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.
Attached is a PDF summary of the Red Book Tentative Agreement that the union and the company arrived at, including the proposed new wage grids. We are also mailing these out to everyone, but feel free to download it here so as to be able to review it earlier. We'll have complete word for word TAs available at the meetings. This will be voted on by the Red Book membership on August 23 from 6am to 6:30pm and on August 24 from 6am to 7pm in the basement of the Duluth Labor Temple (2002 London Road).
Today our local bargaining committee met with local KP management for our 9th day of bargaining. In the morning, our subcommittees reported out on their work. Significant progress has been made is several areas including:
Alternative shifts- specifically 10-hour and 12-hour shifts. We will continue to meet to work out the details
Training for management on our local contract. Specifically, the process for overtime granting, job bidding, and transfers and lateral moves.
Importantly, we have additional non-economic items we are close on and we have agreed to continue to bargaining locally.
In the afternoon, we met to discuss our local economic issues. Despite progress in our subcommittees, KP continues to drag its feet in conversations related to economics. KP still has not provided necessary information. In addition, they have not responded to our local economic proposals. This is unacceptable!
Our workers have given everything and on the brink of another COVID-19 surge, we are enraged at Kaiser’s refusal to engage in any meaningful conversations around economics at both the local and national bargaining table. It is apparent that KP is more focused on the bottom line. At the National Table, KP has proposed to pay new employees average wages. We already do not receive equal pay for equal work and we reject Kaiser’s move to continue this unfair policy to create an underclass of workers.
We will meet again with KP Friday, August 20, 2021
As announced by Lourenco Goncalves today, the vaccine incentive program has been significantly expanded and updated as follows:
* All employees who are fully vaccinated and employees who have at least received one shot of either the Moderna or Pfizer Vaccine by August 21st will receive a $1,500 bonus payment.
* In addition, if Burns Harbor can achieve at a 75% vaccination rate (including those who have just received 1 shot) by August 21st, we will receive an additional $1,500 bonus payment, for a potential total bonus of $3,000.
Please note that employees who have received their 1st shot will be required to provide proof of their full vaccination prior to receiving any incentive payment(s).
To assist you in getting the vaccination, employees can receive their vaccine during company time. We will provide transportation from the plant to a vaccination location with your choice of either the Johnson & Johnson, Moderna or Pfizer vaccine between 8 am and 5 pm Monday through Friday next week (August 16th-20th, 2021). If you are interested in getting the vaccination, please contact Angela Hiller at 219-787-4116 or by email at [email protected] to schedule a date and time.
If you have been vaccinated but do not have access to a computer to submit your proof of vaccination, you can visit the following individuals in your department to provide a copy of your vaccination card:
Coke Ovens: Patti Knotts (Coke Plant office) Hot Mill: Tony Lewis Ashley Landini (Safety Trailer) Iron Producing:Sherry Nelson Plate Mill:Brian Miloshoff Steel Producing: James O'Reilly and the safety team Finishing Mill: Brian Collins MEU: Andrea Russel All others: Employee Services Window (East Office Building) Caroline Martin (BH Main Office Building former 110" Plate Mill Office)
We are going to be holding the Red Book ratification vote on August 23 and 24. We had been hoping to hold the vote sooner, but we discovered some errors/unintended oversights in the tentative agreement that had to get resolved.
Next week we'll be able to mail out the summaries and post them online. Stay tuned!
