International Metalworkers' Federation

NEW Economic Policy Institute White Paper Launch on Section 232 Aluminum Tariffs: A Virtual Discussion

Retrieved on: 
Friday, May 21, 2021

b"WASHINGTON, May 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --On Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.

Key Points: 
  • b"WASHINGTON, May 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --On Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 11:00 a.m.
  • ET, Please join Thomas M. Conway, International President of United Steelworkers, Robert E. Scott, Senior Economist and Director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Research at the Economic Policy Institute, and Jesse Gary, Chairman of the American Primary Aluminum Association for the exclusive launch of the Economic Policy Institute's new groundbreaking white paper examining the effects of the Section 232 program on the primary aluminum industry and downstream producers and consumers.
  • With President Biden and his team committed to rebuilding American manufacturing, this timely white paper will share unique insights based on the latest economic research as we come together to Build Back Better.\n"

USW: US-EU Talks Must Strengthen Domestic Steel and Aluminum Production and Employment

Retrieved on: 
Monday, May 17, 2021

b'PITTSBURGH, May 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --United Steelworkers (USW) International President Tom Conway released the following statement after the United States and the European Unionannounced discussions about bilateral trade issues:\n"It\'s no secret that the U.S. steel and aluminum sectors have been victimized by foreign unfair trade practices and global overcapacity.

Key Points: 
  • b'PITTSBURGH, May 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --United Steelworkers (USW) International President Tom Conway released the following statement after the United States and the European Unionannounced discussions about bilateral trade issues:\n"It\'s no secret that the U.S. steel and aluminum sectors have been victimized by foreign unfair trade practices and global overcapacity.
  • The EU is an important ally, but in the past, it has been part of the problem, not part of the solution.\n"We have more than 40 unfair trade relief measures in place against EU steel and aluminum products that resulted from their dumping and subsidies targeted at our market.
  • We are hopeful about reaching a solution, but we are equally determined to avoid any approaches that undermine the strength of our industry and the opportunities provided to U.S.
  • workers.

Canadian observers needed to oversee union vote at Mexican truck plant

Retrieved on: 
Friday, May 14, 2021

Unifor believes the Canadian government must step in to provide additional supports to ensure a free and fair vote.\n"Offering to send a delegation of expert observers, including trade union leaders, is a sign of good faith to the Mexican government, and Mexican autoworkers, letting them know that Canada stands by the principles of free collective bargaining," Dias said.

Key Points: 
  • Unifor believes the Canadian government must step in to provide additional supports to ensure a free and fair vote.\n"Offering to send a delegation of expert observers, including trade union leaders, is a sign of good faith to the Mexican government, and Mexican autoworkers, letting them know that Canada stands by the principles of free collective bargaining," Dias said.
  • "Unifor stands ready to assist with this.
  • "\nIn a May 5 letter to Mexican Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare and General Motors President Mark Reuss, Dias condemned the actions of the CTM union, widely criticized as an illegitimate union with no democratic mandates from the workers it claims to represent.\nThe practice of illegitimate or so-called \'yellow\' unions is to negotiate agreements favourable to employers, driving down pay and lowering labour standards, creating an uneven playing field for Canadian workers.\n"(The accused activities) constitute illegal activity, a breach of the fundamental tenets of union democracy and international labour standards, and a violation of the terms of the Canada-United States-Mexico (CUSMA) trade agreement," Dias wrote.\nUnifor is Canada\'s largest union in the private sector and represents 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy.
  • The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.\n'

Unifor launches national Anti-scab legislation campaign

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 13, 2021

b'REGINA,SK, May 13, 2021 /CNW/ - Unifor is launching a national campaign callingon all elected provincial, territorial and federal legislators to enact anti-scab legislation, to restore balance to collective bargaining.\n"Scabs remove any incentive for the boss to bargain fairly and they tip the balance of power in favour of employers," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Key Points: 
  • b'REGINA,SK, May 13, 2021 /CNW/ - Unifor is launching a national campaign callingon all elected provincial, territorial and federal legislators to enact anti-scab legislation, to restore balance to collective bargaining.\n"Scabs remove any incentive for the boss to bargain fairly and they tip the balance of power in favour of employers," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
  • "When the boss can fly in scabs, it undermines the workers who want to exercise their right to withdraw services when an employer is unreasonable.
  • "\nOnly Quebec and British Columbia have anti-scab legislation to prevent the use of replacement workers.\nToday Unifor is releasing a new research report at our virtual Prairie Regional Council, called Fairness on the line: The case for anti-scab legislation in Canada.
  • The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.\n'

Unifor Thanks Nurses for Always Answering the Call

Retrieved on: 
Monday, May 10, 2021

"\n"Even when facingunimaginablecircumstances and unreasonable working conditions, Unifor nurses truly answered the call of the past year," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Key Points: 
  • "\n"Even when facingunimaginablecircumstances and unreasonable working conditions, Unifor nurses truly answered the call of the past year," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
  • "\nUnifor was the first union to publicly demand Pandemic Pay for health care workers in April of 2020.
  • "Premier Doug Ford likes to call our nurses heroes but refuses to treat them as such.
  • This past year, Unifor pressured federal and provincial governments to improve healthcare workers\' lives.

Nestlé workers on strike in Toronto

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, May 1, 2021

b'TORONTO, May 1, 2021 /CNW/ - More than 470 workers went on strike at a Nestl Canada manufacturing plant in Toronto at midnight Saturday after contract negotiations between Unifor Local 252 and the chocolate company broke down.\n"It\'s a sad state of affairs," said Eamonn Clarke, President of Unifor Local 252.

Key Points: 
  • b'TORONTO, May 1, 2021 /CNW/ - More than 470 workers went on strike at a Nestl Canada manufacturing plant in Toronto at midnight Saturday after contract negotiations between Unifor Local 252 and the chocolate company broke down.\n"It\'s a sad state of affairs," said Eamonn Clarke, President of Unifor Local 252.
  • "Precarious work, and specifically the use of temporary workers in a permanent full-time capacity, is a growing problem.
  • The gig economy, especially during the pandemic, has shown that Nestl should be ashamed.
  • "\nThere are a couple of temporary workers at Nestle who for more than two years are not getting 1,000 hours a year.

Unifor calls for pandemic protection for workers on National Day of Mourning

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 27, 2021

b'TORONTO, April 27, 2021 /CNW/ -As Unifor prepares to mark the National Day of Mourning on April 28, the union is calling for immediate government action to provide pandemic protection for workers.\n"The pandemic has starkly revealed inequities in our workplaces, with many workers continuing to offer essential services, despite the risks to their health and to that of their families," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

Key Points: 
  • b'TORONTO, April 27, 2021 /CNW/ -As Unifor prepares to mark the National Day of Mourning on April 28, the union is calling for immediate government action to provide pandemic protection for workers.\n"The pandemic has starkly revealed inequities in our workplaces, with many workers continuing to offer essential services, despite the risks to their health and to that of their families," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
  • "No one should have to die to make a living, but provincial governments continue to reject pandemic measures needed to protect workers.
  • "\nSadly, 19 Unifor members lost their lives since the last Day of Mourning, either on the job or to COVID-19.
  • The seven Unifor members who died from COVID-19 worked in a variety of sectors, including long-term care, warehouse and manufacturing.

Atlantic Gold Employees Join the United Steelworkers

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 22, 2021

b'Employees of the Atlantic Gold mining operations in Moose River, N.S., have voted to join the United Steelworkers (USW) union.\nAfter a majority of employees signed union cards in order to join the USW, an application to certify the union was filed with the Nova Scotia Labour Board.

Key Points: 
  • b'Employees of the Atlantic Gold mining operations in Moose River, N.S., have voted to join the United Steelworkers (USW) union.\nAfter a majority of employees signed union cards in order to join the USW, an application to certify the union was filed with the Nova Scotia Labour Board.
  • The Labour Board ordered a vote by employees and a large majority of workers voted in favour of joining the union.\nThe 164 new members of the USW include muck truck operators, heavy equipment operators, graders and mill workers at Atlantic Gold, which operates an open pit mine as well as milling and other processes at the site, about 100 kilometres east of Halifax.
  • The site is operated by a subsidiary of an Australian gold mining company, St Barbara Limited.\nThe Atlantic Gold workers decided to join the United Steelworkers in order to address issues and concerns including health and safety, working conditions and unfulfilled promises regarding wages and promotions.\n\xe2\x80\x9cWe are proud to welcome these employees as the newest members of the United Steelworkers in Nova Scotia,\xe2\x80\x9d said Marty Warren, USW Director for Atlantic Canada and Ontario.\nNext steps for the workers will include electing a bargaining committee and negotiating their first collective agreement with the employer, Warren noted.\n\xe2\x80\x9cThe workers are well-aware that they are generating healthy profits for their employer, yet their wages and working conditions are significantly inferior than the standards in the mining sector, not only in Atlantic Canada, but also at the St Barbara Limited gold-mining operations in Australia,\xe2\x80\x9d he said.\nView source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210422005713/en/\n'

PPWC and Unifor stand united in upcoming pulp and paper talks

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 22, 2021

b'PRINCE GEORGE, BC, April 22, 2021 /CNW/ - Two of the country\'s largest pulp and paper unions, Unifor and the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) , have agreed to continue to work together in the next round of pulp and paper bargaining for members across Western Canada.\n"There is strength in unity, and with both of our caucus\'s working jointly we will be ready to look after the best interests of our members," said Gary Fiege, PPWC President.\nUnifor and PPWC have been meeting in preparation for negotiations with Canfor , the target for pattern bargaining, slated to begin later this year.\n"We have decades of experience and success with pattern bargaining in the forestry sector, which positions us to face the growing challenges in our industry, and we are very pleased to have both unions collaborating with the joint caucus working collectively," said Scott Doherty, Unifor\'s Executive Assistant to the National President and lead negotiator in the forestry sector.\nBoth unions intend to maintain common pension, wage and benefit language in Collective Agreements and seek gains for 900 members at Unifor Local 603 and 1133 and PPWC Local 9, in Prince George, B.C.\nCanfor is once again the target employer and meetings will begin in June to set bargaining dates and protocol to safely conduct negotiations in compliance with COVID-19 public health restrictions.\nThis round of bargaining will set the pattern for 5500 members from 13 Unifor and five PPWC local unions in B.C.

Key Points: 
  • b'PRINCE GEORGE, BC, April 22, 2021 /CNW/ - Two of the country\'s largest pulp and paper unions, Unifor and the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) , have agreed to continue to work together in the next round of pulp and paper bargaining for members across Western Canada.\n"There is strength in unity, and with both of our caucus\'s working jointly we will be ready to look after the best interests of our members," said Gary Fiege, PPWC President.\nUnifor and PPWC have been meeting in preparation for negotiations with Canfor , the target for pattern bargaining, slated to begin later this year.\n"We have decades of experience and success with pattern bargaining in the forestry sector, which positions us to face the growing challenges in our industry, and we are very pleased to have both unions collaborating with the joint caucus working collectively," said Scott Doherty, Unifor\'s Executive Assistant to the National President and lead negotiator in the forestry sector.\nBoth unions intend to maintain common pension, wage and benefit language in Collective Agreements and seek gains for 900 members at Unifor Local 603 and 1133 and PPWC Local 9, in Prince George, B.C.\nCanfor is once again the target employer and meetings will begin in June to set bargaining dates and protocol to safely conduct negotiations in compliance with COVID-19 public health restrictions.\nThis round of bargaining will set the pattern for 5500 members from 13 Unifor and five PPWC local unions in B.C.
  • and Alberta, in a sector crucial to Canada\'s economic recovery.\nPPWC is a union that represents thousands of forestry workers throughout British Columbia.\nUnifor is Canada\'s largest union in the private sector and represents 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy.
  • The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.\n'

Cleveland-Cliffs and the United Steelworkers Reach Tentative Agreement on New Labor Contract for Mansfield Works

Retrieved on: 
Monday, April 12, 2021

b'Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE: CLF) announced today a tentative agreement with the United Steelworkers (USW) for a new 53-month labor contract that is effective as of April 1, 2021.

Key Points: 
  • b'Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE: CLF) announced today a tentative agreement with the United Steelworkers (USW) for a new 53-month labor contract that is effective as of April 1, 2021.
  • The new contract will cover approximately 300 USW-represented workers.\nLourenco Goncalves, Chairman, President and CEO, stated, \xe2\x80\x9cWe are pleased to reach a new labor contract with the USW for our employees at Mansfield Works, one of our several EAF steel mills.
  • No additional details will be released at this time pending ratification.\nCleveland-Cliffs is the largest flat-rolled steel producer in North America.
  • Founded in 1847 as a mine operator, we are also the largest producer of iron ore pellets in North America.