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Message to Our Members - July 28, 2022
This release is in response to Algoma’s “Message to all members of Local 2251”. First, I wish to point out that the Local 2251 Negotiating Committee provided the actual exchange documents between the parties to our members. The information provided by the Union was factual and not an opinion piece.
I also wish to address the COLA myth perpetrated by Algoma and our sister Local 2724. COLA definition is Cost Of Living Adjustment. It was originally negotiated in the 1969-1972 Agreement. It was used to protect wages during (the wage and price control) legislated by the Government in 1975 to 1978. COLA was conceived and implemented to protect wages from inflation. It is a form of insurance that only pays if inflation rises. It should be noted that Algoma’s product price increases with increases in inflation to protect their profits. COLA does the same for our wages and is not a separate wage increase!
During the negotiations culminating in the 2018 Memorandum, COLA was negotiated for the period of the Collective Agreement. MU 11 addressed Cost Of Living in Article 15.04. The Collect Agreement available for all to see in our current CBA, Article 15.04.75, clearly states;
“Effective July 31, 2022, the total amount of the cost of living allowance in effect at July 31, 2022 will be added to the Standard Hourly Rates.”
Why should the COLA payment for 2022 be considered a wage increase for 2023?
Our CEO and senior managers receive share offerings as part of their compensation. Share value appreciation for shares received in the year 2022 is not subtracted from the compensation they receive for 2023.
When the shares rise in value during 2022 or thereafter, they do not subtract the increased value of the shares from their 2023 compensation, so why should Local 2251 consider COLA payments negotiated and paid in 2022 as a raise in 2023?
There is no explanation why Local 2724 agreed that a COLA payment generated and paid in 2022 should be considered part of a wage increase in 2023.
Algoma’s CEO states that Local 2251’s proposal is more than 20% over 3 years once COLA is rolled in. COLA is protection against inflation and is used by the Company to prevent Local Union 2251 from requesting larger wage increases to protect against inflation. COLA is not a wage increase! It only pays if inflation rises above a certain threshold!
In closing, our proposals outline a fair agreement. We asked for a 6%, 6% and 4%, not 20%. Algoma cites a number of employers. Our answer is we bought Algoma in 1992, we gave it up in 1995/1996, we invested in the Company in 1990, we invested again in 2001, we contributed over 156 million dollars in 2013 and we contributed again in 2015 to 2018. No other Union has contributed to the viability of their Company like USW Local 2251. In a time of extraordinary profits we are entitled to a fair agreement!!
We continue to work for you and are negotiating to get a fair deal.
In solidarity,
Your USW Local 2251 Negotiating Committee
Mike Da Prat
Mark Molinaro
Luca Robibaro
Bob Roussain
Marino DeGregorio
Janice Merrick
TO: All Members of Local Union 2251 FROM : Mike Da Prat, President RE: General Membership Meeting Summary Report for April 17th, 2024
TO: All Members of Local Union 2251 FROM : Mike Da Prat, President RE: General Membership Meeting Summary Report for March 20th, 2024
N O T I C E UNITED STEELWORKERS LOCAL UNION 2251 ALL CANDIDATES MEETING The Election Committee of Local Union 2251 will be hosting an all candidates night on the evening of Wednesday, April 3rd, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at the Marconi Hall in the Fogolar Room. The candidates who are contesting the following positions will be allowed a five- minute speech at this meeting. A question period will follow. PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT FINANCIAL SECRETARY TREASURER TRUSTEES (Sgd.) Adam Guizzetti Chair - Election Committee March 25, 2024
News Articles mentioned in above letter... Please note, the news Articles have been copied from their respective sources for ease of reading.
