Yesterday, while in Hamilton, Prime Minister Carney asked to meet privately with 1005 president Ron, 7135 (National Steelcar) president Frank and myself to discuss business conditions.  There as well was National Director Marty Warren, District 6 Director Kevon Steward, our staff rep John Catto and a few others. P.M. Carney talked about the tariffs that Canada will impose, mostly targeting China, who is the biggest problem. Now that the U.S. has tariffed countries, they are trying to find other countries to dump their steel, Canada being one. Also putting tariffs on any country that does not have a free trade agreement with Canada. This is just the first step and will be reviewed in one month and "adjusted" accordingly. Canada is still working on a deal with the U.S. but as of right now a good one has not been offered. Moving forward, infrastructure projects will use only Canadian steel and that the procurement process will start ASAP, this can't wait months or years. I asked about the Canada Investment Act and wanting to know the specifics in it. I explained the way U.S. Steel abused it during the first year they owned us and how the government signed another "Secret deal" with them, and we were left on the street for 13 months. I also brought to the attention how important Stelco is to the national interest. I made him aware that once Algoma and Dofasco go with electric arc furnaces we will have the last standing blast furnace in Canada. It is also the cleanest, newest, and most efficient in North America. I told him that our sales are from month to month with great uncertainty and some workers being worried about the threat of looming layoffs. Explaining that our furnace is down two days a week for a lack of sales and that it is not good for its stability. At the end of the meeting P.M. Carney stated that "This is just the beginning".

Rumour of the week......

"Are production workers doing the functions of millwrights because the contractors are reduced?"

No. Production workers cannot do the job of millwrights just because we are short millwrights. Some production jobs have an "Operator maintenance" job description in their SOP. That is the limited scope that they can do. 

Contract/ESA questions of the week...

If there is an absence on the crew for production, this is how it should be paid and filled.

7.11(a) "...a temporary vacancy caused by an employee's absence will be filled by assigning the senior qualified employee within the divisional unit and who is on the shift on which the vacancy occurs except..."

(i) "In the event that the Company is unable to, due to operational requirements...they will be paid the rate of the job on which the vacancy occurs..."

(iii) "An employee shall not be entitled to be considered for a temporary vacancy unless such vacancy carries a higher rate of pay..."

Thanks,