COVID19UPDATE

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Hello Brothers and Sisters,                                          3-22-2020

                                  

​I hope this letter finds everyone of you healthy and well.  These are definitelytrying times we all are going through, in this rapidly evolving situation with Covid-19.  Your local leadership has been in talks with the company to do the best we can to provide a safe workplace.  The following is a list of the terms that we came to agreement on today, also with the things that we are in disagreement with and will continue to try to come to a compromise. 

 

As previously stated, temperature testing will begin tomorrow, but the thresh hold has changed.  We asked for and was able to get the temperature thresh hold raised to 100.4 which is the CDC guideline. In the event that you have a fever you will be paid for that shift and will need to seek medical treatment.  If Dr. Johnson is on site you can go directly to the clinic.  I would ask each of you to be courteous to the EMT that is administering the test and associated paper work.  They are merely doing their job as instructed and they have no say on the policy.   The testing location has been moved to the canopy outside the Administration building.

 

Any absence that is Covid-19 related will not count toward the attendance policy.  The following will be considered Covid-related.

 

1. The employee is subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order due to COVID-19;
2. The employee has been advised by a healthcare provider to self-quarantine because of a diagnosis of COVID-19 or concerns related to COVID-19;
3. The employee is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis;
4. The employee is caring for an individual who is quarantined or advised by a healthcare provider to self-quarantine; or
5. The employee is caring for a son or daughter because the school or place of care for the child has been closed, or the child care provider is unavailable, because of COVID-19 precautions.

 

We also asked for staggered shift start times and we will be implementing them in the coming days.  I do not have a schedule at this time but when I have one, I will share it with you all.

 

We are in negotiations to waive the elimination period for STD and insurance cost that are Covid-19 related.  There is currently legislation being negotiated now that may have a bearing on these topics.

 

Your local leadership is fully committed to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for each and everyone of you.  Not only are these actions for our safety but to try to safeguard our livelihood. Again, this is a rapidly evolving topic and I am sure there will be changes.  Please keep your mind on your task at hand and continue to work safely. I will do my best to pass information along as fast as possible.  

 

In Solidarity,

Mike Hernandez, President

USW Local 15320

President’s Update 6-24-2020

We had a meeting on the furlough today. There will be a few miners being recalled as of now. The decision was made to furlough the deca recovery employees and most of them will be offered janitor positions. The company will be getting ahold of everyone effected to tell them if and how there situation is changing. The current miners in the jainitorial position will most likely end going back underground unless the deca guys refuse the job. The plan still remains to have all surface employees back the 20 of July and miners back the 26.

President’s Update 6-18-2020

6/18/20

 

Hello brothers and sisters,