Members and Retirees of Local 5328

Good evening all. 

 Some updates on our meeting today. 

 The company has added temperature reading at the screening and sanitizing supplies should be arriving in the next day or two, I’m told. The annealing lunchroom has been opened to oil temper people for second lunchroom as to create social distancing.  

 As far as the effect this is having on the business for scheduling, we face some changes. 

 ArcelorMittal did get the Rod mill in Quebec classified as an “essential service”. What that means is that we will be getting rod supply as usual. 

 The company provide the "call' for what will be running next week and jobs that are cut back. As we did the bumps and cut backs, information like the Rod mill in Quebec would come in and that would change everything. 

 During the exercise, the company would change their minds on certain jobs and we would have to start over as it would affect the whole bumping process. 

 There will be cutbacks and layoffs, I won’t sugar coat it. We finished off yesterday and numbers reduced.  That changed today and was all over the place. 

 We are looking at other options to minimize the number and that depends on so many variables. We will have a definite number tomorrow and finalize all this. 

 We have inquired, again, to allow people to use preretirement vacation and vacation if they so choose. Waiting for an answer. 

 I have also asked the company to look into if Dofasco was hiring as we have a preferential hire clause in our basic agreement.  

 Please don’t panic!! Be calm! This will come to an end if we all do the right things and our government decides to grow a pair!! 

I will send out communication tomorrow once we have finalized the schedule with any other information. 

 In solidarity, 

Anthony Ciaramella 
President
USW Local 5328