Voting was closed at 12:00 pm today and the totals for Bargaining Committee were certified and are as follows:

Develon Diggins - 11

Marquis Fikes - 9

Eric McCrory - 4

Steve Rogers  - 2

Thank you to everyone from the Briggs & Stratton Unit who came out to vote and congragulations to Develon Diggins and Marquis Fikes on being elected to the Briggs & Stratton Unit Bargaining Committee.

Also, a big thank you to the Election Committee for giving up their time to make sure the election process was carried out properly 

DeLeon Jamison, Rodney Young, and Tom Christian

Members and Retirees of Local 5328

Good evening all. 

 Local 5328 wishes Andrew Chetwynd health and happiness in your new job!! Andrew has been our JHSC Co Chair for the last three years. We all knew he had very big shoes to fill as the position has been a strength with our Union. He did an amazing job filling those shoes and filled them perfectly!! He took the job very seriously  and had our best interest in mind. He  wore his heart on his sleeve! Thank you for the service you provided to our local and our members. 

 Welcome Rich Wood! Our new JHSC Cochair.   You too have big shoes to fill!! With the training and mentoring you received from Andrew, you will do just fine!! 

 I would like to officially welcome Jeff Walker to the Grievance and Negotiating team. Jeff brings 35 years of work experience and about 25 of those directly involved in local 5328. A great addition to our team!! 

 The negotiating team will be meeting in the coming weeks to prepare. Please note, the committee has each and every members best interests at heart!! There is no divide amongst our team! 

 We have seen a blitz in discipline and it’s not going to stop!! Please do not give them a reason!! I have relayed this over the last  few months. 

 Have all your PPE on including your face mask when working within 2 meters of another. Watch your breaks and lunch times! Use your micrometers!!! Check every coil you produce! Follow the control card for YOUR operation, not the next operation. If dies are an issue, contact your supervisor immediately! If he directs you to draw using the wrong die, get him to sign your control sheet. If he refuses to sign, call a union steward to witness! Follow all procedures! 

 The company has been given the green light to hire 4 for the oil temper. This is due to the exit a few brothers that decided to take another job. Thank you gentlemen! It’s been a pleasure to represent you. I wish you all good health and luck in your new job! 

 Have a great and safe weekend! 

In solidarity, 

Anthony Ciaramella 
President
USW Local 5328

Click here to enter the Steelworkers Store. 

In the past couple of weeks, two Great Lakes freight vessels experienced an outbreak of COVID-19 that necessitated an extended stay in port in order to quarantine infected crew members. Cases of the virus have fluctuated up and down over the past several months, and at the time of this writing, cases are going up as more people begin to travel, especially during the spring break season. Other variants of the virus have been identified, and are said to be more contagious than other more common variants. 

The Food and Drug Administration has granted Emergency Use Authorization to COVID-19 vaccines from Phizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, although it is important to note that Emergency Use Authorization is not the same as FDA approval. Currently, none of the available vaccines have been approved by the FDA. 

In early April, the Lake Carriers Association partnered with the Chippewa County Health Department to distribute and administer vaccines to Great Lakes mariners on a voluntary basis, at no charge to the mariner. All three fleets where our members are employed have taken steps to facilitate access to this service, including timing passage through the locks and taking delays to ensure access to this service for company employees. 

USW Local 5000 understands that there are many views on the vaccine, and the issue of COVID-19 is often political in nature. It is our desire to remain neutral to any side of the argument, and offer our members information about the vaccine and testing, and protect workers' rights during the pandemic. Our official position is this: 

• There is evidence that the vaccine is safe for the majority of the population despite not being FDA approved. 
• We strongly encourage our members to be vaccinated against COVID-19. 
• Because none of us on the Executive Board, nor those in company management are trained medical professionals, we recognize the right of our members to evaluate the risks and benefits of the vaccine and stand in full support of our members right to decide whether or not the vaccine is right for them. There have been several discussions amongst company management about making the vaccine mandatory, and we are prepared to take legal action against any employer who decides to make vaccination a condition of employment. 

Additionally, the Local Union is discussing the implementation of a safety plan to reduce the risk of introducing COVID-19 aboard our represented vessels. Our goal is to see reasonable and consistent safety protocols applied to all vessels crewed by our members, and while we are still developing our safety plan, key points of the plan include: 

• Return to work testing for COVID-19 for attaching crew members and visiting dock or service providers. 
• Requiring lower-nasal swab or saliva sample as...

USW Local 5000 members work in an environment that by its nature is largely disconnected from many aspects of normal life, including how we communicate amongst each other. In recognition of these challenges, your local union utilizes several channels to keep in touch with our members to share relevant news and updates that you will find interesting or helpful. We use the following outlets to keep in touch: 

Website

www.usw5000.org
Our website is our primary means of sharing information, and we update it as needed when we have information to share. 

mobile app

Download for Android or iPhone. 
We use our mobile app to share information with our members as well as things like your companies seniority list, collective bargaining agreement, representative listing, contact information, and features that allow members to report unsafe working conditions and contract violations. The app is only available to verified members of USW Local 5000 and is free of charge. 

email newsletters

Opt-In
When we have important information to share, we will often produce an email newsletter and send it to our members with details about a specific issue or event. 

text messaging alerts

At times when we have an important update to share with our members, we will send out an alert via text message with a brief message and a link to view more information about the alert. 

Central Marine Logistics members text 'USW5000CML' to 77820 to opt-in. 
Interlake Steamship Company members text 'USW5000ISS' to 77820 to opt-in. 
Key Lakes, Inc. members text 'USW5000GLF' to 77820 to opt-in. 
Sisco, Inc. members text 'USW5000SISCO' to 77820 to opt-in. 

social media

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
We use social media channels to share information with our members and the public. We also have a Facebook group, which is a more private online forum exclusively for our members which you can access by clicking here. 

communications coordinator

Nate Chesebro

The Communications Coordinator is responsible for creating and publishing content, managing communications platforms, and moderating open forums, and acts at the direction of the Local Union Executive Board. The...

Le 9 avril 2021 - Comme indiqué précédemment, l’élection des dirigeants de la Section locale et officiels d’unité 2021 de la Section locale 1944 du Syndicat des Métallos se déroulera le jeudi 22 avril 2021.

Les membres voteront par scrutin électronique via internet sur www.usw1944.isivote.com ou par téléphone au 1-877-495-0604.

Les membres admissibles à participer au scrutin recevront par la poste une trousse de vote qui comprendra un NIP unique. Les troussent ont été postées le mardi 6 avril 2021, vous devriez donc recevoir la vôtre sous peu. Vous pouvez voir un exemple de bulletin de vote ici. Veuillez noter que les postes qui ont été acclamés pour toutes les unités ne figurent pas sur les lettres de vote. La liste des mises en candidatures peut être consultée ici.

Le scrutin aura lieu le jeudi 22 avril entre 8 h 00 et 23 h 00 (heure de l’Est). Veuillez s’il vous plaît vous conformer aux directives qui sont incluses dans votre trousse de vote.

Un service d’assistance téléphonique pour électeur(trice) a été créé si vous avez besoin d’aide. Les membres de la Section locale 1944 des Métallos peuvent rejoindre le centre d’assistance au 1-888-281-8683 les 20 et 21 avril, de 10 h 00 à 18 h 00 (heure de l’Est), et le jeudi 22 avril, de 8 h 00 à 23 h 00 (heure de l’Est). 

Nous vous remercions de prendre part au processus démocratique de votre Syndicat.

Solidairement, 

La Section locale 1944 du Syndicat des Métallos

April 9, 2021 - As mentioned previously, the election of USW Local 1944 Local Union Officers and Unit Officials will be held on Thursday, April 22, 2021.

Members will vote by electronic balloting via the internet at www.usw1944.isivote.com or by telephone at 1-877-495-0603.

Eligible members will receive a voting package in the mail containing a unique PIN. Packages have been mailed on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, so you should receive yours shortly. A sample voting package can be viewed here. Please note that the Voter Letters do not list positions that were acclaimed for all Units. The list of nominations can be viewed here.

Voting will take place on Thursday, April 22 between 5:00 am and 8:00 pm (Pacific Time). Please follow the instructions in your voting package.

If you require assistance, a Voter HelpLine has been setup. USW Local 1944 members may contact the Voter HelpLine at 1-888-281-8683, weekdays from April 20 to April 21, from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm (PT) and April 22 from 5:00 am to 8:00 pm (PT).

Thank you for taking part in our Local’s democratic process.

In Solidarity, 

USW Local 1944