Local 1-2010

Home

Representatives' Reports

The WSIB and You

Another year that went by very quickly. Since the last Union Echo, the Local has been dealing with some negotiations, grievances, arbitrations, and meetings, the Women’s Committee meeting, the Sawmill Wage Conference, the Gathering of Indigenous Steelworkers, some maintenance on the Reesor monument, the H&S Council meeting, the Stewards meeting, and renovations at both the Kapuskasing and Thunder Bay offices. We have done some or started negotiations, but I will let the representatives report on those. Take the time to read our Local’s representatives reports.

On May 22nd, the Local’s Women of Steel Committee met at our Kapuskasing office. 20 Local 1-2010 Sisters attended the meeting, where they were given training on “Elevating Action Against Gender based Violence”, training provided by the District 6. All were very pleased with the presentation given, as they found it to be very informative. As we didn’t put any pictures in the last Union Echo, here are some.

On June 12th and 13th we had as many as 34 delegates from the Local’s 11 sawmills where we represent members, who attended the Local’s Sawmill Wage Conference in preparation for the negotiations that have started already. All of the sawmills of Atikokan, Ignace, Thunder Bay (Dallan), Nakina, White River, Hornepayne, Constance Lake (Lecours), Hearst, Cochrane, Timmins, Chapleau and Gogama, had delegates attending. We also had the privilege of having our District 6 Director and Assistant Director, Brothers Kevon Stewart and Charlie Scibetta, attending the Conference. The day before, Brothers Stewart and Scibetta visited 2 workplaces (GreenFirst Hearst Sawmill & Columbia Forest Products Plywood Plant). After the Conference, a BBQ was organized for the members to attend, meet and discuss with Brothers Stewart and Scibetta, and have a burger or hot dog at the same time.

Over the summer, there were some touch ups and maintenance to be done at the Reesor monument. Because the painting was done late fall last year, and that while the monument was freshly painted, we had below zero temperature which caused the paint to not stick to the concrete properly. Some of the paint had peeled and the monument had to be partially repainted. Also, the fence had to be redone. Some posts were replaced, and all of the wooden crossers were replaced. Lastly, some brush cutting has been done around the monument by one of our members (Brother Norm Hachez), so people can have a better view of the monument when they are passing by.

On October 2nd & 3rd, 29 delegates, Stewards and a few new members attended the Local’s annual Stewards meeting held in Thunder Bay. During the lunch break, we took the time to go and support OPSEU members on strike at the Confederation College. After lunch, our delegates received training from our own facilitators on Mental Health 101, and a combination of Steward’s training and new members orientation course. The whole day was spent in giving the above-mentioned trainings, from which the delegates attending had very positive comments of. They really have appreciated their day in training.

We did some long overdue renovations in the basement at our Kapuskasing office. We will put pictures of the finished work in our next Echo as the renovations were not completed when this report was presented. The plan is to do the Kapuskasing basement this year, the floors and painting at the Thunder Bay office next year, and back at the Kapuskasing office to do the main floor in 2027. This plan could change, and we could be doing the Thunder Bay office and the Kapuskasing main floor in 2026 finance permitting.

On behalf of the Local 1-2010 Executive Board, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and the best for 2026.

In Solidarity; 

Jacques Jean