevertheless, I want to thank you for your work on this case (and others). We are the only union that is actively and regularly participating in these cases to protect our market.  It is thanks to you and your work that we are truly doing everything we can as a union to protect our steel market, now and going into the future”. {Mark Rawlinson, assistant to the national director}

Members,

The company has agreed to release your accrued vacation pay for those laid off or going to be laid off. Below is the terms;

• One-time request and available for first pay in February only.
• Available to only those union employees who are laid off
• Advanced Payment is for “accrued portion of current year”

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS YOUR OPTION TO WITHDRAW OR NOT. IF YOU DO THIS WILL LIKELY HAVE IMPACT ON E.I

Article 17.08

Should any employee be laid off their benefits will be maintained
by the Company to the end of the calendar month in which they are laid off. In addition, coverage will be maintained for a further
three (3) month period. After this three (3) month period, the
employee may, by arrangement with the Human Resources
department, continue their benefits for three (3) months
provided the premium payments are made by the employee.

HERE ARE THE RATES THAT WOULD APPLY

Division	Single Coverage	Family Coverage
Steel	119.08	282.51
Tubular	113.03	267.06
O&T	146.90	314.48

If you wish to continue your benefits please contact Human Resources or the Benefits Department at benefits.pension@evrazna.com or HRCanada.Support@evrazna.com

Members,

The Union and company had a discussion regarding the Health Spending Account this week and it appears the company has a new interpretation of eligibility come layoffs. The company believes that upon layoff, if the employee pays their premiums for major medical and dental benefits from months 4 to 6 their Health Spending Account will continue, if not you have no access to it. The company was informed this local in no way agrees with this interpretation.

Article 17.10 states,

For all employees active on the
seniority list who have completed at least 750 hours of work
in the previous calendar year, the Employer will contribute
$100 to the employees individual Health Spending Account
by January 1 of each calendar year

That right there makes you eligible for your Health Spending Account. You work the 750 hours, $100 goes into your account. When asked what will happen to each individuals $100 the company had no response. This fund was developed when the Local caught the company with their “hand in the cookie jar” regarding E.I rebates. Looks as if they maybe trying this again.