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Solidarity Forever Brothers & Sisters in Calgary LU 6673

The issues we have been facing for some time now have been challenging for all our members to say the least, the adversities we have faced and continue to face makes me reflect on the lessons I learned when I played hockey as a youth. I recall it like it was yesterday when our team would be winning games and everything was going great, our morale was high, solidarity among my team mates was strong and everything seemed to work in our favor, life was good when we were winning. But when things didn’t go our way and nothing seemed to go right and everything seemed hopeless, the coach would always say to us in the locker room, “ We need to get back to the basics, keep it simple and don’t get to fancy, work together and do your job!”

This advice is a good one and is still used today, when the opposing team throws everything they have at you and tries to shake you off your game mentally and physically it can affect your team’s morale, solidarity and ultimately affect your performance. No question it’s easy to be part of a winning team when everything is going great, but during times when the chips are down and you’re losing. Well this is the time when the true character of any team and as a person is put to the test.

During those times is when we need to make choices, we can kneel and bow our heads as individuals and accept defeat, or we can stand up and fight back together as Steelworkers by continuing to apply relentless offense to anything that may jeopardize our way of life and our objective of Good Jobs, Strong Union. All the while never forgetting to defend and protect the goals we have already achieved.

I ask for all our members to look at ourselves and see that we are all brothers and sisters of our great union the United Steelworkers. Even though we all come from different walks of life and different parts of the globe, we all have one universal thing in common. We all as people aspire for a healthy and prosperous future for ourselves, our children and for our families. We come to work today to financially support our way of life and to secure our future, but let us never forget. We have the privilege as a union of being able to leave behind a bright future and legacy for the next generation of Steelworkers and their families that will follow behind us, and I believe that’s worth preserving and fighting for.

We have a great membership at USW Local 6673, we are battle hardened and strong. Let’s get back to basics and do what we do best by producing the best pipe and tubing in the world.

Solidarity Forever

Bryan Ross
President
United Steelworkers
Local 6673

Steelworkers House

We have successfully launched our campaign to raise $100,000 and are well on our way of reaching our goal of building a Steelworkers House in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Regina. This is a project that we, as Steelworkers, can all be proud of being a part of for many years to come. Making a donation is very simple and can be done securely by clicking on the Habitat link located on our webpage. Visiting www.canadahelps.org/dn/7932 or by filling out a donation sheet that will be available through any CAT member, USW Habitat committee member or from the Union mailbox located in the operation building. Every donation of $10 or more is tax deductible. A donation of $10, from every member per pay check over the next year would help us to reach our goal and allow us to begin the construction on a home for a family in our community. Please give generously to a great cause.

Sincerely,

Corey Liebrecht, President

Local 5890 Proudly Partners With Habitat

Brothers & Sisters,

Over the past years the local union and company have participated in a workplace campaign to support a well known charity. This year the local has decided to move in a different direction and on Monday October 7th, 2013 will be kicking off our own good works project in the community by proudly partnering with Habitat for Humanity. We welcome everyone to come and join us at the local union office located at 26 – 395 Park St. on the 7th between 11am – 2pm where a donation will buy a hamburger or hotdog and a drink. Representatives from Habitat, local dignitaries and the media, will be on hand to help us begin our campaign to raise $100,000.00 or more over the next year so that we, as Steelworkers, can assist in building a home for a family here in Regina.

Why, you may ask are we supporting Habitat? We believe this is about giving a hand up and not a hand out. All money raised goes directly to the building of a home. Any administrative costs are covered by profits from the Re-Store with any additional money from there also going directly to the fund. We are also encouraged that families participating in the program must be gainfully employed with a yearly annual income. A 30 year interest free mortgage is repaid and that money goes back into Habitat for other builds. Families must also participate in 500 hours of “sweat equity” were they are part of the build, work at the Re-Store or do administrative duties. As well, Habitat commits itself to assuring these families have the skills and a supportive process to assist them in continued responsible home ownership.

Please contact one of the listed sub-committee members if you would like to participate in one or more of the fund raising events that will be held over the next year.

Corey Liebrecht Union Office 306.569.9663 Cell 306.530.6658
Mike Smith Cell 306.533.9921
Vasco D’Almeida
Dana Faul
Dave McAlpin
Kim Roberts

We are very excited to be undertaking this as a local and are determined to reach our goal. To do that though, we need the support of the entire membership, our families, friends, the Communication Action Team (CAT), Women of Steel (WOS), Steelworkers Organization Of Active Retirees (SOAR) as well as other USW locals right here in Regina, across the province and throughout the country to make this a success. I urge you to get involved, stay involved and rally each other as members behind this great cause. Let’s make this a huge success and something that we, as Steelworkers, can be proud of for years to come.

Solidarity Forever!

Corey Liebrecht, President

*Please note that parking is limited at the office but alternate space is close.

Are You A USW “NEXT GENERATION” Leader From This Local?

Ken Neumann (Union Bio)

Canadian National Director
Canadian National Director

National Director for Canada

Born and raised in rural Saskatchewan, Neumann was a teenager when he first joined the USW, at Local 5890 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Later, Neumann’s activism and leadership flourished within USW Local 4728 in Regina, where he began as a steward and eventually was elected president of the local. He was an instructor, organizer and then president of the USW Regina Area Council before being hired as a United Steelworkers staff representative in 1977. Neumann earned a personal reputation for strong service to USW members in Saskatchewan and British Columbia.

Continue reading Are You A USW “NEXT GENERATION” Leader From This Local?

Grievance Resolutions

Union and management met earlier today and resolved 4 grievances that were pending arbitration.

 A one day suspension reduced to a written warning.

Three written warnings withdrawn by the Company and removed from the affected members personal records. 

Also discussed were Kronos grievances regarding time keeping and coffee pots/radios. There was no movement by the Company on their position to either of these and arbitration dates remain scheduled.  

The Union is awaiting responses from the Company on other grievances that were discussed and we have been assured those will be forthcoming within a week.

Other grievances recently resolved were for a member who has been paid overtime while contractors did bargaining unit work. A member has been paid for time missed after wrongfully being sent home for not completing a 6S form. A scheduled arbitration was resolved for a previously employed trades member regarding payment for rate increases in the current CBA who did not receive his proper raise. Your Local is working hard to resolve all grievances in advance of arbitration.

Solidarity Wins! 

 

Job Evaluation Pilot Committee

Will be meeting on Feb 8th at 9am. Our focus will be the evaluation of O&T jobs and any outstanding issues that need to be addressed. The Union has been prepared and committed to meeting regularly with the Company and will continue to make every effort so the committee can complete its mandate.

Solidarity Forever!

Scheduled Arbitrations

Grievances:

11/14-025 Brodeur (Termination) April 8-9

11/14-073 Weinbender (Suspension) April 22-23

11/14-074 Blue (Suspension) April 22-23

11/14-046 Group (Removal of coffee pots/Radios) May 7

11/14-093 Group (Kronos Card Readers) June 4-5

11/14-094 Group (Kronos 15 minute punch in/out time) June 4-5

11/14-095 Group (Kronos $25 Card replacement fee) June 4-5

11/14-096 Group (Kronos Donning/doffing of PPE) June 4-5

11-14/0104 Group (Trades Raise for Electronic Tec. Machinist, Instrument Man) June 12

07/11-0544 Group (O&T, Bargaining Unit Work) June 13-14

07/11-0567 Group (O&T Bargaining Unit Work) June 13-14

Your Local is working hard to resolve all Grievances in advance of arbitration.

Solidarity Forever!

USW Supports Provincial NDP Leadership Candidate Cam Broden

The USW North & South Sask. Area Council’s along with District 3 Director Steve Hunt, the WOS and SOAR met with the provincial NDP leadership candidates Erin Weir, Trent Wotherspoon, Cam Broten and Dr. Ryan Meili this past Friday evening in Saskatoon for a three hour question & answer form. Each candidate put forth their reasons for running and answered a wide range of questions and at times to criticism about how the party has handled certain issues in the past while in goverment.

On Saturday morning Steve Hunt, the Area Council’s and the Committee’s convened a caucus to discuss who the USW would support in the leadership race. It was not an easy decision, as each candidate displayed their oustanding credentials, ideas and determination to lead. After much discussion a ballot vote was taken a unanimous decision the Steelworkers in Saskatchewan have chose to support Cam Broten to be the next Leader of the provincial NDP.

The election will take place Saturday March 9th, 2013 during the provincial NDP convention that will be held at TCU Place, Saskatoon. To be eligible to vote, you must become a member of the provincial NDP party before Friday January 25th, 2013. It is only $10.00 to join and you can sign up by going to the following web site.

http://saskndp.ca/leadership-2013

Good luck Cam, you have the Steelworkers support & solidarity!