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Your
Help Needed
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We are always looking for "new stuff" to put on this website.
When you or any of your family
attend any type
of Union-Labor function take notes and with your digital camera take a
few pics and send your information and pics to; fortunity@sctp.us
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Know
Your Rights
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WEINGARTEN
CARD
(If
called to a meeting with management, read the following or present this
card to management when the meeting begins.)
If
this discussion could in any way lead to my
being disciplined or terminated, or affect my personal working
conditions, I respectfully request that my union representative,
officer, or steward be present at this meeting. Until my
representative arrives, I choose not to participate in this discussion.
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Immediate
release - USW Will Again take Court Action to Secure Health Care
Coverage for Century Aluminum Retirees at Ravenswood
Ravenswood, WV, Nov. 4, 2010. – For the second time this
year,
the United Steelworkers (USW) union will go to court to seek
restitution of health care insurance for retirees at the Century
Aluminum plant here.
A suit filed in February seeks to
restore the
benefits to retires 65 and older whose health care benefits were
terminated by the company on January 1, 2010.
On Monday, Century Aluminum announced
that health
care benefits for all of its retirees will be totally eliminated on
January 1, 2011, and that its subsidy of coverage for retirees not yet
eligible for Medicare would be eliminated on June 30, 2011, resulting
in termination of all retiree health care for those who retired from
the Ravenswood plant.
“These benefits were
guaranteed under the
terms of the labor agreement,” said USW District 8 Director
Billy
Thompson. “People who spent their working lives in this plant
had
every reason to expect the company to live up to its commitment to
provide this coverage.
“Now they feel as though
they’ve been
stabbed in the back,” he said. “The union will use
every
means at its disposal to seek justice and see to it that the company
contributes to the retirement security as it promised.”
Upon review of Century
Aluminum’s
announcement, the USW legal team will take the necessary and
appropriate legal action to restore the benefits to the level agreed to
in the contract.
Contact Randy
Moore (304) 544-7046
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Insurance
& benefits News
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Sub-Pay
Benefits For Laid Off Employees
Recent Changes
New
Information to Help People with
their COBRA
February
9, 2011
TRA Benefits and
Retirement
February 1, 2011
Issue: Health
care; Pre Existing
Conditions; January 26,
2011
West
Virginia Bridge Gap Grant Information January 24,
2011
Century
Aluminum Slashes Employees Insurance
January 1, 2011
Notice for
Laid Off Employees - Both Plants, TRA Benefits December 13,
2010
NOTICE
PRE-65 CENTURY EMPLOYEES November 30, 2010
To read about the above
recent changes and Sub-Pay click here
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VIEWS
AND OPINIONS
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The following
letters are the views and opinions of the person(s) submitting the
letters and not necessarily that of the elected officials of USW Local
5668.
Fort Unity welcomes letters and post
them as soon as
possible after we receive them. The letters are subject to being
edited, and we urge writers to limit their letters to about 500
words. Writers must give their name, their complete address
and a
daytime phone number. Addresses and phone numbers will not be
posted if requested. Email letters to
fortunity@sctp.us. |
Recent Letters
Dear Mr.
Poling 02/22/2011
My Thoughts 02/20/11
WV Held Hostage 02/20/11
Capito's Letter 02/09/11
Grievance Chairman's "Letter to the Editor" 02/09/09
To
read letters click here.
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NEWS
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Local Union
And
Labor Council Repair Food Pantry Roof
Ravenswood,
WV, August
21, 2010 - United Steelworkers
Local Union 5668 and the AFL-CIO
Mason-Jackson-Roane Labor Council joined forces and finalized repairs
to the facade and roof of the "No Hunger Food Pantry" located at the
corner of Walnut and Virginia Sts. in Ravenswood, West Virginia on
Saturday. Funding for project materials was split 50/50
between
the Local Union and Labor Council with volunteers from both groups,
(retired, laid off and active union workers) donating their time and
skills. Ron Allman provided the scaffolding. The
work crew
on Saturday included Dave Martin, Jason Miller, Mark Lynch, JR Ayers,
Mel Lawrence, Lee Johnson, Roy Hussell and Bob Blare.
Bob Blare, a retired millwright, who
spearheaded the
project, said "this is a way that we can give back to the community
where we have worked and lived for many years. In February of
2009 over 600 members of LU 5668 lost their jobs when Century Aluminum
closed it's doors and several LU 5668 members are currently on lay off
status at Alcan Rolled Products. This not only affected our
members who lost their jobs but the entire area is affected.
Everyone has had to scale back due to the economic hard times, but if
we stick together we can get through this and be better for it in the
long run".
The food pantry helps Jackson County residents who have
trouble
putting food on the family dinner table. Along with basic
food
items, personal care and household items are also available.
Families meeting certain Federal Guidelines can get assistance from the
food pantry. Call or visit the food pantry during normal operation
hours of 1:00 to 4:00 PM, Tuesday thru Friday.
Ken Vintorini, president of the Board of
Directors
for the NHFP, said "there are 200 to 250 families that use the pantry
with each family receiving approximately 50 pounds of food per
month". Since the federal government only provides about one
third of the food given out the NHFP relies on cash and non-perishable
foods donated by local residents and businesses. Vintorini,
along
with six other Board of Directors members, receive no compensation nor
do any of the volunteers who help run the pantry.
For more information about the No Hunger
Food Pantry
or to make a donation call 304-512-7309 or visit their web site at http://sites.google.com/site/nohungerfoodpantry/Home.
Raese's
Comments On Steel Draw Criticism
Charleston, WV,
August 7, 2010 - John Raese,
the Morgantown businessman running as a Republican in West Virginia's
special Senate election, has sparked criticism from Democrats and union
leaders for his comments on steel tariffs at a meeting of Mountaineers
for Responsible Government. At the meeting, held last week at St.
John's Evangelical Church in Wheeling, Raese said he believes tariffs
placed on steel imports during the Bush administration played a major
role in creating the nation's current economic problems. more
Ownership of
plant set to change again
Ravenswood,
WV, August 6, 2010 - United
Steelworkers Union representative Randy Moore said that the rumors of a
potential sale of the engineered products division was a consideration
during the recent labor negotiations, which involved voting down
proposed contracts twice before a final agreement was reached. "There's
no telling what a new company could do," he said. He said that was a
factor behind the union pushing hard to ensure job security measures
were clear in the latest contract...more
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Century
Aluminum NEWS
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Iceland: Magma's
Investment in
Geothermal Threatened
August
6, 2010 -
Magma’s chief executive
Ross Beaty
told
the Financial Times that he thought the investment would be welcome at
a time of economic strife. HS Orka needs financing to complete
expansions for the planned sale of electricity to a nearby
Century
Aluminum smelter....more
Iceland
Geothermal
Takeover Under A Cloud
August 1 2010 -
With limited household
demand in a country of 320,000 people, most power is used for aluminum
smelting by companies such as Rio
Tinto Alcan and Century Aluminum,
lured by the surplus energy....more
Century
Reports 2nd-Quarter Earnings
July 29, 2010
- Century
Aluminum reported earnings of $5.1
million during the second quarter of 2010 in a financial report
released July 27. The earnings compare to a net loss of $107.1 million
reported during the same period of 2009....more
Century Aluminum
Shares Fall After 2Q
Report
July 28,
2010 - Shares of Century
Aluminum Co. plunged Wednesday after the company posted a
second-quarter profit below analyst estimates....more
DJ Century Aluminum
Working To Secure
Helguvik Financing, Power Contracts
London, England,
Jul 28, 2010 - Century
Aluminum Co.is working to secure
financing and power supply
contracts for its planned Helguvik smelter project in Iceland in order
to restart construction of the plant, the company's Chief Executive
said late Tuesday....more
Trade Act Petition
Washington, DC., June 19, 2009 - The
Department of Labor made the following decision:
"All workers of
Century
Aluminum of West Virginia, Inc.,
Reduction Aluminum Smelter Division, Ravenswood, West Virginia, who
became totally or partially separated from employment on or after May
18, 2008, through two years from the date of certification, and all
workers in the group threatened with total or partial separation from
employment on date of certification through two years from the date of
certification, are eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under
Chapter 2 of Title II of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended."
The
"Impact (start) Date is May 18.
2009 and expires June 19, 2011. Stop by the Union Hall for
more
details. The entire
decision can be found
on the DOL's web site at the following link:
http://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/taa/taadecisions/taadecision.cfm?70017
Century
Aluminum Gets $79.7 Million Tax Refund
Monterey, CA--(Marketwire - March 16, 2009) -
Century Aluminum Company
(NASDAQ: CENX),
today
announced the receipt of a federal income tax refund of $79.7 million.
This refund is in addition to the $10.1 million refund received...more
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Alcan
Rolled Products NEWS |
Novelis may bid for Rio Tinto Alcan unit
Mumbal,
India, June 21, 2010 - Novelis,
the international subsidiary
of Hindalco Industries, could bid for the rolled products division of
global metals major Rio Tinto Alcan as the Aditya Birla Group seeks to
buy high value manufacturing products in Europe and the US.
The rolled products division of Rio
Tinto Alcan is
valued at about $3 billion...more
Alcan Extends
Iceland Smelter Deal
Montreal
Gazette June 16, 2010 - Rio
Tinto Alcan and the Icelandic power
utility Landsvirkjun have extended Alcan's power contract for its
Iceland smelter to 2036.
This project would increase its annual
production
capacity to almost 230,000 tonnes, an addition of about 40,000 tonnes
per year...more
Alcan To
Layoff 60 Union Members
Sebree, KY, March 23, 2009 -
Alcan in Sebree, Kentucky will layoff 60 hourly workers starting in
April. But as union workers go out, contract workers are coming in.
Both the Union and Management say the economy is to blame, but as far
as bringing in contractual workers, that's where the union says it has
a problem...more
Alcan Benefit
Books Incorrect
Ravenswood, WV, Feb. 18 - The
benefit books being passed out have mistakes in them that the company
would not correct prior to sending them to print. Any questions on
specific issues that you believe to be incorrect, please give the Union
Hall a call at 304-273-9319.
Eli Morris, Grievance Chairman, said the
Union is
working on it and will process a grievance on every error in the books.
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Health
&
Safety |
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Fatal
Accidents - Mobile Equipment and Foot Traffic
In 2009 there were six
fatalities involving mobile equipment and foot traffic at USW
represented worksites. There were two fatalities in 2008 and
seven in 2007. Here is one example:...read
more
Workers Compensation
Rules Change
There is a very drastic
change in the law concerning notifying the company of an employees
intent to file a workers comp claim. read
more
Union
Safety Representation
Even if you
are not injured it is wise to call for a Union Safety
Representative. read
more
More
Safety on the
Health & Safety Page
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Upcoming
Events
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Ripley's 4th of
July Parade
The Mason-Jackson-Roan Labor Council of
the WV AFL-CIO will be having a float in the Forth of July Parade again
this year. Members and Retirees of Local 5668 are encouraged to
walk behind the float wearing their Union shirts and caps, showing
their colors and Union Pride & Solidarity. Bring along your
family members also as each year a plaque is awarded to the union with
the most turn out. Last year, the United Mine Workers won the
Plaque. This year, the Steelworkers would love to take that
plaque.
Everyone will meet at the Save-A-Lot in west Ripley
at 10:00 AM. From there you will be transported to the beginning
of the parade route. The parade starts at NOON and you will end
back at Save-A-Lot where there will be a cook out for those who walk
with the Labor Council. Come and enjoy the day. GO STEELWORKERS!
Summit
articles to the
Webmaster.
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SOAR
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NEWS FOR OUR RETIREES
The
best way for retired members to remain truly active and involved
remains becoming a member of your local SOAR Chapter. Soar
provides a way for retired members of the USW and their spouses to
remain a part of one of the most respected and effective organizations
in America.
SOAR
meets the
3rd. Wednesday of every month
@ 10 A.M. at the Union Hall.
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Are
you Union? If you were
accused of being Union would there be enough evidence to convict you!
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