state. The company contin- ues to be in a state of change. Despite some of the changes going on in our plant, we must continue to perform work safely and without inci- dent. We cannot let the way the company has decided to manage, affect the lives of ourselves, our coworkers or our families, by having a workplace accident. Please take time to think all actions through, especially when performing non routine work. We continue to have many near misses as well as significant injuries through- out the plant. It is not a sin- gle department; it’s all over the plant. We need to work together, along with your department Safety Commit- teeman, to try and identify and eliminate workplace haz- ards. We need to keep chip- ping away at the iceberg. I would please ask that you keep our Brother Lane Watts, Utilities Operator, in your thoughts and prayers. He continues to recover from the serious burns he received back in February. He is being treated @ Uni- versity of Chicago’s burn unit. Every day that passes has been an ever positive sign that Gods healing power From the President’s Desk... The RECORD WWW.USW1011.COM Dear Brothers and Sisters, Monday April 28 th , is Workers Memorial Day and Health and Safety Day. This is a day we honor the memory of our fallen broth- ers and sisters. Those work- ers that went to work one day never to return home again. Each year millions of workers are killed or injured on the job world wide. We have not had a good year since the last Workers Me- morial Day. We had a fatality at our Steel Producing Dept. involving a contractor and sev- eral other incidents with poten- tially life threatening injuries. The common thread between these incidents was, a change in the task at hand. Most of us don’t take the time to think about little changes that occur while we’re performing a task, but they can make a drastic difference in the result. We need to recognize those chang- es and take a step back and think them through. The big Local 1011 Newsletter push now is to do an additional Hirac-Lite when conditions change in a job. Those changes no matter how small you think they are can be catastrophic in their outcome. Lets all take a step back and think about what we’re doing all the time not just at the start of a job but through- out the entire process. We all want to go home at the end of the day the same way we came in. Be Safe, Jack Shanley Safety Chairman Local Union 1011 Brothers and Sisters of Local 1011, I hope this edition of The Record finds you and your families well. As we have members off sick from just about every dept., we need to wish them a speedy and healthy return to work. I would also like to take a moment to remember the recently departed members. May God Bless them and be with their families. We have begun 2014 very similar to where we left off 2013, in a very uncertain Safety with JACK Page 5 Page 2 Page 3 To be continue on page 10 Page 15
Transcript
state. The company contin-
ues to be in a state of change.
Despite some of the changes
going on in our plant, we
must continue to perform
work safely and without inci-
dent. We cannot let the way
the company has decided to
manage, affect the lives of
ourselves, our coworkers or
our families, by having a
workplace accident. Please
take time to think all actions
through, especially when
performing non routine
work. We continue to have
many near misses as well as
significant injuries through-
out the plant. It is not a sin-
gle department; it’s all over
the plant. We need to work
together, along with your
department Safety Commit-
teeman, to try and identify
and eliminate workplace haz-
ards. We need to keep chip-
ping away at the iceberg.
I would please ask that you
keep our Brother Lane
Watts, Utilities Operator, in
your thoughts and prayers.
He continues to recover
from the serious burns he
received back in February.
He is being treated @ Uni-
versity of Chicago’s burn
unit. Every day that passes
has been an ever positive
sign that Gods healing power
From the President’s Desk...
Th
e R
EC
OR
D
WW
W.
US
W1
01
1.
CO
M
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Monday April 28th, is Workers Memorial Day and Health and Safety Day. This is a day we honor the memory of our fallen broth-ers and sisters. Those work-ers that went to work one day never to return home again. Each year millions of workers are killed or injured on the job world wide. We have not had a good year since the last Workers Me-morial Day. We had a fatality
at our Steel Producing Dept. involving a contractor and sev-eral other incidents with poten-tially life threatening injuries. The common thread between these incidents was, a change in the task at hand. Most of us don’t take the time to think about little changes that occur while we’re performing a task, but they can make a drastic difference in the result. We need to recognize those chang-es and take a step back and think them through. The big
Local 1011 Newsletter
push now is to do an additional Hirac-Lite when conditions change in a job. Those changes no matter how small you think they are can be catastrophic in their outcome. Lets all take a step back and think about what we’re doing all the time not just at the start of a job but through-out the entire process. We all want to go home at the end of the day the same way we came in.
Be Safe,
Jack Shanley
Safety Chairman Local Union 1011
Brothers
and Sisters
of Local
1011,
I hope this
edition of
The Record finds you and
your families well. As we
have members off sick from
just about every dept., we
need to wish them a speedy
and healthy return to work.
I would also like to take a
moment to remember the
recently departed members.
May God Bless them and be
with their families.
We have begun 2014 very
similar to where we left off
2013, in a very uncertain
Safety
with
JACK
Page 5 Page 2 Page 3
To be continue on page 10
Page 15
Lonnie Asher - President 20
Mariano Flores - V.P. 19
Aaron Morales -
Recording Secretary
12
Kenneth J. Matusiak -
Treasurer
22
Larry Oar -
Benefits Coordinator
16
Jim Flores -
Chairman of Grievance
11
John Dec - Financial Sec. 17
Contact’s extension:
219-398-3150
ly make a change in the operation of the mill. This is our mill, let’s stand up and correct what we can.
I would also like to address several concerns. The first issue is picking the right fight. We/you have to do a better job at picking our individual fights. Primarily I am speaking of equipment inspection reports which are required to be completed by ALL OPERATORS that operate mobile equipment, overhead cranes, etc. If OSHA or the company states that these reports have to be completed, then it has to be done. We as a un-ion have to change our ways of thinking in that these reports are our first line of defense should something happen to the equipment that we/you are operating. It may seem monotonous to write the same thing over and over every day, but when our bosses ignore or choose to do nothing to repair the issues listed, something happens to the equipment-you the operator are pro-tected. Always try to keep copies of the reports for yourself. Deci-sions to fight by refusing to com-plete the forms only plays into the company’s hands by them resorting to issuing discipline reprimands to those of you that do not comply.
Along with the above issue there is a
On a good note winter is coming to an end. Kudos to the labor gang and anyone that worked with labor, for keeping the sidewalks, stairs, and pertinent areas cleared and salted.
On the grievance front--- All per-sonnel that was awarded part of the Vac truck arbitration case, keep an eye on the mail for the long awaited check. This payment will be a separate check. PAYOUT SHOULD BE SOON. We are awaiting for company responses for the SOS and electrical breaker racking in the contracting out are-na. We are also seeing movement on long awaiting pending step 3’s. Presently our new staff rep from district is Rick Bucher.
The company and the union are still having talks about the incentive.
We have had changes in areas that I do believe will be beneficial to all parties employed in the Hot Strip. One of the areas that I would like to see is participation in getting together problem solving teams in the areas of the finishing mill, roughing mill, and furnace area. There will be teams set up in all areas. These teams are basically the same as that which exists at the coiler. This is a good time for the union to have input and hopeful-
AS THE HOT STRIP TURNS:
Page 2 Volume 5
huge absenteeism problem in the mill. Individuals are being repri-manded and whether it be your rep or myself, we are not receiving cop-ies of the reprimand. In some cases representatives are not receiving any of the reprimands until grievant are issues a five day pending dis-charge. It is the company’s respon-sibility to forward a copy to the griever, but I would hope that all employees upon being issue an ab-senteeism reprimand would take the time to look at the dates in question on each reprimand and identify any areas that your representative can argue (i.e. FMLA, doctor’s notes turned in, or anything else that could be excused). We as your rep-resentatives need you to identify issues so that we can fight the proper fight on your behalf.
PROTECT YOURSELF
Dwayne Locher
Griever
CONGRATULATIONS RETIREES
Below is a list of recent retirees. Best wishes and enjoy your retirement.
Andres Copado (Blast furnace) Reggie Osborn (BOF) Roger Ordway (Caster)
In this edition of QA - "On the Real", We would like to wish John Norris a speedy recovery. Also, welcome back to Rayfield Johnson. Glad to have you back! Anyone needing retirement information please contact Chief or Larry Oar! They have the information that one would need to plan their retirement. They are experienced in helping many union brothers & sisters retire. I would like to welcome the Lab Learners and if any of you have questions feel free to contact me. Please be safe. Thank you to those that pointed out the unsafe condition of freezing water in the entrance to the Chem Lab. I would like to thank Safety Committeeman Jay Wacasey for re-sponding and fixing the issue so quickly. I have also inquired about the overflow pipe and Jay is looking into that situation as well. West Finishing Met Techs I was told that the shears should be fixed. If they are not fixed let me know.
As always be safe! Sincerely, Rich Waddell QA Griever
operator is the golden key. If they
acknowledge your presence you
have won a major battle in this
war with machinery.
Use your big boy voice. That’s
right, not that squeaky voice I hear
on the golf course whispering “
fore” after your embarrassing
shank. Audible, sonic techniques
work well too. Whatever it takes to
announce your presence. Get
those chords vibrating with a pow-
erful “yo” or “hey” followed by a
friendly wave of course.
Lastly please approach mobile
equipment activity with this in
mind. It is never safe to assume
that you are easily seen. Use the
“gun is always loaded” mentality.
Operators are constantly watching
their load and simultaneously
looking out for multiple things.
Pedestrian traffic is just one them.
Do your part for you and your
family and proactively follow the
safe mobile equipment interactive
work practices discussed in this
article and please share some of
you own with us whenever you
have the chance.
Jay Wacasey
3 SP
Safety
Committeeman
Last month I sent out a video clip
of a horrific accident in Puerto
Rico involving a large capacity
forklift and a delivery driver who
ventured out of his truck. It had
been sent to me by Jack Shanley as
a training tool. I’ve had this clip
for over a year now and used it
sparingly because it’s graphic how-
ever, after a couple of close calls in
our shop I thought it was im-
portant to view because it is such a
powerful reminder of the potential
and the frailty of being human
around massive equipment.
What struck me as so terribly
ironic about the clip as I examined
it with our maintenance people
was how well trained the individu-
al who became the victim was.
The deceased utilized some nor-
mally very effective methods for
avoiding contact with mobile
equipment.
He stayed close to his truck
when he first exited his vehicle.
He wore a high visibility vest
He trained his eye on what he
thought was the only forklift
working his truck and he
watched that lift truck drive
away before he began to stray
away from his vehicle.
Sadly he did not know that an-
other lift was working his truck
and just as he began to head to-
ward the office or the bathroom
or wherever, he was ran over by a
forklift who was raising his load as
he was rounding the blind side of
the delivery truck. Terrible, terrible
industrial fatality.
Make no mistake, the potential
exist for the same type of incident
in our shop and over the years we
have had our share of close calls.
Look, FYI, I am not exactly a
large target. Granted I do rely
heavily on being very attractive to
be noticed but, this really isn't
going to help a front end loader
staged outside a doorway notice
me as I cross his path. Unless the
loader is operated by a French
model who is strangely attracted to
highly capable yet shorter industri-
al Mechanics. Then I’m golden
right. I gotta shot.
Unfortunately the operators of
these machines are basically just
straight up dudes. So, I feel more
comfortable relying on something
more effective than my own pow-
erful pheromone as a means by
which to be noticed and not be
squished.
Here is some of my own person-
al, experienced based advice when
entering an area where mobile
equipment frequents
When at all possible use man
doors. That’s why they call them
man doors, because they belong to
us. If we use the larger doors we
are forced to share the opportunity
for passing through them with
machines that can easily harm us.
Try your best to approach mobile
equipment in a way in which you
can make eye contact with the
operator. Maybe even use a “whats
up dawg “ fist pump and wait for a
response. The responses from the
MOBILE EQUIPMENT IN THE SHOP
3 SP SAFETY MARCH 2014
Special points of
interest:
DON’T FORGET THAT
YOUR BOOT ALLOW-
ANCE RESET ON FEB-
RUARY 1ST
BOOT TRUCK IIS
SCHEDULED TO AP-
PEAR AT THE WEST
GATE ONT THE FOL-
LOWING DATES.
JAN 10 AND 24
FEB 14 AND 28
MARCH 16 AND 30
APRIL 11 AND 25
MAY 16 AND 30
JUNE 13 AND 27
JULY 11 AND 25
AUG 8 AND 22
SEPT 12 AND 26
OCT 17 AND 31
NOV 7 AND 21
DEC 5 AND 19
YOU CAN ALSO OF
COURSE GO TO THE
BOOT TRAILER LOCAT-
ED BY THE CLINIC
SAFETY TRAILER NUM-
BERS ARE ……….399 4599
OR 399 4646
The RECORD Page 4
day we volunteered at “Sojourner
Truth House”, “Women's Ark Shel-
ter”, “Boys and Girls Club” and vis-
ited Local 2003 striking at Neo In-
dustries in Portage Indiana for unfair
labor practice. Friday was an enjoya-
ble day, the Celebration of Civil
Rights with guest speaker Interna-
tional Vice President Fred Red-
mond. I’m encouraging you to join
this committee or get involve some-
how, the District 7 Next Generation
Committee is comprised of local
union members from all over the
district that just want to be involved
in what is happening in our union as
well as our communities. We have
committed ourselves to doing some
sort of action or service to the com-
munity or union every other month.
We meet at the district every 2nd
For the past 3 years for black histo-
ry The 1011 Next Generation Com-
mittee along with District 7 Next
Generation Committee has put to-
gether a week-long celebration for
Black History month (Black Labor
Week). During this week we in-
volve ourselves in giving back to
the community. We started on
Monday by giving senior citizens
free haircuts at the district, and then
came Tuesday we went to several
school in East Chicago and Gary
and talked to the students. On
Wednesday the women took con-
trol with “Women’s Empowerment
Day”. We went back to town on
Thursday with community service
Page 5 Volume 5
Monday at 4:30pm, so please come
on down to McBride Hall (District
7) and be part of the growing force,
and participate and give ideas. One
more thing, I will be getting with
Nelson Franco and have him upload
all the other pictures on the website
and Facebook, it’s important to
share these images and see the im-
pact within the community.
Thank you for your time and look-
ing forward to seeing you at our
next gathering.
Ken Bandy
Next Generation
Chairman
I’m sure I feel the same as everyone else kind of sick and tired of the cold weather and all the snow!
It seems like the winter has lasted forever, hopefully it looks like the weather is about to break. First of all we here at H-3 & H-4 Blast Furnaces are happy to welcome some much needed new brothers and sisters who just transferred here from throughout the plant! We are excited also about the new maintenance employees who have received postings to our department! Hopefully with the weather about to break we can get some much needed raw materials (Coke, Iron Ore Pellets, and Etc) through the ice packed lake. Unfortunately this weather has played havoc with our equipment here and hindered our production! Really looking forward to finally start getting some real production go-ing with the warm weather coming! Again as always would like to welcome our new broth-ers and sisters to our Blast Furnace Depart-ment! Also I’d like to ask our older Blast Fur-nace employees to take time out to take our newer employees under their wings and to look out for them, also remember to wear all of your safety equipment and to remember
to work SAFELY!
In Solidarity,
Eddie Gonzalez
Page 6 The RECORD
USW L.U. 1011 supports Striking L.U. 2003-15
Members of L.U. 1011 took the time to exercise Solidarity with our Brothers from L.U. 2003-15. The leadership of L.U. 1011 took to the picket line and protest the use of scab trucking & labor being used at the Portage facility. Members of United Steel-workers (USW) Local 2003-15 at Neo Industries in Portage, Ind., are conducting an unfair labor practice strike which started at 6 p.m. on Friday, February 7, due to a plan by their employer to begin outsourcing truck-driving jobs. The outsourcing plan would eliminate 10 jobs without providing significant cost sav-ings for the com-pany. The previous collective bargaining agreement expired on November 26 with the grinding and chrome plating company. "These workers are not just going to stand by and allow this company to take good-paying jobs that support fam-ilies and this community and throw them out the window,” said USW District 7 Director Mike Millsap. “We have been through this before, and we have made concessions in the past to help this com-pany compete. But there is only so much you can give before you stand up and say, ‘enough is enough.’ ” “We have been working in good faith toward a new contact, and we expect the same commitment from the company,” Millsap said. “It’s a shame that they are willing to put good jobs on the line in an effort to save a few dollars.” In Solidarity, Rich Barron [email protected]
Dear Brothers & Sisters of Local 1011, The training school has been busy with classes, there is still plenty of opportunities at the Training Center for skill training. Part of your negotiated benefits, is to be trained to perform your job completely, confidently, and safely. Our goal is to fully train all our un-ion workers in their field (MTM, MTE, welding or Tier 2) to meet the needs of our facility to eliminate the use of con-tractors, not expand the use of them. If your department needs some updating welding we have two welder instructors, JC Johnson and Bruce Chaffee that will train your maintenance personnel in this craft. We still have a lot of MTM’s that has not been thru welding to finish they craft. The problem is having the managers allowing them to finish and com-plete the training to make them a better craft. There are only a few that know the importance of having a fully trained person. I feel confident with the trainers that I’ve requested and the appropriate resources we all provide the necessary training here at IHW ArcelorMittal. I have extreme confidence in my instructors to do an excellent job in our training Center instead of spending it on outside Trainers (Contractors). My instructors are 100% committed to the task at hand. The Training Center Mission is to provide Bargaining Unit Employees (Hourly) with the proper skill set to competently and safety perform his or her duties as a MTM or MTE or Production Worker in an industrial environment, as well as to continuously adapt and improve our programs with regards tour obligations and our constantly changing work environ-ment.
Larry Smith Training Coordinator
The Training Center
Hi Everyone
By now you should have received your Spring/Summer Catalog in the mail. There are many new classes and some familial ones. The Policy for Retirees and Spouses has changed. They can now register for a class with the Black Diamond next to the name, a week before the classes start. If there is room they will be slotted in the class. If you haven’t received your catalog stop by the Learning Center and pick up a copy and check with Mac to see if we have your current address. If there is a class that you would like but can’t find it in the catalog, call Mac. We will start a list and when we get enough interested students we will start a class.
By March 31 our move into the Learning Center will be complete. You will no longer need to come to the Un-ion Hall to check about classes and information. Both Mac and I will be in The Learning Center. Mac will be in the front when you walk into the Learning Center from the Broadway Door. The door between the Union Hall and Learning Center will be kept locked. The telephone number for Mac Gallegos is (219) 354-0077 to register for classes in the Catalog and General information and mine will be (219) 398-9363 for Tuition Assistance re-quests.
Please check out our Website www.ihlearningcenter.org we have a current catalog and an on-line registration. On the Home page on the left side you can view our Facebook Page and our Weekly Blog.
Sprains, strains, slips seem to be some of the leading causes of accidents and minor injuries here in the Hot Strip. We all need to take moment and make sure of are footing so we can proceed to do the task at hand in a safe fashion.
As most people are aware we have received 11 new Coil Tractors here in the Hot Strip. At the present time all people who will be driving the new tractors have had the time to re-ceive training on the new equipment. The new tractors have a higher lifting capacity compared to the older models. The new models have capacity 100,000 lbs. The ram length is 11” longer, so we can handle the coils in a much safer fashion. Door # 637 has been widened to accommodate the wider wheel base of the new tractors. At the present we are in the process of getting the seats changed. The newer seats help prevent the bouncing around inside the cabs.
With that being said as always let’s be safe out there and not get anyone injured!
Mike
84” Hot Strip Safety
Page 8 The RECORD
N o t a t r u e i m a g e
Dear Brothers and Sisters
In the next few editions of the RECORD we are going to focus on health care/ insur-
ance. Many people become confused by their healthcare because of the dramatic changes
that have occurred to our insurance coverage over the years. Gone are the days when
Human Resources took care of all benefits issues and all our providers were published in
directories More and more the administration of our benefits have been out sourced to
third party entities. The reality is that ultimately the individual member has the responsibility to administer his/hers health
care. All of our members should have a copy of the Program of Insurance Benefits (PIB) book and the Summary Plan Description
(SPD) book. If you should misplace your copies, we would be happy to send you an electronic copy. We do not have any hard copies.
Feel free to contact us at the hall with your questions or issues, we are here to help you and your family. Below are some common terms
that are found in our insurance books;
DEDUCTIBLE: The amount you owe for health care services your insurance or plan covers before your insurance or plan begins to
pay.
COPAY: A fixed amount you pay for covered health care services at the time you receive services.
ALLOWED AMOUNT: The agreed maximum amount, negotiated between providers and the insurance company that can be charged
for covered health services. This is often called “agreed pricing”. When looking at a bill or an explanation of benefits (EOB) it may be
called “payment allowance” or “negotiated rate” If a provider charges more than the allowed amount, you may have to pay the d iffer-
ence.
BALANCE BILLING: When a provider bills you for the difference between his charges and the allowed amount. As an example a doc-
tor may charge $100 and the allowed amount or agreed price may be $50. The doctor could bill you for the remaining $50. Health care
providers in our “network” normally do not pass on the cost.
PROVIDER: A physician, health care professional or health care facility that is licensed, certified, or accredited as required by state law.
IN-NETWORK: Health care providers, facilities, and suppliers that have agreed to a negotiated rate of cost for health care.
OUT-OF-NETWORK: Also known as a “non-preferred provider”. These providers MAY NOT have a contract with our insurance
companies concerning negotiated rates for services. You will pay more out of your pocket. There is hope, most out of network provid-
ers will negotiate to in network prices but you will have to get the agreed costs in writing first.
OUT-OF-POCKET LIMIT: The most you will pay during one year before your insurance coverage pays 100%.
On another note UMR ELIGIBILITY HOTLINE phone number has changed it is 1-866-268-3489. This is for change in family
status. Employees must provide prompt notification to UMR of any change in family status, such as marriage, divorce, birth, a depend-
ents loss of other coverage or other qualified life events. UMR can also be contacted through fax 855-307-8354, or email
We are pleased to announce some local union events scheduled for this summer.
Disabled American Veterans Walk on May 31st at Wicker Memorial Park.
1011 Day at Deep River Water Park July 31st.
USW 1011 Labor Day Family Picnic August30th at the Hobart Veteran’s Memorial Park
There will be more information on these events and some others still on the drawing board coming soon. Our 2013 summer schedule
was a success because of participation by the membership. We hope to see you and yours again to share in fellowship and memories.
Speaking of the summer, our 1011 golf league will be starting in the beginning of May, if winter ever quits. We are always looking for
new golfers. If you are interested please call Aaron Morales at 398-3150 ext.12.
In Solidarity
Larry and Chief
Page 9
The RECORD Page 10
is at work. Let’s continue prayer for Lane
and his family during this unfortunate
time in their lives. Thank you.
Cold Rolling employees deserve absolute
credit for the professional display of work
ethic and attitude over the past few
months. Our brothers and sisters have
done nothing short of incredible facing
uncertain futures. It does NOT go unno-
ticed. Each and every one of you ought
to be commended for your efforts. To
me, this is the very reason the company is
making a terrible mistake dismantling the
workforce there. I think it says a lot that
our members have acted in such a profes-
sional manner even though the companies
“consolidation plan” has been nothing
short of flawed and incomplete to date.
At this point, they seem to be willing to
abandon product, just to continue on with
their “plan”. Trials continue with trans-
fer of product…..Once again, I commend
your efforts and I wish each and every
one of you best of luck in your new en-
deavors. I encourage you to take the posi-
tive, team concepts with you to your new
departments. It will be greatly appreciat-
ed.
Hot Strip employees continue to face their
own challenges. CHANGE seems to be
the only constant they know. Whether it’s
equipment, personnel (hourly and salary),
product mix, they seem to be in a state of
constant change. We have been trying to
work with the company to try and curb
some of that. We need to turn this
around. The Hot Strip needs to get back
to being the department that everyone
wants to be in. We cannot continue the
path were on. Delays, quality, and morale
MUST improve. There is no perfect an-
swer as to how we achieve this, but the
one thing I believe, is it MUST be done
together. It will take union AND man-
agement actually working together for us
to achieve. The blame one another, not
trusting one another must end. It must
end and take both parties to realize the
importance. It’s basically about survival.
I believe the 84” Hot Strip is the best Hot
Mill in ArcelorMittal’s corporation. It is
the lifeblood of Indiana Harbor – West.
With our hydraulic coiler upgrade, the
growing energy sector and infrastructure
improvements our country faces, I am
encouraged the 84” can be the leader to
fill those needs. We do need a few addi-
tional upgrades to continue. The compa-
ny will need to decide on walking beam
furnaces on a Hot Mill at some point. We
should be determined to make it Indiana
Harbor –West’s 84” Hot Mill as the loca-
tion of choice. Capital investments will
keep us the leading Hot Mill and in return
keep the West Side a viable operation for
years to come. In the middle of all the
changes we’ve been trying to work
through, the company informed us last
Friday of their decision to suspend the
20% incentive protection that had been in
place since Sept. 2013 as of this Sunday
March 16th. After many discussions, they
have made the decision, despite their in-
tentions to continue working on many of
the issues, that suspending the protection
is best. I certainly can’t understand the
logic, especially in the middle of ever
changing conditions in the 84’, but we will
address as necessary. Chairman of the
Grievers, Jim Flores, has filed a grievance,
as per BLA. I am committed to continue
meeting to try and find solutions to the
many issues we face over there, as I be-
lieve we must. It’s imperative to our sur-
vival at Indiana Harbor-West. I encour-
age our 84’ members to continue the pro-
fessional manner in which we work as we
work through this extremely frustrating
situation. Be Safe out there.
I want to thank Local 1011 members for
participation in the International Union
officer election back in November. On
March 1st, Mike Millsap was sworn in as
our new District 7 Director in Pittsburgh.
I want to congratulate Mike as he takes on
his new role in our union. I also want to
thank Jim Robinson for his many years of
leadership of District 7.
Congratulations to the members of Tier 2
Electrical class who recently passed the
Ramsay. Best luck as you eventually
move into the craft field. We are showing
success with our new training program.
Recently, a change was agreed to in re-
gards to union safety support. We have
divided the Utilities and Internal Logistics
dept’s. I want to announce Brian Flores
as Safetyman Internal Logistics. He will
have Switching, Motor Pool, Rail and
yard, SCIH, Loco, Tractor, garage areas of
responsibilities. I also want to announce
Bruce Lawrence as Safetyman Utilities.
Please welcome and support Brian and
Bruce in their new duties.
In Solidarity,
Lonnie Asher
President Local 1011
continued from page 1
Wally Taylor Mike Mize
Leo Garcia
Refugio Fernandez
Ellis Wyatt
John March
Each year, the president issues a proclamation calling on all citizens to observe March as National Women’s History Month, as well as a separate proclamation on International Women’s Day, March 8. The worldwide celebration, begun in 1975 by the United Nations, recognizes women’s achievements, highlights issues of common concern and focuses on ending discrimination and increasing support for women’s full and equal participation in society. The origins of National Wom-en’s History Month can be traced to Sonoma County, California, where in 1978 the Commission on the Status of Women initiated Women’s History Week. Two years later, President Jimmy Carter asked Americans to celebrate women’s historic accomplishments in conjunction with International Women’s Day. Congress
established the first National Women’s History Week in 1981 and expanded it to a month in 1987.
IN THE UNITED STATES, WOMEN’S RIGHTS HAVE A LONG, CONSTANTLY EVOLVING HISTORY
In recent decades, significant steps have been taken to improve education, health, family life, economic opportunities and political empowerment for women. The U.S. experience shows that, as the status of women advances, so does that of their families, their communities, their workplaces and their nation in many ways the birth of the women’s rights movement in the United States is closely tied to the abolitionist movement, which was supported fervently by many Ameri-can women. It was the exclusion of female abolitionist delegates from the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention held in London that inspired Elizabeth Cady Stanton and abolitionist Lucretia Mott to discuss the development of a women’s rights movement in the United States.
In the first half of the 19th century, women were not allowed the freedoms men enjoyed in the eyes of the law, the church or the government. Women could not vote, hold elective office, attend college or earn a living. If married, they could not make legal contracts, divorce an abusive husband or gain custody of their children.
In July 1848, Stanton and Mott joined with other like-minded women for the first Women’s Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls, New York. Their “Declaration of Sentiments,” based on the U.S. Declaration of Independence, demanded equal rights for women, including the right to vote. Over 300 people attended the convention; the document was signed by 68 women and 32 men.
LEGAL, ECONOMIC PROGRESS
In 1920, with the ratification of the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, American women finally gained the right to vote. Ultimately, it was economics, rather than politics, that changed women’s roles in American society and created greater momentum for the women’s rights movement.
As many families moved from farms to cities, the economic role of women diminished. But the Great Depression, which began with the October 1929 stock market crash, compelled more women to seek paid work outside the home in order to aid their families.
World War II catapulted up to 38 percent of American women into the workforce to fill the labor shortage left by men serving as soldiers. After the war, returning sol-diers displaced many women, but women re-entered the workforce with the economic expansion of the late 1950s and the 1960s. As women’s contributions to their family’s economic well-being grew, they found that discrimination increasingly frustrated their efforts to advance in the workplace. Equal opportunity was offered to women in the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibited sex discrimination in employment. To ensure that the act’s provisions for wom-en were enforced, activists joined together to create in 1966 the National Organization for Women (NOW). NOW is currently the largest organization for feminists in the United States, with some 500,000 members. By the early 1970s, women serving in both chambers of the U.S. Congress helped focus more attention on the needs of women. Some of the significant pieces of legislation affecting women that were passed into law resulted in:
Greater freedom in reproductive choice (1973);
Minimum wage protection for domestic workers (1974);
Prohibitions against discriminating in employment against pregnant women (1978);
Tougher child support laws and protection of pension rights for widows and divorced women (1984);
Provision of federal funds for child care (1990);
Employment protection for workers needing extended time off to care for family members (1993);
Protections against violence (1994)
REMAINING CHALLENGES
American women have made significant gains in the quest for equal opportunity in the nation’s economic and political spheres of life, but there are still problems to be overcome. For example, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that in 2005, women over the age of 16 comprise 59 percent of the workforce, yet, on average, they earned only 77 cents for every $1 their male counterparts earned. Part of the reason for this might be that women remain clustered in lower-paying occupations, according to the most recent data available from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Another challenge facing working women is how to balance the demands of home and family with that of the workplace. Many women with children and jobs face the conundrum of neglecting one or the other. Despite the challenges they still face, American women can be proud of their accomplishments, and National Women’s Histo-ry Month is a good time to reflect upon women’s progress.
At USW Local 1011 we have women in all areas of our plant and in every job class. We have women MTM’s, MTE’s, Senior Operators, Operators, Service Techs and Utility Techs. We have women operating locomotives, cranes, coilers, and tractors. We fixing equipment, submit data, weld and pour ladles. We keep our plant secure and assist those who are hurt or injured. There isn’t a job we can’t do!! Thanks to our Local and the Women of Steel we may start out at entry level as do many of the new hires but the sky is the limit just ask one of your Union Sisters.
In honoring our history we asked the questions “Who inspires you?” and / or “Why are you a Women of Steel?”
For me I think it was my Mom, when my Dad had difficulties working, my Mom, stepped up to the plate and provided for us! She was my ‘Rock”. I’ve only been a WOS for a little over 3 yrs now but still VERY grateful they hire “older folks”. I’m given a chance each day to learn while making a very healthy living and will hopefully be able to do so until I retire. Laura Saari, 3 Steel Producing
Back in 1999 my brother told me to put my application in because they were hiring and I did and low an behold I got the job and I have been able to do any job that a man can out there…and prove that we (women) work hard if not harder then some of the guys out there…so really I work out there because it provides a good living for my family. Missy Macielak Wacasey, 3 Steel Producing
I believe it was my Aunt Rose, who I looked up to and wanted to emulate, although she was a single woman with her own place, working as a secretary at a High School. I want-ed to be independent like she was. It was actually my Father, who raised me, along with a twin brother and 3 older brothers, who told me I could do anything or be anything I wanted to be and persuaded me in 1979, to apply for employment at Bethlehem Steel, Bethlehem, PA (my hometown) And the rest is history. Steel is in my blood. Bea Soda Strahler, 3 Steel Producing
I am a Woman of Steel because my mom grew up as one. I loved hearing the stories when she came home from work about how some of the men treated her and how she didn’t take any crap. I also loved hearing about the power of the Union. Once I graduated she didn’t want me to apply at the mill. O f course…..I went and applied. Many people told me that I wouldn’t make it in such an environment so I wanted the challenge and today I’m proud to say that I’m a Woman of Steel. Sharita Alexander, 3 Steel Producing
My Dad was my cheerleader. He reminded me to be someone in life you didn’t take handouts, you had to work hard to prove your worth and not just be burdened when one door closes to simply use that moment as an opportunity to open the next. Throughout lives journey every door that has closed has only led to something bigger and better. When I hired in this just felt like home. I got the physical work which to me is my worth. I have a strong union behind me which is my handshake. My paycheck tells me I’ve put in my hard days work which sets the bar. In 2009 when my Dad drew his final breath I was able to hold my head up high knowing that I had been about to fulfill his big shoes only in a different field (Dad was a Carpenter) and vocalize that I was going to be able to take the torch so to speak and soar with it. I am proud to be a part of WOS and hope throughout the years my children and grandchildren will look up to me in the manor of which I did with my Father. Juanita Jordan, Security & Fire Services
All women inspire me; we have overcome many hurdles and hard times in the workforce as well as the home front and stand strong for what we believe in. There is no difference in what a women can do compared to what a man can do and I think we have well proved our value over the years. I enjoy working at the mill because it allows me to be inspired, pay the bills, and affords better opportunities for my self and future generations. Melody Lynn, 84”HSM
If you would like to submit your story to our questions for the next addition of The Record please let us know!!
In Solidarity * Isabell Sundin * WOS Chairperson
Page 12
Hello Brothers & Sisters,
This winter has brought many extra challenges to each and every one us. Everything from driving to and from work on icy snow cov-
ered roads, dodging pot holes, snow removal including shoveling, slips and falls, icicles, and then all the extra work encountered on the
job because of the weather.
I just wanted to encourage everyone to take your time and don’t get into a hurry. Let’s do our part and report unsafe conditions to
our supervisors immediately. If there is imminent danger the hazard must be secured immediately in an attempt to keep others from
entering a hazardous area unknowingly resulting in an injury.
In Iron Producing West I want to congratulate all the MTE’s. This group has broken a record for this department with going over
two years consecutively without an OSHA recordable injury. Great job and let’s keep working safe.
As a whole in the department we are year to date OSHA recordable injury free. This is very encouraging and it is obvious we are mov-
ing in the right direction in regards to safety.
As winter is still upon us with record snow fall let’s all try to do our best to exercise extreme caution with everything we do at home
and at work as we encounter additional hazards.
If you need to report hazardous road conditions you can call INDOT for Cline Ave. and Dickey Rd. @(219) 939-3900 or East Chica-
go Public Works for other local roads @(219) 391-8463.
Thoughts and prayers to union brother Mr. Watts and his family.
Be Well & Be Safe,
Ron Eckman
Safety Committeeman IH3 & IH4 Blast Furnaces
Page 13
agent for 50,000 field workers in California and Florida. How-ever, by the mid-1980s membership in the UFW had dwindled to around 15,000. During his lifetime, Cole-gio Cesar Chavez was one of the few institutions named in his honor, but after his death he became a major histor-ical icon for the Latino community, with many schools, streets, and parks being named after him. He has since become an icon for organized labor and leftist politics, symbolizing support for workers and for Hispanic power based on grass roots organizing. He is also famous for popularizing the slogan "Sí, se puede" (Spanish for "Yes, one can" or, roughly, "Yes, it can be done"), which was adopted as the 2008 campaign slogan of Barack Obama. His supporters say his work led to numerous improvements for union laborers. His birthday, March 31, has become Cesar Chavez Day, a state holiday in California, Colora-do, and Texas.
This coming spring Hollywood has put a movie together about Cesar Chavez, go get yourself some tickets, and a bucket of pop-corn and take in what a Mexican American activist did for farm workers. Sincerely, Nelson Franco
Dear Brothers and Sisters
of Local 1011,
Recently our Membership
sent 6 delegates from the
“Hispanic Committee” to
the United States Hispan-
ic Leadership Institute
(USHLI) Conference.
The conference was held
in Chicago during the month of February. Jose Galicia the
Chairman of the committee asked me if I would write an article
for the newsletter, well as you can see I said yes. In reality it’s
pleasure to inform the Membership a little bit of this organiza-
tion and the involvement of our delegates. One of the main pur-
pose of USHLI is to fulfill the promises and principles of democ-
racy by promoting education, research, and leadership develop-
ment, and empowering Latinos and similarly disenfranchised
groups by maximizing their civic awareness, engagement, and
participation. USHLI is led by Dr. Juan Andrade, Jr. one of only
two Latinos in history to receive a Presidential Medal “for the
performance of exemplary deeds of service for the nation” and
“promoting leadership and civic participation,” and the 11th Lati-
no in history to be decorated by a U.S. President (Bill Clinton).
At this conference they bring keynote speakers, have workshops,
and seminars. A huge variety of topics and subjects are dis-
cussed. This year the one topic that I’m sharing with you is
“Who is Cesar Chavez?”
Cesar Chavez (born César Estrada Chávez, 1927 – 1993)
was an American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activ-ist, who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (later the United Farm Workers union, UFW).
A Mexican American, Chavez became the best known Latino American civil rights activist, and was strongly promoted by the American labor movement, which was eager to enroll Hispanic members. His public-relations approach to unionism and aggres-sive but nonviolent tactics made the farm workers' struggle a moral cause with nationwide support. By the late 1970s, his tac-tics had forced growers to recognize the UFW as the bargaining
Name of the institute: __________________________________
Area of Studies
If known: ____________________________________________
Please have the applicant or member hand deliver the application
and the essay inside a sealed envelope to the hall by May 16th,
2014.
We hope everyone has endured this long and extreme winter we have had in Northwest Indiana this year. We are sure everyone is ready to get outside and begin exercising while enjoying the sunshine and warmth. With the new season, new rou-tines and habits begin to form. This is a good time to begin planning daily outside activities. We would also encourage all of you to take advantage of the Gym Membership Program again this year and send your receipts to our [email protected] email address each month for reimbursement. Within the body of the email the following information must be included, Clock #, Name, and Name of Gym you are attending. Be sure “Gym Membership” is typed in the subject line. The Mar-athon Reimbursement Program will also continue this year, however only two receipts per month per person will be accepted, and reimbursed for up to $30.00. Be sure in the body of the email to include Clock#, Name, and Name of Marathon and “Marathon” in the subject line. We will reimburse the gym memberships and individual marathons, (again up to 2) up to $30.00 each month until we are unable to do so, and a new amount, if possible, will be specified. If you have any questions for the com-mittee email them to above address with “Question” typed in the subject line. We are going to try to reimburse quarterly for 2014. The receipts for each quarter need to be turned in by April 1st 2014, by midnight, in order to qualify. The Company’s payroll sys-tem takes a little longer than we anticipate so please be patient. Also, please be informed, we as a committee, found out in late December, the company has determined what we call reimbursement to be taxable income. The Biometric Screening was successful last year and we hope all of you took advantage of “Know Your Numbers” by using the information to adjust your eating and exercising habits. This year possibly look forward to more comprehensive tests, with more useful information. More info. on dates and times for the Screening will be in upcoming articles and your dept. bill-boards. The billboards most all have been placed. I have spoken with the Utilities Griever. He assured me the rest in his area will be placed soon. The billboards will then soon be updated with new information. Be sure to check for new updated information. We are planning and preparing for Health Week which is set for the week of September 30th. The theme for our Health Week will be more of a exercising and fitness theme. We intend to have various vendors available to support our exercising and fitness routines and answer any questions you may have concerning such. Fitness is a very important aspect of “Transforming YOU” into healthy and happier people. Sometimes all information concerning fitness can be overwhelming. We are hoping to have questions answered and helpful techniques and hints available to you during Health Week. Be sure to look for more infor-mation in upcoming articles and department billboards.
The Healthy Vending Machine surveys were a success. We received a lot of useful feedback from all of you and very much appreciate your participation. We are evaluating the placement of various vending machines. We may be adding more vending machines to parts of the plant and removing others and placing them in more accessible areas. We are finding which machines work and which machines don’t work and need to be replaced. We are now able to fill the machines with the intent of meeting your expectations. Without the feedback you give to us, we are unable to address any concerns you may have. The Wellness Committee is in the process of planning and establishing a Walking Group Program to be presented to the Company for approval. This will ensure everyone is giving a chance to exercise with a group of employees, holding each other accountable for progress. It is a motivation to get out and walk with a group to meet specific goals and encourage each other to continue each group members’ journey to happier healthier people. Please look for more information concerning the Walking Groups in future articles and department billboards.
Please feel free to contact any of the Wellness Committee Members with any questions or ideas you may have concerning the Wellness Program at the email address [email protected].
Thank You, Kenneth J. Matusiak, Wellness Committee Chairman
