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February
10, 2010
Hello again,
Just an update of where we are at. We
continue to have a back and forth about
incentives. We are meeting three times each
week and sometimes more about return to work
issues including release dates. Some East
Side jobs are critical to their operations
and we need to have the holes filled for our
people to return without a shutdown there.
We continue to address the questions and
issues we are receiving.
For
now I want to report that the Sinter Plant
is not in the plans for a startup.
It
does appear that a large percentage of our
(West) members will be returning. As I
stated earlier, there are many issues to be
resolved. When more develops you will be
notified.
Fraternally,
Tom
Tyrka
President
Local # 1011
U.S.W.
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February
5, 2010
It is good again to be
able to report to you that the pendulum is
swinging our way. Crafts have been recalled to
the Iron and Steel Producing facilities and we
are in the process of calling back production.
Most of you may have received a call from the
Hall asking if you wanted to return to the West
Side plant or remain at the East. We are also
contacting VLO's and ILO's in order to get a
handle of what our needs will be. If anyone
knows of someone who hasn't heard anything or
has their phone disconnected or number changed
please let the Griever or the Hall know so they
can be contacted. At present we cannot contact
9 people. It appears that most employees will
return to the West Side Plant.
We
continue to work on a interim incentive plan and
I Hope to have something soon.
Please
remember that there are many issues to be worked
out and I will get them to you as soon as
possible. If you have questions I urge you to
contact your Griever or Asst. Griever. We
continue to give them updates as they come in.
Looking
forward to seeing everyone back to work as soon
as possible. Remember, when back to keep your
focus on Safety.
Fraternally,
Tom Tyrka
President
Local # 1011
U.S.W.
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January 29, 2010Hello
Brothers and Sisters,
Finally, things
are very busy and for the right reasons. At present the
Local is calling people on Lay off, VLO and West to East
transfers for info on weather they are intending
to return to work here or remain at the East side,
retire or who have found another job. The call back
will be by seniority and on an as needed basis. This
means that if you are transferred and receive a call it
is to find out if you intend to return to the West
side. We are currently working on a start up incentive
agreement. There are many issues to be addressed and
worked out. We continue to meet with the company to
work through any problems that may arise. We intend to
have a better start up than Cleveland did.
As news becomes available we
will notify.
Thank you all for your patience
and support during these trying times.
Fraternally,
Tom Tyrka
President
Local # 1011
U.S.W.
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January 20, 2010
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Good news for laid off and transfers
The company has
informed Local # 1011 of their intent to restart the
Iron making and Steel Producing Departments on the West
side of Indiana Harbor. We will be working with them to
develop recall and maning plans in the near future.
There are many issues we need to work through as this
develops. Further information will be posted as it
becomes available. Feel free to contact your Department
Reps, Griever or the Hall for further updates as we work
through this new information.
Fraternally,
Tom Tyrka
President
Local # 1011
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January 15, 2010
First I need to
address the rumor issue. There have been so many
floating around lately that it would take forever to
address them all. First of all, the Blast Furnace is
not scheduled for start up now. The answer from the
company is: They are waiting to see if orders and the
economy dictate a start up that they feel is
sustainable. Remember, things change from day to day.
The issue of
postings has become a big concern. Remember if you sign
an East side posting your window of keeping or denying a
job is thirty (30) calendar days. If you have a West
side posting it is thirty working turns.
We continue to
discuss the primary incentive. It is a difficult and
long process and we are working to get it done as soon
as possible.
At present our
numbers on ILO continue to go down but that number is
deceiving due to so many transfers (postings) to the
East side.
One more thing,
please remember not to leave early. We have had several
cases of what the company considers time card fraud.
Whenever there is a slowdown it appears they are looking
for reasons to fire people. Lets not give them that
opportunity.
Hopefully I can
have good news in the near future. We continue to
persue the issue of having everyone back and working
with the intent of full employment for all.
Fraternally,
Tom Tyrka
President
Local Union # 1011
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December 31, 2009
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
2009 is behind us and I am hopeful as many
of you are that 2010 is a better year for all. It has been a
tough time for everyone. Your Officers, Grievers and Reps
continue working to get the West Side up and bring us back to
work. The order book continues to look better but there is no
information on a startup of the Blast Furnaces.
We continue to work on
temp positions and adding work to our Mill.
There have been many
postings, mostly East side. Remember, if you sign and accept a
posting for the East side you have thirty calendar days to
determine whether you want to stay or leave. If your department
calls you back within six months you can return to your
incumbent dept without loosing your seniority. "IF" is the key
word here. The call number for bidder postings is: 219 399-7865.
The rumor mill is in
high gear. We need to focus on what is reality and not what
someone heard from a friend of a friend. We get dozens of
rumors every day. When we receive notice of anything you will
be notified.
For those of us working
please remember that historically during slow times there is
always a push to find violations of people leaving the plant
early. Please be careful when leaving the plant.
I am hoping that all
have a safe and prosperous New Year with everyone back to work.
In Solidarity,
Tom
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December 9, 2009
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Hoping everyone has a
great Christmas and New Year. It is not what many of us had
expected with the current economic situation at our plant.
Yesterday I attended the "town hall" meeting and the news was
not what I had hoped for. Apparently there are no plans to
start any Blast Furnace unless the orders and the economy
dictate otherwise.
For our ILO's there are
many craft and non craft postings available. It appears that
the Bar Mill will be starting up (Times, Dec 10, 2009) I'm sure
there are many issues to be worked out such as duration (length
of stay), training etc.
The Primary incentive
is still dragging on because of a company response. It seems
that red tape has held up a proposal from them.
I have been hearing
that posting awards in some cases have been done improperly. If
you have signed one and have knowledge that you should have
received a posting and it was awarded to someone with less
seniority than you contact your Rep/Griever and have it
corrected.
Once again, I truly
wish that everyone has a wonderful and safe Holiday. We will
continue to fight to have everyone back to work as soon as
possible.
In Solidarity,
Tom
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