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.
The Executive Board held an emergency meeting this past Saturday December 19, 2020 to deliberate on a recommendation brought forward by Administrator Omero Landi to postpone our Local Union Delegated Meeting until the fall. After a thorough discussion on the recommendation, a motion was put forward to postpone our Local Union Delegated meeting originally scheduled for March 16, 17 and 18, 2021 to the fall of 2021. With Acting President Donna Hokiro in the chair, the Executive Board voted its unanimous consent to the motion.
The following are the reasons the Administrator gave as rationale for the necessity of the postponement. Keep in mind that those elected as delegates to the March LUDM will remain the delegates for the fall LUDM.
“At this time, I am aware that the Local Union is planning on moving your in-person LUDM to a virtual meeting instead, given the global pandemic and government restrictions on gatherings. I instead recommend that you postpone the virtual LUDM so that it can be held as an in-person meeting. Such a meeting could be held in the fall of 2021. It is expected that the pandemic should be under control at that time given that an effective vaccine should have been readily available and that those who would want to be vaccinated will have already done so by at least September.
Rationale of such a move is based on several key factors. We now have had the experience of being guests at other virtual conventions and conferences. While the effort and experience was mostly enjoyable, they lacked the impact that an in-person meeting would have had. Additionally, there were technological glitches on the end of the hosts of some virtual meetings which affected the whole process.
Between Delegates and guests, we were planning on having approximately 100 people attend the LUDM. If any of the participants had issues with their own internet they would miss out on parts of the meeting providing for less than an optimal experience. In fact, there is the prospect of having one or more delegates missing out on some of the program and this could be very impactful during debates and or voting on resolutions.
I am aware that Local Union 1944 has not had a LUDM since March 20-22, 2018. While the Local Union historically had annual meetings you are no longer doing so as Local 1944 has now aligned with the rest of the USW by having triannual conventions. This is the new practice as adopted by the general membership three (3) years ago. Although the delegates haven’t met in-person for several years, I believe a delay to when a vaccine will be available is well worth the wait.
Another consideration is that we are heading into bargaining against our largest employer Telus in 2021. I think everyone realizes that it will be another challenging negotiation....
La Présidente par intérim Donna Hokiro fait un retour sur l’année écoulée et nous rappelle que nous devons rester connectés si nous voulons être en mesure de créer le changement nécessaire.
Le combat continue pour les membres de l’Unité 60 d’Abbotsford alors que Shaw ne veut pas partager un sou de ses profits. Utilisez le mot-clic #NoFear sur les réseaux sociaux pour montrer votre soutien.
Le numéro de décembre inclut un article sur les femmes dans la pandémie, des informations sur un nouveau projet de loi pour protéger les retraités et les travailleurs en cas de faillite au Québec, et les prochaines dates des Cercles interactifs en ligne du Comité autochtone national des Métallos en 2021. Les membres qui ont participé au 59e congrès de la Fédération du travail de la C.-B. partagent leurs expériences.
Revivez l’année en images. Merci à tous les membres qui se sont impliqués tout au long de ces mois ! Comme toujours, nous recevons avec plaisir les photos de vos Unités et milieux de travail par courriel à [email protected].
Si vous souhaitez redonner à votre communauté pendant cette période des fêtes, considérez faire un don au Fonds humanitaire des Métallos.
Inscrivez-vous à nos bulletins d’informations, et suivez-nous sur Facebook et Twitter @usw1944.
Acting President Donna Hokiro reflects on the past year and reminds us that we need to stay connected if we want to be able to create the needed change.
The fight continues for Unit 60 Abbotsford members as Shaw doesn’t want to share a dime of its profits. Please use the hashtag #NoFear on social media to show your support.
This December issue features an article on women in the pandemic, information on a new bill to protect retirees and workers in case of business bankruptcy in Quebec, and upcoming dates for the 2021 USW National Aboriginal Committee Connecting Circles. Members who attended the 59th Convention of the BC Federation of Labour share their experiences.
Review the year in pictures. Thank you to all members who got involved throughout these months! As always, we gladly welcome pictures from your Units and workplaces at [email protected].
If you are in the spirit of giving back to your community during this holiday season, consider donating to the Steelworkers Humanity Fund.
Sign up to our newsletters, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter @usw1944.
The USW represents over 50,000 health care workers who not only seek decent wages, safer workplaces and dignity and respect on the job, but fight to make lives better for patients who depend on them for high-quality care and life-saving medications.
The USW represents over 50,000 health care workers who not only seek decent wages, safer workplaces and dignity and respect on the job, but fight to make lives better for patients who depend on them for high-quality care and life-saving medications.
You can get the latest updates about your industry at the Health Care section of the USW website [1].
You can get the latest updates about your industry at the Health Care section of the USW website [1].
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My name is Gaylan Prescott and I am the Director of District 12 for the United Steelworkers. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and reiterate the USW’s commitment to you and your contract negotiations. I started being active in our union when I worked at Reynolds Aluminum in Washington. I eventually became president of my local union and worked to help bargain good, fair contracts for our members. It was through this work I saw the real value of being a member of a strong, fighting union with serious resources and experience: the contracts we negotiated improved our lives—my own family’s life was better because of our contract. Given the recent struggles with management at LBMMC, I’ll be joining your negotiations as chief negotiator going forward, working hand in hand with you and your negotiating committee to achieve a contract that you can be proud of and support.
Healthcare workers have had a terrible 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The burden of PPE requirements combined with shortages, tough work schedules and the associated risks of this ongoing crisis may feel unbearable at times. This is the backdrop as LBMMC continues to disrespect you with its actions – claiming hardship to explain their disappointing wage proposal while simultaneously handing unrepresented workers raises. LBMMC has illustrated why our demands for dignity and justice are as important today, as ever. As long as we remain united in our cause, we will prevail.
USW District 12 covers eleven western states. We represent more healthcare workers than any other industry – over 10,000 members at numerous facilities just in Southern California. The USW Healthcare Workers Council is a resource to many of these healthcare locals. We will work to improve 2801’s communications with our numerous other healthcare locals, and the USW Healthcare Council including Council Technician Tamara Lefcowitz, and Coordinator Alma Garzon.
I understand Local 2801 has had some problems in the past. Some of your coworkers are peddling a petition to do away with your union altogether – I urge you to consider refusing to sign, and retaining your voice. In this especially difficult time, we need to pull together as a union more than ever. The voices attempting to separate us will not help get a better contract. Losing your union now has the potential to harm over a thousand members and their families. Steelworker solidarity and a united front will get us through this together and help us to negotiate a contract that is good for everyone.
For what went wrong in the past, I apologize. I want to hear your concerns and, more importantly, I want to move forward together to make a better future for you and your families. I also want to describe the value of bargaining enforceable conditions of employment and demanding workplace justice and dignity from management....
