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.
Le magazine inclut une mise à jour de votre comité de négociation Telus, qui travaille sans relâche à préparer le combat pour une meilleure convention collective au profit des membres employés chez Telus.
Il y a eu des changements au sein de notre personnel, et la Section locale remercie nos collègues et amis qui ont quitté le bureau pour poursuivre de nouveaux projets.
Dans ce numéro, les membres ayant participé au Congrès 2021 de la Fédération du travail de l’Alberta partagent leurs expériences.
Vous trouverez également des informations sur les bourses d’études 2021 des Métallos, et des liens directs vers nos propres bourses d’études 2021 de la Section locale 1944 du Syndicat des Métallos et vers notre boutique en ligne.
The magazine features an update from your Telus Bargaining Committee, who are hard at work preparing to fight for a better Collective Agreement for Telus-employed members.
There have been some changes among our staff, and the Local thanks our colleagues and friends who have left the office to pursue new endeavours.
In this issue, members who attended the Alberta Federation of Labour Convention 2021 share their experiences.
You will also find information on the 2021 USW Scholarships, and easy links to our very own 2021 USW Local 1944 Scholarships and online store.
We want to thank everyone who attended our local union meetings this past Tuesday, where our local committee was joined by leaders from the International union, including Vice President Fred Redmond.
One of the first issues we addressed was the official Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice that Viatris sent to the Union earlier this week. Though we were informed of Viatris’ intention to close our facility in December, this is an official notice, required federal law so that workers can prepare for plant closings and mass layoffs. Click here to learn more about your rights under the WARN Act.
We also discussed how the effects bargaining process works and what the committee has been fighting for these past months, from severance and extended insurance coverage to potential successorship.
It is not our intent to go back and forth across the table with Viatris until the last minute. We know you need security and time to plan your next steps, so our goal is to complete this bargaining process by the end of June.
Let’s be honest—there’s nothing the company can give you that will make up for its decision to close our facility. But we will not stop until we reach an agreement that we believe reflects your years of dedication and expertise.
We also are pursuing a buyer vigorously, though it is not an easy route with a guaranteed outcome. Either way, we are going to keep fighting until we know we’ve tried everything possible to keep our facility operating.
Stepping up the pressure
Regular contract bargaining gives us leverage because we can withhold our labor, but striking during effects bargaining isn’t a legal option. Our only leverage now is public pressure. This is why we have been in contact with the media and why we have reached out to West Virginia legislators.
To step up this outreach and increase pressure, we will be dropping off a petition directed at Gov. Jim Justice on Tuesday, June 8, demanding action to save our facility. We plan to meet at the Morgantown Mall with a bus departing for the governor’s mansion in Charleston at 8:00 A.M. Please watch for updates as we have more information.
Also, if you have any questions about filing for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), please feel free to reach out to Carla Hartley at [email protected].
We will continue to keep you posted on any updates or actions. Please stay in touch by texting USW8957 to 77820.
Your USW Local 8-957 Bargaining Committee Sign up to receive text updates - USW8957 to 77820
