To the Membership, We hope that everyone had a great long weekend, minus the 4 inches of rain in Kamloops and that everyone’s kids (and parents) have adjusted to the schedule of being back at school. Our week has been very eventful, as we finally received the last portions of the Company’s non-monetary proposals, with a final total of 57. Some of these are moving Letters of Understandings into existing language, and will not be a big issue. Some issues have already been resolved. The majority are a different story. As you have seen in the last update, the Company has asked for major concessions in language and our rights as employees, and we will not stand for it. Casual workers, contracting out at will, non-union contractors doing work that is normally performed by us, it’s all a slap in the face for everyone who has worked so hard to ensure that this Company survived the last economic downturn. They have cut bodies, funding, projects, parts, tools and equipment to cut costs, and made everyone work harder, longer, and less safely, creating more injuries, hazards and accidents than ever before in our past. The only reason we haven’t seen a rise on paper, is that our members are terrified to report accidents as they will be piss tested if they do. Now, after over two years of trying to make it through the hard times, the Company has recorded a profit of over 440 million at HVC alone, and continue to purchase and fund new major projects to the tune of billions of dollars, as well as continue to fund the oil sands project with our blood, sweat and tears. (Oh, by the way, Fort Hills is now past 60% completion). Yet they continue to ask for more. Regardless of what we give, or how much we give, it will never be enough. Last week, it was the removal of the replacement of rubber boots for Lube Truck drivers whose last pair of literally melted off their feet. And this week it will not be allowing friends and colleagues to attend your retirement dinner after 35 years of working at HVC. This all to save a buck, regardless of how this affects your mental or physical health. Even having nieces and nephews at the CHILDRENS Christmas Party were cut until the Union pleaded with the Company to change their mind. Ultimately it’s up to us. The future of the mine depends on our labour, our drivers, our journeyman and our operators. It’s each one of us that makes that difference on the floor, not the manager that tells us how to do our job wrong. Never forget that. We meet with the Company again on Monday Sept 12th, and the entire bargaining committee will be at the membership meeting in Kamloops on Tuesday, Sept 13th. Those meeting times will be at 9:30AM, 6:30 PM and 9:15PM. We highly suggest that if you want to hear the latest news, or talk about the negotiations, that you attend the meeting. For now, we ask you all to be patient, as we progress through the process. We will keep you informed to the best of our ability, through text alerts and email, or via CAT team members. We still have a long way to go, so take it slow and don’t panic, we will get there together. Stand strong, stand together. In solidarity, Kyle Wolff President of United Steelworkers 7619 Representing Employees at Highland Valley Copper Comments are closed.
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August 2021
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