Telus.net Email Outage

August 22, 2019 - Your Local Union 1944 wishes to convey our gratitude to you for your phone calls into our offices regarding the Telus.net email outage. Rest assured our number one priority is your job and your job protection. Your Union has been in communication with Telus regarding their use of managers on the front lines. Naturally, we object to the use of management in customer-facing roles. 

However, article 8.03 of the collective agreement allows the Company to use non-bargaining unit employees to perform bargaining unit work during an emergency, or other unforeseeable or unpreventable circumstances. As this was one of those circumstances, Local 1944 will not be filing any grievances.

Additionally, the Company, in its efforts to manage the situation, is offering overtime to anyone in the affected areas who wishes to work it.

In our ongoing discussions with the Company as we monitor this situation, we acknowledge that this is a temporary measure and one we expect to end in the immediate future. Again, we thank you for your vigilance and value your attentiveness. Each of you are the keepers of our Collective Agreement and are appreciated, keep up the outstanding work! 

In Solidarity,

Donna Hokiro, Vice-President of USW Local 1944

COLA RELEASE

A cost of living allowance is paid on the basis of 1 (one) cent per hour for each .125 increase in the Consumer Price Index (1981 = 100).

The Consumer Price Index for April 2019 was 274.8. The Consumer Price Index for July 2019 was 276.8. Therefore, the Cost of Living Allowance generated would be an increase of 16 cents.

As a result, effective September 1, 2019 (paid October 1, 2019 for salaried), the total C.O.L.A. payable will be $.16 per hour.

Regular union business.

Regular union business.

From Your 2019 USW Bargaining Committee

Wednesday, August-21-19                                                                                        Release #7

Good day Brothers and Sisters,

Your Bargaining Committee would like to let you know that we have resumed negotiations with the company.

This was a mutually agreed upon break and we were able to ensure we have all parties back to the bargaining table. We are working on the monetary component now and want to assure everyone that both parties are engaged at the table. During this time it is important for everyone to focus on working safely at work and at home.  Please make every effort to communicate with us or the CAT Team to let us know of anything out of the ordinary.

We are working hard on your behalf and are committed to getting you a collective agreement and to be as successful at the table as we have in the past.

The support of the Membership is critical to the successful accomplishment of that goal and we would like to once again thank everyone for their continued support.

Please contact the Union with any questions you may have about the bargaining process, and thanks for your ongoing support.

In Solidarity,

Your Bargaining Committee

Warren, Scott, Matt, Keith, Dave and Todd.

Call to Order - President Shawn Willis called the meeting to order at 4:05 pm.

Roll Call - Roll call of officers was taken.  All answered except:  Tyron Rias, Bob Wolters, Martin Sandoval, and Tamika Malone.

Minutes of Previous Meeting -  Greg Michko made the motion to waive the reading of the July 2019 general membership meeting minutes, and accept them as written.

Communications - President Shawn Willis read flyer from L.U. 1011 announcing their first annual golf outing.  This flyer invited our members to participate if they choose.

Officer Reports - The Financial Secretary Report for the month of August 2019 was presented by Financial Secretary Don Taylor.  After completion of the reading, Greg Michko moved the Financial Secretary's report for August 2019 be accepted as read.

The lost time and expenses report for the month of August 2019 was presented by Financial Secretary Don Taylor.  At the conclusion of the report, Greg Michko moved that all lost time and expenses for the month of August 2019 be accepted, and paid.

The Treasurer's Report for the month of August 2019, was presented by Treasurer Greg Ford.  After the completion of the reading, Greg Michko moved the Treasurer's report for the month of August 2019 be accepted as read.

Committee Reports

Grievance Committee - Zone 1 Griever Rob Cleveringa announced that members are complaining about incentives.  Chairman Griever Reggie Chandler announced that 2 members got locked out of work because of PPE (safety).  PPE (safety) is a cardinal rule of USS.  If you get locked out for this safety issue, there is not much we can go in to manager's office and argue for.  Chairman Reggie Chandler also announced that their is a new member on the Incentive committee, his name is John Colberson.  Curtis Bledsoe has stepped down.

Training Committee - Pete Smith announced that they are 8 new members in the learning program:  6 MTM's & 2 MTE's.  Pete Smith also spoke on how members of 5133 needs to make requests to managers for more MTM's and MTE's.  Pete said, we have lost 20 MTM's and MTE's over the years for Critical skills (maintenance, electrical & so on).  Union officials need to encourage management to create new job postings.  Greg Michko announced L.U. 1066 is having a job fair to hire MTM's and MTE's.  The fair is on August 20, 2019 at 1 N. Buchanon, Gary, IN.

Safety Committee...

The Local 2705 Women of Steel Committee is currently working on a school supply drive to help our local schools. 

Donations of supplies can be placed in the bins located in each department across the property.  Local businesses including Super One, L&M Supply, Walgreens and others have made monetary donations and have given supplies to the drive. 

Super One is asking for donations from customers at the checkouts.  Thank you to everyone for all of their help with this drive so far and thank you to all of our local sponsors that have collected donations.  At the beginning of September we will be presenting the schools with all of the suppplies that we have collected, so satay tuned for more information.