We are the United Steelworkers, North America’s largest industrial union. We’re 1.2 million members and retirees strong in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. We proudly represent men and women who work in nearly every industry there is.
This week, Hot Band and Plate prices have increased. Hopefully, these increases will stabilize the market and encourage customers to place orders. Again, this does not mean that we are out of the woods. In some areas of the mill employees are being recalled while other areas such as the Sinter Plant, CHTL and those who have been displaced into the plant wide labor pool are suffering reductions in workforce. As the automotive industry continues to ramp up, there have been COVID-19 cases which caused the assembly plant in Chicago to shut down for several hours, just one day after opening. As the uncertainty and constant changes of the world economy continues, we have been subjected to a roller coaster of changes within our plant. We expect this to continue until normalcy enters back into the world as we all recover from the influence of this pandemic. Detailed information continues to change as we work through the complications of the constant fluctuations of where and how the Company runs orders. We have been communicating with Plate Mill management regarding the potential reduction in force for the upcoming Plate Mill Outage. We should have more information to share next week.
After recalling everyone who was laid off in Steel Producing, we have convinced the Company of the ongoing need for training which should ultimately result in less people being laid off. As we all can agree, one person laid off is too many. In order to facilitate departmental bids, the Company has agreed to post Utility bids for that area. They agreed that everyone, including Employees who are currently laid off, should be given the opportunity to bid on these vacancies. Anyone interested must sign the bid in person at the East Office between 6:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays) on or before June 1st at 1 p.m. Please keep in mind, hourly transfers can be heard by calling (219) 787-2525.
We are saddened to confirm that an Employee suffered fatal injuries operating a crane at Weirton yesterday. Please keep his family and coworkers in your prayers.
As you make plans to celebrate the Memorial Day holiday, please do so safely as we are entering stage 3 of the state’s plan to re-open as mentioned in Update #6. Gatherings of 100 or less are now allowed, but if social distancing is not an option, face coverings are still recommended until mid-June. At that time facial coverings will become optional. Please stay safe and thank you for your solidarity.
In Solidarity, Pete Trinidad Sr. USW 6787 President
Each of the committee members has included thoughts of their own as to what having such a committee means to them:
Each of the committee members has included thoughts of their own as to what having such a committee means to them:
Joe Benn: "/A grievance committee for Local 1944 is a welcome addition in advance of future rounds of bargaining for our four certifications with the grievance arbitration process is our foremost tool to fight for and embrace our entire membership./"
Joe Benn: "/A grievance committee for Local 1944 is a welcome addition in advance of future rounds of bargaining for our four certifications with the grievance arbitration process is our foremost tool to fight for and embrace our entire membership./"
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Tricia Watt: "/Having a grievance committee means having our membership fighting as one collective./"
Steve McWhirter: "/Coming together in a National committee will enable us to make the best decisions and suggestions on our grievance files. By supporting the grievance process, we are fostering more empowered shop stewards on the shop floor!/"
Steve McWhirter: "/Coming together in a National committee will enable us to make the best decisions and suggestions on our grievance files. By supporting the grievance process, we are fostering more empowered shop stewards on the shop floor!/"
Hans-Woosly Balan: "/Making sure that the membership’s voice is heard loudly at every step./"
Hans-Woosly Balan: "/Making sure that the membership’s voice is heard loudly at every step./"
Among the devastation wrought by the Covid-19 crisis – the tens of thousands of lost lives and millions of lost livelihoods – lay a glimmer of hope. Ordinary people stepped up every day to do what’s right, putting the needs of their communities ahead of their own.
This is especially true of the brave front-line workers who risked their own lives to ensure we all have the necessary goods and services to continue to live comfortably. No one exemplifies this spirit of shared responsibility, communal sacrifice, and civic mindedness more than members of USW Local 9460, health care workers at Essentia Health.
Hundreds of them unfailingly did their jobs, providing exemplary care in dangerous, uncertain conditions. Hundreds more accepted temporary layoffs in March so the hospital system could adjust to the new reality of our post-Covid world.
Now, 900 more are being rewarded for their sacrifices with permanent layoffs.
That’s a slap in the face to Essentia’s dedicated workforce and a disservice to the community that relies on it for top-quality care.
Essentia would like to portray itself as a down-and-out business with its hands tied, but claims of financial hardship just don’t hold water.
Essentia generated a whopping $2.1 billion in revenue last year[KJ1] . And while we’ve all had to tighten our belts over the past few months, Essentia received more than $78 million in federal aid as of May 15, according to CDC data.
That is tax money that was provided to maintain Essentia’s full range of services and the workers who keep the system running. It would be insulting patients, workers and benefactors to let those funds go anywhere but back into the community.
USW members already made deep sacrifices as Essentia canceled elective procedures and scaled back the services they offered. They understood that extraordinary times require a shared burden.
Now, by making permanent cuts, Essentia is openly putting short-term financial concerns over the livelihoods of the workers who kept the system running during this crisis.
And make no mistake, no matter what temporary conditions led the company to its conclusion, permanently slashing 900 essential health care jobs will have lasting consequences on our communities.
The pandemic taught us that there’s no way to know what the future will bring. There could be a surge in new Covid-19 cases that will require all hands on deck. Or the virus may plateau or decline, which will mean resuming more normal operations.
One thing remains certain, however. Whether it’s treatment for Covid-19 or routine care,...
The regular production start up has been pushed back another week. With the shortened work week next week (Monday is Memorial Day) and the delayed start up in Mexico the current plan is to start a 3 shift operation starting on Monday June 1st (Sunday night for 3rd shift). At this time it is anticipated that we will have 50% staffing on each of the 3 shifts. Our members should be prepared to recieve calls or emails from HR starting next week offering work for the week of June 1st.
I will continue to provide updates when I recieve them but will make sure I post and send texts out atleast weekly. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me by calling or texting.
Additonally, if you speak with other members please encourage them to sign up for our text program, check the Union website weekly, or if they are unable to do either, reach out to me for updates.
Contractually the company must pay holiday pay for Memorial day for any member who performed work for the company on or after May 16th through the end of the month. If you have not performed any work for the company between May 16th through the 31st you will not recieve holiday pay. This should be helpful for our members claiming unemployment because the questioned is asked weekly.
A reminder that the Local's membership meeting that was scheduled for May 17th has been moved to June 14th. 633 S. Hawley Rd. Milwaukee, WI 53214 in Yatchak Hall at 9:30 a.m
