THE I.S.U. UPDATE

Company officials recently told Union leaders plans for a new tin plate plastic coating line may not include the City of Weirton or even the Ohio Valley.
Earl Davis told the Union steward body that sites in Weirton, Wheeling and Youngstown have been examined, but the decision on where to locate a polymer coating line has not yet been made.
Union officials are very upset with the possibility that a new Weirton Steel operation could be located in another community.

Looking For Work

More than 3700 people turned in job applications for a job at Weirton Steel as the Company embarked on a five year hiring program.
AON, the personnel firm hired by Weirton Steel, was in the process of narrowing the list of applicants to approximately 150 finalists before handing the list over to Company officials.
According to Mark Glyptis, the Company has indicated a variety of qualified people will be hired for different jobs in the mill.
Glyptis said he was encouraged by the Company’s decision to start beefing up its workforce.
"We have an aging workforce which is going to be dominated by retirement-eligible employees within the next five years and I am personally pleased to see that the Company is finally hiring permanent employees," Glyptis said.
He noted the Union had lobbied long and hard with Company officials to give sons and daughters and relatives of employees or retirees a chance at a job in the mill.
The first of the new hirees should be on the job by mid-summer.

Help Wanted
By Delbert Littleton

The Ergonomics program is making great strides in identifying and correcting potential hazards in the workplace.
But the program can only continue to succeed if each and every one of us gets involved.
We have an aging workforce at Weirton Steel and in order to remain healthy into our retirement, we must find ways to do our jobs in a safe manner.
There are ergonomic teams in just about every department in the mill, and I encourage every employee to get involved.
Ergonomics works for all of us.

Looking For Ideas
By Ed Conley

The Total Quality Employee Involvement department is continuing to evolve and get better as we look for fresh new ideas.
Under the direction of John Walker, management is urging their front-line supervisors, as well as all Union members, to get involved.
We have had a number of success stories because of employee-involvement, but we can continue our success with fresh new ideas.
I urge all Union members to contact their local employee-involvement group and get involved.

The Fight Continues

The United Steelworkers of America have recently come under attack by AK Steel Corporation of Middletown, Ohio.
The company has filed suit in U.S. District Court alleging the Union has engaged in unlawful, violent, extortionate and racketeering acts spanning decades.
The suit alleges 13 acts of arson and more than 165 acts of extortion against AK Steel and its contractors since last September.
Approximately 650 hourly union workers have been locked out of the Mansfield plant since last August. The plant is being operated by salary and scab replacement workers.
Union officials have called the charges ridiculous.

New Officers

The run-off ballots will be mailed June 1 and the ballots must be returned to the Weirton Post Office by June 10.
Be sure to vote.

Contract Ideas

Our current labor agreement expires March 25, 2001, and the Union is currently canvassing our members for ideas for the next contract.
Mark Glyptis said actual negotiations would probably start in mid-August or shortly after the new three year term begins for the I.S.U. officials.
"But we are collecting ideas now. Anyone with comments, ideas or suggestions for the next contract should submit these ideas through their union steward, mail the idea to the Union Hall or call the Union Hall," Glyptis explained.
He said the Union is preparing for tough negotiations based on the Company’s recent financial gains.
"There are a number of issues, including pension improvements, future health care, job security, and wages, that will be of utmost importance to us," Glyptis declared.

Know Your Rights

One of the most important rights our members have is the right to have a Union representative present during investigatory interviews if the employee may be disciplined as a result of what he or she says.
These so-called "Weingarten Rights" resulted from a 1975 U.S. Supreme Court decision.
It’s important to note the following:
…the employee must request a Union rep either before or during the hearing;
…the employer must grant the request or delay questioning until the Union rep arrives; and
…if the request for representation is denied, the worker can legally refuse to answer questions in such circumstances.
It’s important for all Union members to know their rights under the law and our labor agreement.

Wellness Center News

Coming up in June, the Wellness Center will be conducting a colorectal cancer screening.
The screenings start June 5^th and continue through June 15^th.
A StartSmart Smoking Cessation Class is scheduled June 1^st through June 29^th.
Registration is required by calling the Wellness Center at 797-5105.
And a CPR class is scheduled for June 7^th. Registration is required in advance.
Please remember the Wellness Center is a contractually negotiated program that benefits our Union members.
Use the Wellness Center programs to your advantage.

 Brothers And Sisters

Joseph Carpini, an 8^th grader at St. Joseph the Worker Grade School in Weirton, has won the Golden Horseshoe Award in Hancock County.
He is the son of Debbie and Joel Carpini, a stocker in the Strip Steel slab yard.
Joseph recently received his award during a special luncheon hosted by West Virginia
Gov. Cecil Underwood.
The Golden Horseshoe Award is based on a test of knowledge of West Virginia history.

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Abby Sokol, daughter of Tin Mill Mechanical Labor employee Joe Sokol, will be in Washington, D.C. next month to participate in the National Spelling Bee.
Abby won the Jefferson County Spelling Bee. She is a student at St. Francis School in Toronto.