Congratulations to the winners in the local union elections, and thank you to all who put themselves out there to run. A huge thank you to our Election Commitee, who worked four long days to make this election happen. If you see them, please thank them for their service to the Local.

As a reminder, the election for the unfilled Guard position will be held at the May Monthly Meeting.

Election Results

So here’s what I have found out after questioning our lawyer in Pittsburgh reguarding emails and mail about the class action law suit on BCBS.

Members may have received or will be receiving a notice about the Blue Cross Blue Shield settlement. The notices are being sent out at the instruction of the court to all members that were enrolled in a BCBS plan between February 2008 and October 2020, and for individual or fully insured accounts between September 1, 2015 through October 16, 2024 self-funded accounts.

Members have the right to file a claim along with plans filing claims.  Some people will be offered other plan choices but that will not apply to us.  The monetary pay-out if approved would be split between individuals and plans and nobody knows the amount that will be.  If you don't file a claim you will remain in the settlement, but will not qualify for a payment if there is one.  

Any member that has questions about settlement should contact www.Bcbssettlement.com, phone 888-681-1142, or email [email protected]

Larry Oar
Benefits Coordinator & Trustee

2021  Election Results

April 28, 2021

President –  Joe Kulawiak 

Vice President – Bobby York

 Recording Secretary – Lori Chester 

Financial Secretary – Robert Thain 

Treasurer – Rick Heiman 

Chief Steward – Barry McKinley

Trustee – 1. Linda Timmerman

                  2. Todd Glore

                  3. Allen Sexton 

Guard – 1. Sharon Gerstoff

                2. Shane Willis

Guide-  Jeremy Gardner

Congrats to all Officer Elects!

Special Thanks to all existing Officers! You all did a great job!

In Solidarity.

The Committee

2021 Manitoba Federation of Labour Day of Mourning (http://mfl.ca/node/2010)

We encourage you to register in advance at https://zoom.us/j/93973794828?fbclid=IwAR1w2Ly5xV0KLPJKcVSutrrZnkSnwgcmb...

USW District 3 Telephone Town Hall (www.usw.ca/d3townhall)

Join us Wednesday, April 28th at 6:00 p.m. PT for our District 3 Day of Mourning Telephone Town Hall. If we have your phone number on file, you will get a pre-recorded reminder call today from District Director Stephen Hunt. We will call this same number a few minutes before the event starts - just take the call, stay on the line and you will be automatically connected to the call.

If you do not get the reminder call, please register at www.usw.ca/d3townhall and we will add you to the call list for the event.

Again, join us as our union comes together to mark the Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured on the job at 6 p.m. B.C. and Yukon; 7 p.m. Alberta and N.W.T.; 8 p.m. Manitoba and Nunavut.

2021 Manitoba Federation of Labour Day of Mourning (http://mfl.ca/node/2010)

We encourage you to register in advance at https://zoom.us/j/93973794828?fbclid=IwAR1w2Ly5xV0KLPJKcVSutrrZnkSnwgcmb...

USW District 3 Telephone Town Hall (www.usw.ca/d3townhall)

Join us Wednesday, April 28th at 6:00 p.m. PT for our District 3 Day of Mourning Telephone Town Hall. If we have your phone number on file, you will get a pre-recorded reminder call today from District Director Stephen Hunt. We will call this same number a few minutes before the event starts - just take the call, stay on the line and you will be automatically connected to the call.

If you do not get the reminder call, please register at www.usw.ca/d3townhall and we will add you to the call list for the event.

Again, join us as our union comes together to mark the Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured on the job at 6 p.m. B.C. and Yukon; 7 p.m. Alberta and N.W.T.; 8 p.m. Manitoba and Nunavut.

Fifty years ago, on April 28th 1971, Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act promising every worker the right to a safe job. Every year on this date we observe Worker’s Memorial Day. This day is to remember those who have died, been injured or made ill by their work.  It is also a day to reinvigorate all of us in our never-ending campaign to return safely home to the ones who love us the most.

31 precious lives have been lost in our plant since 1967. 31 families have been forever changed. We must remember them every day. We must strive to do better. We owe it to them. We owe it to their families. We owe it to the men and women working here today and we owe it to the next generation of workers to ensure they did not die in vain.

As the years go by, the memory of our fallen Brothers and Sisters are carried on. Their cause will never fail. We have picked up the struggle of our departed. While steel will no longer reach its temper from their sweat and blood, they remain in our conscience and our hearts to help us remain consistent with the realities of working-class life.

In the 50th year of OSHA, we focus on the need to renew the promise of safe jobs for all American workers.  We can’t change the past, the fatalities, the injuries or industrial disease, but we can change the future for the better.  Please join us this Worker’s Memorial Day, to honor victims of workplace injury and illness and to keep fighting for the promise of safe jobs for all workers.

In Solidarity on this Somber Day, 
Pete Trinidad Sr. 
USW 6787 President