Category: Uncategorized

RCMP Steps Up to “Stop The Killing”

National Directors Update (January 2015) – Ken Neumann and Western Canada Director Stephen Hunt came away from a meeting with RCMP’s Director of National Criminal Investigations with a commitment for further follow up on ways to work with the force on better enforcement of the Westray Law.

“We felt that Chief Superintendent Eric Stubbs understood our campaign and would be prepared to take steps on delivering the message of enforcement,” said Neumann. “Among other things, we stressed the need for better coordination among police, regulatory agencies and Crown attorneys.”

Through Stubbs commitment to follow up on Westray enforcement is encouraging, we need more agencies to sign on and commit to Stop The Killing.

USPA

Negotiated Lump Sum/COLA Payment

Sisters & Brothers,

Your bargaining committee is pleased to announce that it has been confirmed by the company that the negotiated lump sum payment will be deposited into our members account on Friday January 30, 2015. It was also confirmed that the payment of our COLA from last quarter will be calculated retroactive and also deposited on Friday January 30, 2015.

Solidarity Forever!

RATIFICATION VOTE REMINDER!

Date: Friday January 16th, 2015
Location: Evraz Operations Building
Time: 5am – 8pm

* All bargaining unit members currently covered under the collective bargaining agreement (including probationary employees) are eligible to vote with the exception of temporary supervisors.

Your voice, your future, your vote.

Solidarity!

Tentative Agreement

Sisters and Brothers

As you may be aware, on December 19, 2014 your bargaining committee reached a tentative agreement with the company. We understand that our members are eager to know what is in the tentative agreement. In order to keep all information accurate for the members and to avoid rumors and false information. It is in the best interest for all of us, that particulars of the agreement NOT be released prior to the bargaining committee being able to present it to the membership as a whole in the early new year.

Shortly, the bargaining committee will be receiving a copy from the company containing all of the agreed to proposals that are in the tentative agreement. When the committee receives these agreed to proposals. They will need to be reviewed it for there accuracy. Once that is completed, the committee will then put the agreed to proposals into a handout and a PowerPoint presentation for our members to view at a ratification membership meeting. This process will take time, especially with the holidays upon us.

Your bargaining committee anticipates the ratification membership meeting to be held in early January 2015, with a location yet to be determined. At that time, the tentative agreement will be presented to the members in the form described above. They will then have the opportunity to vote on the tentative agreement at a time and location also yet to be determined. This process Sisters and Brothers allows our membership to receive the correct information as well as giving them the opportunity to ask questions directly to their bargaining committee before voting.

Please note: If you are a probationary employee, you are eligible to vote and you are encouraged to attend all meetings including the ratification meeting.

We would like to close by expressing our sincere thanks to the membership for their patience and outstanding support though out bargaining.

In Solidarity
USW Local 5890
Bargaining Committee

Chain Bargaining Update

Local 5890/6673

Sisters & Brothers

Since the last meeting that was held on December 16, 2014 your bargaining committee has had further communication with the company. We are pleased to announce to our members that we have reached a Tentative Agreement.
In the meantime, necessary paperwork needs to be completed by both bargaining committees throughout the holiday season.

We anticipate a membership meeting being called early in the New Year.

You’re bargaining committee would like to wish our members and their families a

Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season.

Solidarity Forever!

Bargaining Committee
USW 5890 / 6673

Bargaining Update

Local 5890/6673

CHAIN BARGAINING UPDATE

Sisters & Brothers,

On December 16, 2014 your bargaining committee met with the company to negotiate in Regina. Although some positive gains were made, at the end of the day your bargaining committee was not satisfied that the company’s offer reflected the best interests of our membership and an agreement could not be reached.
Your bargaining committee is committed in bringing back to our member’s the best contract possible. Currently there are no further dates set for negotiating. We will continue to inform the membership with further information as it becomes available.

Our Solidarity Works!

Support Your Bargaining Committee

In Solidarity

Bargaining Committee
USW 5890 / 6673

Monthly Membership Meeting

A reminder that the monthly membership meeting will take place tonight Monday November 24th, 7:30 pm sharp. Regina Union Center, 2709 12th Ave. downstairs. Please use the south side entrance.

Agenda:

Initiation of new members
Staff Rep. Report
Grievance Reports
Financial Reports
Committee’s Reports
Communications
Unfinished/New Business

Stay informed, stay involved in your local.

Chain Bargaining Update

Brothers & Sisters

Your bargaining committee has completed 3 days of bargaining. During the process, the employer tabled a document outlining what a new agreement looks like for them;

• They still want – annual cash bonus with no wage increases
• They still want – to discontinue annual bonuses for all our pensioners and their surviving spouses
• They still want – Upon ratification, implement a “Defined Contribution” Pension Plan for new members
• They still want – mandatory overtime
• They now want – no increase to our current Defined Benefit Pension Plan

The union has proposals on each of these issues, we are focused on a new collective agreement without concessions.

We had three days scheduled for next week and the Union has had to reschedule these days. We have further days scheduled in December and we are working towards bringing back to you a tentative agreement. Everyone must remember, bargaining is not a race, we have had many meetings and we will continue to meet as long as we are making progress.

To date we have achieved many positive changes in the language and we have to invest the time on the money side of these discussions.

We are scheduling meetings with each Local Union’s CAT – Team, to provide them with as much detail as we can.

Remember Solidarity Works!

“We are Stronger Together”

In Solidarity

Bargaining Committee
USW 5890 / 6673

Note: 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.

Layoff Rumors Untrue

Recently there has been rumors and talk of a pending layoff. Yesterday, in discussions with management in both the Steel and Tubular Divisions. It was confirmed there is NO plans for layoffs and crewing levels will remain full into the new year. Also mentioned was plans to start running all four Spiral mills starting in early December.

In Solidarity!

Buy Bottled Beer, Not Cans, Steelworkers Say

United Steelworkers launches biggest radio ad campaign in its history to end yearlong labour dispute at can-maker Crown Holdings

TORONTO, Oct. 14, 2014 /CNW/ – Today the United Steelworkers (USW) is launching a radio advertising campaign aimed at ending a yearlong strike at Toronto beer can manufacturer Crown Holdings.

Compelling, 30-second spots encourage consumers to “buy bottles, not cans” when purchasing beer, to support factory workers who have been on the picket line for 13 months. Continue reading Buy Bottled Beer, Not Cans, Steelworkers Say

Critical Need For Blood Donors

Canadian Blood Services has launched an official appeal to urge Canadians to donate blood immediately. This is the first time since 2008 that Canada’s inventory has reached such a critically low level. All blood donors are needed, in particular those with type O and A blood.

If the trend is not reversed, we will have difficulty meeting the expected hospital demand across the country and this could impact patients. As a valued partner, we are looking to you to help us rise to the challenge and help your fellow Canadians.

We are actively increasing our efforts by extending clinic hours where needed, accommodating more walk in donors, and fitting in additional group bookings. Please call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) or contact your local Canadian Blood Services representative if you have any questions about what you can do to help.

With only three months left in the Partners for Life pledge year, nationally we are 16,262 blood donations behind target. We are counting on our partner network to rally together to meet the pledge as a country, saving thousands of lives from coast to coast.

Monthly Membership Meeting

Will take place on Monday September 15th, 7:30 pm sharp. Regina Union Center, 2709 12th Ave. downstairs. Please use the south side entrance.

Agenda:

Initiation of new members
Staff Rep. Report
Grievance Reports
Financial Reports
Committee’s Reports
Communications
Unfinished/New Business

***Third and final reading of three for amendments to local by-laws. Vote to follow.

Stay informed, stay involved in your local.

CHAIN BARGAINING UPDATE #1

Common Non Monetary

Sisters and Brothers;

On September 3, 4 & 5 your bargaining committees from USW 5890 and 6673 met with the company to start negotiating “Common Non Monetary” proposals.

Although a few proposals were tentatively agreed to we are very much at the early stages of this portion of the negotiating process. We assure our members from both locals that your bargaining committee is committed to giving every union proposal the attention that it deserves and nothing less, this is not a race.

Our next bargaining dates are September 8 – 12 & September 29 – October 3.

Remember this is your future and Solidarity works.

“We Are Stronger Together”

 

In Solidarity!

Bargaining Committee
USW 5890 / 6673

Communication Action Team (C.A.T)

C.A.T. is a network of communication between the local union leaders, bargaining committee and the membership as a whole. It is responsible for bringing the union message past the plant gates, right into the lunch rooms and onto the floor of our workplace. Acting as a direct link to important, factual information concerning the members of this local. Which in turn, opens another avenue for members to voice their concerns, questions or suggestions to the local executive and bargaining committee. The C.A.T consists of the following members.

Les Horvath – Dark Room (Spiral)
Tory Sand – Lab (Steel)
Vasco D’Ameida – Motor Room
John Forster – Motor Room
Kim Roberts – O&T
Tim Osborne – O&T
Shannon Fletcher – Operation Building
Jon Jackson – R&D
Bryon Folk – Rolling Mill
Tim Kachaluba – Safety (Steel)
Rob Desnomie – Safety (Tubular)
John Asmay – Salvage
Mike Smith – Spiral Finishing
Ray Sopko – Spiral Finishing
Rosey Shiels – Spiral Finishing
Joshua Kretschmer – Spiral Finishing
Kelly Wallis – Spiral Finishing
Kerry Molloy – Spiral Finishing
Jon Solman – Spiral Finishing
Dana Faul – Steel Stores
Dwayne Mitchell – Tubular Yard
Dallas Houston – Tubular Yard
Brent Henningsen – 24” Mill Line
Garret Rosko – 24” Finishing Line

Finally the True Culprits, Transport Canada and MMA, Are Identified

MONTREAL – The Transportation Safety Board sees things clearly! The report that was released today confirms what the Syndicat des Métallos (United Steelworkers) has been saying all along: that the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway (MMA) was taking safety risks and Transport Canada failed in its duty to provide supervision and monitoring.

It is time to stop treating the workers as scapegoats. The TSB’s message is crystal clear: the MMA “cut corners” with respect to safety, and Transport Canada did not carry out inspections “often enough and thoroughly enough,” and lacked the means to ensure that the Safety Management System set out on paper was actually effective. Continue reading Finally the True Culprits, Transport Canada and MMA, Are Identified

Steelworkers Humanity Fund contributes $25,000 for Ebola support in West Africa

TORONTO – The Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) is contributing $25,000 to combat spread of deadly Ebola virus in West Africa.

“The Ebola outbreak has killed over 1,000 people in three of the world’s poorest countries – Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia, and the World Health Organizations warns that the outbreak is not yet under control,” said Ken Neumann, President of the Steelworkers Humanity Fund. “In response the Steelworkers Humanity Fund is making a $10,000 contribution to Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières, as well as providing $15,000 to a grassroots NGO in Liberia to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus.” Continue reading Steelworkers Humanity Fund contributes $25,000 for Ebola support in West Africa