On behalf of the Executive & Staff of Local 5890, I want to warmly wish our members all the best this holiday season as your share it with family and friends. May you find peace, joy and harmony throughout. Have a very Merry Christmas and wonderful New Year!
Corey Liebrecht

COLA Adjustment

The CPI figure for October 2012 was released on November 23, 2012. As per the Collective Agreement the following calculation will apply.

October 2012 124.8

July 2012 123.9

Difference 0.9

(Divide by .063 per each 1 cent) = $0.14

Effective with the first pay period after the release, COLA will increase to $0.75 per straight time hour worked from $0.61.

 

Kronos Swipe Card Grievance Update

After meeting with Human Resourses (HR) this past week, the four grievances submitted by the Union have been denied. We have given the Company till Nov. 19th to forward any resolutions at which time the executive will meet and make recommendations to the membership on how to proceed.

In Solidarity!

New Inspector Rates (Spiral Mill)

These rates came into effect August 25th 2012 but were not updated by HR & Payroll till Nov. 7th. Any members that are working at these jobs listed below or have worked one of these jobs since August 25th should keep track over the up coming pay periods (starting Nov 23rd) to see if your rate has been adjusted and any back pay owning has been corrected. If it has not then we recommend you see your supervisor at that time.

Continue reading New Inspector Rates (Spiral Mill)

Support = Strength

Participation in this Local by the membership has never been stronger. Attendance at monthly meetings is up. Many new Stewards are taking training. We have a Women Of Steel (WOS) committee breaking ground. Our social media sites such as this one and our Facebook page are popular. We even have the involvement of our Steelworkers On Active Retirement (SOAR) lending their support. Brother’s & Sister’s, your participation at any level in your Local makes us stronger. Lets continue to make this happen.

Solidarity Forever!

Corey Liebrecht, President

Early Shift Change

It has come to our attention that some area supervisors in the plant have been trying to discredit your Local Union Executive and myself in claiming that we are misrepresenting our membership in regard to early shift changes. Let me assure our members that your Union has NOT in any way asked the Company to remove early shift relief in any department. We know for a fact that some of our members have indeed enjoyed the practice of early shift change before 6am for many years. We have expressed to the Company on a number of occasions that our members have been quite happy with this arrangement and would like it to continue.

Continue reading Early Shift Change

New Shop Stewards

On October 18th & 19th the Local held a Level 1 shop steward school. We would like to congratulate the following members  and welcome them as new stewards.

  • Chris Massier
  • Doug Demin
  • Ryan Mackenzie
  • Scott Mackie
  • Jim Cassano
  • Mike Smith
  • John Schmidt

Monthly Membership Meeting

A reminder to all Brother’s & Sister’s that the monthly membership meeting is on Monday Oct 22nd 2012 at 7:30pm sharp. It will be held downstairs at the Regina Union Center 2709 12th Ave. This is your Union. Participate in it and show your…Solidarity Forever!

Women Of Steel

Our National Women’s Conference “Working Women, Working Union” will be held November 14-16, 2012 at the Holiday Inn, Toronto, Yorkdale.

The conference theme this year is “Working Women, Working Union”. We will reflect on the progress to date on achieving equality – is there a union advantage? We will identify the steps women and women’s committees are taking to move the equality agenda forward and together develop strategies to organize and engage women to advance our objectives at the bargaining table and through political action.

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Steelworkers Supporting The United Way

Brothers & Sisters once again displayed their support for the community this morning during a shift change at Evraz with a successful kickoff breakfast to a month long fund-raising campaign for the United Way that was said to be the most successful ever. Your donation or pledge supports 32 different charities or can be directed to a charity of your choice. Last year our members gave $51,000 locally to this cause that was matched dollar for dollar by the Company. Your support does make a difference.

Shop Stewards Training

Level #1 Stewards Training will take place Oct 18-19th 2012. If your are interested in becoming a Steward in the Local. Please perpare the following before or for the Sept 17th/2012 membership meeting to attend the upcoming training . You need to be a sworn member in good standing with the USW and submit 10 signatures of fellow members, signed and dated supporting your request to become a Steward.

As a Union rep and activist you will play an important role in building a united, organized and involved membership in your workplace. You will be a communicator, organizer, problem solver and leader in the Union.

The Local encourages Brothers & Sisters to step forward at any time to join and volunteer as Stewards or Commitee members. Together!…We are bigger, better and stronger.

In Solidarity!

Local Audit

This Local and the USW Benefit Society have been undergoing an audit by the USW International that was completed earlier today. The Local executive has been assured by the auditor Betty Bailey, that intial indications show all funds are accounted for within 5890. A final report with recommendations will be forth coming from the auditor later this fall. Until such time the Benefit Society funds have been temporarily frozen pending further direction from the International. If you have any questions please contact Sonny Rioux, USW Staff Rep. at the Regina Steelworkers Office 569-9663.

Trade Wage Study

The much anticipated wage study has finally been completed.  After some discrepancy on the final calculation the Union and the Company were able to come to an agreement on the following rates, which will be retro-active back to Dec 7, 2011:

  • Electrician-$38.393
  • Millwright-$38.393
  • Machinist-$35.216
  • Welder-$38.393
  • Electrical Technician-$38.802
  • Mechanical Engineering Tech-$35.642
  • Metallurgical Tech-$33.943
  • Senior Metallurgical Tech-$35.076
  • Instrument Man-$38.393
  • Heavy Duty Mechanic-$38.393

Effective August 1, 2012 the new rates will be as follows:

  • Electrician-$40.714
  • Millwright-$39.890
  • Machinist-$35.216
  • Welder-$39.232
  • Electrical Tech-$38.802
  • Mechanical Engineering Tech-$36.820
  • Metallurgical Tech-$36.398
  • Senior Metallurgical technician-$39.912
  • Instrument Man-$39.521
  • Heavy Duty Mechanic-$39.521

The Union has been informed by the company that the first rate increase should take effect in the next pay period, and the Company has stated they will pay the retroactive amounts on the Aug. 31, 2012 pay.  The retro active amounts are applicable to all hours worked from Dec 7, 2011 to present and also applicable to your previous and current year’s vacation.

As always, continue to check your pay stubs to ensure accuracy.  Any questions or discrepancies should be directed to your supervisor and/or payroll.  Any unsatisfactory results from that, please speak to a Shop Steward.

*Please note; those who received the market average prior to Aug 1, 2012 will receive the negotiated 2.1% increase.

Napoleon Gomez Urrutia recognized as leader of Mexican Miner Union

Napoleon Gomez was assisted by the USW (district 3) to escape persecution in Mexico for Union activities. The following was reported today in the Mexican media.

The Mexican government has recognized Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, who was ousted  from his post and forced into exile in Canada in 2008 amid fraud allegations, as  the leader of the Mining and Metalworkers’ Union, or SNTMM, officials said.

The union was notified that Gomez Urrutia is being recognized as  secretary-general and Mario Garcia as acting secretary-general, the Labor and  Social Security Secretariat said.                Continue reading Napoleon Gomez Urrutia recognized as leader of Mexican Miner Union