June 26, 2023 - Effective today, Kyle Chilvers is returning to the Negotiating/Grievance Committee as the Alternate.   Local 6571 Activists Grievances Retirees Safety Links Collective Agreement Recent News Contact Info Unity Council newsHome
November 10th, 2022 - Effective as of today, due to the upcoming retirement of Mark Moores, Brett Morrison has been appointed to replace Mark on the Negotiatiiong/Grievance Committee and Chris Brawn has been appointed to replace Mark as the Recording Secretary on the Executive.

March 14th, 2022 - Effective as of March 10th, Sean Campbell is now Vice President of the Local, Steve Bott and Dave Gravelle have joined the Negotiating/Grievance Committee and the following have been added to the Executive Committee: Jeremy Knack as Financial Secretary (replacing James Billingsley), Travis Sutton as Guide, Chris Brawn as Inside Guard, Shawn Martin and Brandon Cameron as Trustees (replacing Sean Campbell and Jeremy Knack). Effective March 11th, James Billingsley has resigned from all Union positions.

 

February 11th, 2022 - Effective immediately, Kyle Chilvers has resigned from all positions with the Union. As current acting Vice President, Brian Dimock has assumed the role of Local Union President.
December 1st, 2021 - Effective December 6th, Kyle Chilvers will temporarily assume the role of Local Union President. John Catto has accepted a temporary position with the United Steelworkers as a casual staff representative working out of the Hamilton office.
November 4th, 2021 - In an effort to attract and retain skilled trades in the current competitive market, the Company and the Union have agreed to bring the negotiated wage increases in the collective agreement forward for skilled trades employees.  The new wage rate will be implemented effective November 14th. The Company will also begin the canvass process next week for maintenance Group Leader positions. Click here to view the Letter of Agreement.
October 6th, 2021 - We will resume holding retiree meetings in October! The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 15th at 1pm and will be held at the USW hall located at 125 Albert st. Please note that the the new Ontario legislation (O.Reg. 364/20) requires everyone attending the meeting to provide proof of vaccination. Those unable to meet the requirements will not be permitted entry.

August 25th, 2021 - Provided there are no changes to public health guidelines, September will see our local resume regular Union membership meetings on September 9th, 2021. The meeting on September 9th will also be utilized as our locals nomination meeting for International Office. Votes on nominations of candidates for the following offices will be taken:

  • International President
  • International Secretary-Treasurer
  • International Vice President (Administration)
  • International Vice President (Human Affairs)
  • National Director of Canada
  • International Vice President at Large
  • International Vice President
  • Director, District 6

The Membership/Nomination meeting will be held at the USW hall located at 125 Albert st in Oshawa at 5:30pm on September 9th. Please note that nominations must be submitted in writing to the Local Union Recording Secretary (Mark Moores) at least 48 hours in advance of the hour on which the nomination meeting is scheduled to begin.

May 14th, 2021 - Click here for ratification results.
May 13th, 2021 - Attached is a link for the ratification handout. Any questions can be answered on this afternoons ZOOM calls or during the ratification vote at the plant tomorrow. Click here for the handout.
May 11th, 2021 - Please see the attached notice regarding the ratification info sessions and vote here. Use this link to access the ZOOM meeting at either 3pm or 7pm on Thursday: https://usw-ca.zoom.us/j/87323465392?pwd=QzhRQjdFdWczdkcyUnNLdDRXazBYZz09
May 7th, 2021 - We have reached a tentative agreement with company on a new Collective Agreement. Read the update here.

April 28th, 2021 - On average, there are over a thousand workplace fatalities every year in Canada with hundreds of thousands of accepted lost time claims for work related injuries and diseases.

Today marks the National Day of Mourning, when we remember those who have lost their lives in workplace tragedies, have been injured in a workplace accident or suffer from occupational disease.

https://www.usw.ca/news/media-centre/articles/2021/day-of-mourning-2021

 

April 9th, 2021 - Beginning with the vacation year that just commenced as of April 1st, 2021 - vacation pay will be paid on the next regular pay day following the week in which the vacation is taken. Should you have any questions - contact a member of the Negotiating Committee. The agreed to change can be read here
April 7th, 2021 - Click here to read the update on the Covid-19 outbreak at the plant that was declared today by the Durham Region Health Department.
March 1st, 2021 - the notice for our upcoming local Union nomination meeting can be found here.
February 26th, 2021 - Click here to read an update regarding negotiations and an extension to the current Collective Agreement,

February 19th, 2021 - Click here to see the letter of agreement for the altered line of progression in the finishing end. This change reverts the line back to a similar structure that was used in the past that worked well. It eliminates the forced cross over in the line at the Straightener/Shear level as both sides of the finishing end are mirrored. It provides for wage increases for several positions and will make the crews stronger in the long run. The position of Finishing Helper has been eliminated, and the BM Straightener job has been split into two positions, so the number of jobs remian the same. The new BM Straightener and BM Shear jobs will split the duties of the former Finishing Helper along with operating the pulpit on a rotation basis. Current Finishing Helpers will remain in the line of progression. The parties wanted to make this change in advance of the pending third crew in the Structural Mill later this year.

If you have any questions regarding the altered line of progression, contact a member of the negotiating committee.

 

December 3rd, 2020 - Due to current Covid restrictions, December's regularly scheduled retiree meeting has been cancelled.

Also - December's Union membership meeting will be conducted via "Zoom" video conference. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 10th at 5:30 pm. You must register to access the meeting by Wednesday, December 9th in order to receive a link to join the meeting. You can register and request the meeting link by e-mailing John Catto at johncatto@usw6571.ca

November 10th, 2020 - The retiree meeting that was originally scheduled for this Friday, November 13th has been cancelled. We will make a decision on December's retiree meeting closer to the date.

The regular membership meeting scheduled for this Thursday, November 12th will proceed as normal. 5:30PM at the hall lcated at 125 Albert st in Oshawa.

September 2nd, 2020 - We will proceed with our regularly scheduled monthly Union membership meeting on Thursday, September 10th at 5:30pm as well as our retiree meeting on Friday, September 11th at 1pm.

Please note that there will be Covid protocols in place at both meetings. All attendees for both meetings will be required to wear a mask and maintain physical distancing (6 feet) inside the hall at all times. Hand sanitizer and masks will be made available. The hall will be cleaned in accordance with public health guidelines prior to the meetings. There will be no food or drinks at the retiree meeting.

June 4th, 2020 - We will hold Union Meetings via "Zoom" temporarily until pandemic restrictions are lifted. The next meeting is on Thursday, June 11th at 5:30 pm. You must register to access the meeting by Wednesday, June 10th in order to receive a link to join the meeting. You can register and request the meeting link by e-mailing John Catto at johncatto@usw6571.ca
June 4th, 2020 - Click here for an updated wage chart.
April 28th, 2020 - Click here to read the Day of Mourning statement from the USW Canadian Directors. Day of Mourning poster is here.  
April 21st, 2020 - Click here for a message from USW International President Tom Conway.  
April 3rd, 2020 - The membership meeting for April and the retiree meeting for April have both been cancelled.  
March 20th, 2020 - Click here for a message from the Local Union President.  

March 20th, 2020 - Click on the links below to access information from the USW National Office regarding Covid-19:

Covid-19 Guide for USW Members

Health and Safety during Covid-19

Workplace Issues During Covid-19

Federal Government Response to COVID-19

 
   

March 18th, 2020 - Until further notice, the Company has announced that going forward from today - anyone required to self-isolate for 14 days can either request vacation to cover the time off, or apply for EI benefits. The federal government has announced that they have waived the waiting period for anyone needing to access EI benefits for self-isolation or quarantine.

Self isolation is required for anyone returning from travel outside of Canada (any country) and for those that have close constant contact (live in the same household) with others that have arrived in Canada from any country.

If anyone tests positive for Covid-19 you will be entitled to weekly indemnity sick pay and the 40 hour waiting period will be waived. To be clear: "getting sick" and testing positive for Covid-19 are different things.

If anyone develops symptoms (fever, cough, dificulty breathing) you should phone a health care profssional or telehealth.

The Company has been adhering to the Government of Canada’s Health Authority direction on Covid-19. This link will provide guidelines on self-monitoring, self-isolation and isolation: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/self-monitoring-self-isolation-isolation-for-covid-19.html