September 17, 2009

We have been fielding a lot of calls the last few days about the form the company is giving to everyone requiring the disclosure of insurance and driver’s license information. Also on the form is a waiver of liability on damage to your personal vehicle. In negotiations for the 2008 Labor Agreement we specifically bargained the company’s responsibilities involving damage to your personal vehicle while on the property.

When you have to sign these forms write in big, bold letters (I AM SIGNING THIS UNDER PROTEST.)

We currently have a grievance on this issue and will be hearing it in the Second Step on September 24th.

I received word today from the company that they plan to start up a 2nd Agglomerator line the week of August 9, 2009. I believe it should result in about 247 additional people returning to work.

I will post more if and when we are provided any additional information.

Fraternally,

Mike Woods, President

Brothers & Sisters:

    I have had a few discussions with Shelly at the United Way and there is some assistance available through the United Way Of Northeastern Minnesota’s ” LIVE UNITED for Families in  Crisis” fund which some of our laid off Employees may qualify for. You can click on the link below to view the application. You will be able to print it off.

United Way Application

 I have also been told that the Salvation Army periordically has had food vouchers available  so you may want to contact the Salvation Army’s in the Virginia/ Hibbing areas. Usually by the time I hear about it the vouchers are no longer available.

I know it’s been a while since we have posted any updates. A big part of that is that there wasn’t anything new occurring. When the last shutdown ended U. S. Steel resumed operations as a 1 line operation, and it was status quo until this week when the plant went back down for another 3 week shutdown. At this point the only information the company has given me is that they plan to resume production the week of July 19 as a 1 line operation. There have been some rumors out there about increasing production and also about an extended shutdown, but the company has said there have been no decisions made either way only that they plan to run 1 line after the 19th until further notice.

One thing that has changed is the company’s decision to finally offer a program of voluntary layoffs; which we believe they should have done 3 months ago. Approximately 135 employees elected to be placed on a voluntary layoff. In fact some of them are starting this week if they don’t have any vacation left and the rest will start once they have used up their vacation. This should result in several of you being called back to work once the plant resumes production.

You may have also noticed that we have disabled the comment feature on our blog. This is the result of some people posting negative comments, some of which were just downright mean and uncalled for. This website was intended to be positive and to utilized as an additional method for us to be able to communicate to our members. Unfortunately due to the abuse of the comment feature we are going to have to use it for just that. Please feel free to continue calling the union hall with any questions you may have. I, too, am forced on vacation this week and next week and don’t plan to be in here much. Marilyn, our secretary, knows how to reach me should anyone need assistance.

Thank you, and we will try to keep some sort of an update on here a little more frequently in the future; even if there isn’t anything new going on.

Mike Woods, President

The company has agreed they dont have the right to force a 3rd week of vacation during this may shutdown, so they will force the 2 weeks they originally notified and then most of us will be on layoff for the week of May 24th, 2009. Their plan as far as I know is to have employees returning to work the week of May,31st 2009.

If you have questions as to your schedule during the shutdown please call scheduling at 749-7568 or Mike McGinnis 749-7413, Susan Wiirre 749-7455, Katrina Donovan 749-7465 or John Skube 749-7244. Some of these employees will also be on vacation at staggered times throughout the shutdown so someone should answer at one of the numbers.

The Mass signups for unemployement and sub for the week of May 24th 2009 will be as follows:

Monday – No sign up ( holiday)

Tuesday — 8:30 a.m-2:00 p.m at MRTC virginia campus

Wednesday- 8:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. at MRTC Virginia campus

Thurs —–8:30 a.m. – 2;00 p.m at career development Mt.Iron

Friday —- 8:30 a.m – 2:00 p.m at MRTC Virginia campus

Brothers and Sisters:

I had a conversation with John Skube this morning, and he provided some preliminary numbers on layoffs. The company’s plan is to reduce the workforce by 250. If they don’t acheive that goal this week, the remaining cuts will most likely come in the following weeks:

The layoffs in each respective department are as follows:

Agglomerator Operations
7 Hybrids
Concentrator Operations
8 Utility Tech
4 Utility persons
12 Lab
Crusher Operations
4 Hybrids
3 Utility persons
Plant Maintenance
32 MTM’s
16 MTE’s
Utilities
2 Utility Techs at MES
Mine & Dike
18 Shovels
17 MEO’s
37 Trucks
3 Blasters
10 Drillers
2 Pit Labor
Mine Maintenance
6 Field MTM’s
3 Field MTE’s
11 MES Auto
Shop Maintenance
7 Heavy Equipment
7 Electric
2 Radio
6 Machinists
18 Ironworkers
4 Auto Shop
1 Crane Operator

This is the best information we have as of right now. Watch the schedules when they are posted, as these are only the preliminary numbers – not finalized.

We will be having the mass signup for unemployment and SUB next week. The details have not been finalized. The company will be distributing a letter prior to the end of your workweek with those details. Please feel free to contact the union hall if you have any questions.

In Solidarity,

Mike Woods, President

Brothers & Sisters:

I received a call Friday morning from John Skube notifying me that we were going to have another significant layoff at the end of this week. We also met with Scott Coleman Friday afternoon
(4-24-09) to discuss this issue further. We were told that the decision was made to lay off an additional 250 employees.

Originally the company had anticipated starting up one (1) more line, and that is why they continued to staff the plant as a two (2) line operation. It is evident that plan hasn’t materialized. We were told this decision is a result of a lack of demand for pellets and also partially due to the reduced blast furnace capacity at Gary Works. We hope to know more on Tuesday afternoon as to exactly how many will be laid off at the end of the week and in what areas. We will get another update out as soon as we have further information.

In Solidarity,

Mike Woods, President

After talking to the Company today, I was informed that Cobra notification letters were sent our yesterday to all Keetac and Minntac employees affected. They should arrive on or about April 18th.

If you have any problems or other questions, please feel free to contact me at the Local 1938 office (741-0887) or on my cell (929-1150).

In Solidarity,

Rudy Aho, Benefits Coordinator

We spoke to the company yesterday on the current condition of the plant and the economic outlook. We are happy to say another week will pass without any more layoffs.

I wish that we could tell you that the outlook is improving. However, the company has not come forward with any kind of pellet inventories or prospectus on any new or increasing orders.

This Thursday we are having a gate collection for our members who are on layoff that lost their health care the end of March and are receiving no sub pay benefit. Please be generous for these people are in need of our financial support, and a showing of solidarity will go a long way in tough times.

In Solidarity,

Jon Malek, Vice President