Category: Uncategorized

Has been announced by the Company and will be $1.32 per eligible hour.

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

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

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!

The new Chubb swipe card time keeping system starts this Sunday Oct 21st 2012. The Union wants to remind all members that in meeting’s with the Company, they have said they consider an employee to be on/off the job when they have swiped in/out at a card reader location.

Continue reading In Reality

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.

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!

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.

The anuual Labour Day picnic held by the Regina labour Council will be held tentatively September 3 at Les Sherman park near the Neal Balkwell park. As more information becomes available it will be posted here.

If you are interested in the new LU5890 golf shirts in large or extra large please contact Denise at 569-9663 or email Roger Flahr. The price is $40.00.

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.

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

The Canada Pricing Index figure for March 2012 was released on May 18, 2012. C.O.L.A will be going up 46¢ which will increase the C.O.L.A addition on regular hours worked to 56¢/hr from 10¢/h

The Union has filed a grievance stating that management has overstepped their rights to install cameras and invade workers privacy. Currently the grievance is in the first step of the process.

The Union filed a group grievance stating the Company has abused its management rights by removing personal property from work stations such as coffee pots, fridges, and radios. The use of these articles is a long standing practise enjoyed by both the Company and Union which makes the Letter of Understanding regarding Coffee breaks work and make sense.

Please open the link below regarding a statement from the Canadian Auto Workers. It has the same tone and climate that 5890 and 6673 ratified with Evraz.

Evraz Camrose Ratification Press Release May 25 2012

It will be interesting to see if in the future Evraz will work towards the relationship they say they want with the Steel Workers or any of their workers including the Canadian Autoworkers. You, the members of 5890, will be the judge.

Fellow Unionized workers ratified a tentative agreement with the company after a 12 day lockout. We have received no information on the specifics. As more information becomes available it will be reported.

Membership Meeting tonight

Time – 7:30 PM

Place – Regina Union Center

Regular business will be conducted and the new Executive Committee will be sworn in

Time: 7;30 PM

Place: Regina Union Center 12th and Angus Street