News, Developments and Information

As many may be aware for several months there has been TWO cell phone policies posted on “My Evraz”. One is apparantly from Corporate Evraz which states at one point that it applies to all facilities or something to that effect. It appeared on “My Evraz” sometime in October 2011. This policy talks about keeping your cell phone in your lunch box or locker.

The other policy is the one that has been in effect for several years.  This policy is much more severe than the newer Corporate Evraz policy.

The Union has requested clarification several times including today from Evraz management  regarding which policy is in fact the policy we are expected to follow but as of today they still are not sure which cell phone policy applies or why both policies are on “My Evraz”. So there is no answer to the all the questions about cell phones.

When Evraz Management  does decide which policy applies the Union will request they remove the policy that doesnt apply from “My Evraz”and make an effort to inform everyone which one does apply to end all the confusion.

BURNABY, B.C., 24 January, 2012 – The United Steelworkers (USW) announced today the launch of a fundraising campaign and the creation of a trust account to provide support to the workers of Babine Forest Products and their families in the wake of an explosion at the Burns Lake, B.C. sawmill.

“Since the tragedy at Babine Forest Products, we have been inundated with offers of support and assistance from other unions and union members all over the province and right across the country. The labour movement is a family, and union members join all British Columbians in mourning the loss of life and injuries to our brothers and sisters in Burns Lake,” says Steve Hunt, USW Director for Western Canada.

Continue reading How to donate to the United Steelworkers Burns Lake Fund to Support Babine Workers and Families

There has been a lot of confusion regarding the seniority lists posted on “My Evraz”. They are incorrect for both Steel and Pipe division. After repeated requests from the Union that they be corrected they have not. Either Evraz cannot post the list correctly because of technical issues or they are not interested in making the lists correct on “My Evraz”.

Everyone who wants a correct list please contact your supervisor and ask for a seniority list with only names and start dates  to be posted on your area bulletin boards. You are entitled to them under Article 12.07 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Please do not tear them down if they are not behind glass.

The following is a memo mailed out from Evraz that outlines the steps to get paid the recently negotiated Bonus paymet either through payroll or rolled into an RRSP

USW BONUS PAYMENT – 2011

On December 23, 2011, a bonus of $3,000 will be paid to all USW employees who have completed 750 hours of work in the previous twelve (12) calendar months. For those employees who have worked less than 750 hours in the twelve months prior to payment, the bonus will be pro-rated accordingly. You must still be an employee of the company to receive this bonus, actively working, collecting short term disability benefits, maternity/paternity leave or on lay-off status.

Continue reading Memo from Evraz regarding Bonus Payments

The people who have been occupying financial districts in Canadian and American cities are motivated by anger over the glaring economic unfairness that exists in our society. The labour movement welcomes what these young people camping outdoors in tents are saying — because we have said the very same thing for many years.

The 1 per cent who are the mega-rich are getting richer while 99 per cent of us who are ordinary working people fight for a shrinking piece of the economic pie. Since 1976, median earnings in Canada have barely inched up from $44,100 to $45,600 adjusted for inflation. That’s an increase in income of just $1,500 in a third of a century — less than $45 a year in real terms. In contrast, the share of all individual income going to the top 1 per cent in Canada has almost doubled since the 1980s, returning it to the same level as in the 1920s.

Continue reading Why Unions are Important

The Table Officers have decided to cancel the regular monthly meeting that normally would have been held on the third Monday of the month (November 21st).

Evraz has informed the Union that the some of the retro monies to paid out today is incorrect (too low). The Company has stated that there will be a correction made on Monday November 14 to address these shortfalls. If you are owed retro pay please check both payouts and direct any corrections to Roy Chinski in the Pipe Division.

To be eligible for payment from the S.U.B., you must:

[1]      Have a minimum of 18 months of service with the Company.  After 18 months, you earn one week of benefits for each 40 hours (credit point) worked after the 18 months.  There is a maximum of 52 weeks of possible benefit payable and credit points earned.

[2]      Receive an Employment Insurance Benefit in accordance with The Unemployment Act, or in the case that you are ineligible because you have an insufficient period to qualify for benefits under the Act, you must make proof of denial from E.I.  When applying for EI, ensure to request to have a copy of your EI stub issued to you.

[3]      Be laid off and have not refused recall for any reason, in accordance with the Collective Agreement.

[4]      Not be sick or disabled and receiving compensation for such.

[5]      Be an employee with Evraz and have not resigned from the Company.

[6]      Employees must forward their E.I. cheque stubs within five (5) days of receipt.  Employees who save receipts and forward them later will not be eligible for reimbursement. Continue reading Supplementry Unemployment Benefit