I‘d like to welcome back everyone who has been recalled to work. This is a great opportunity for us to once more show the work ethic that allows the Cleveland plant to produce quality steel at a world class man hour per ton ratio while maintaining on time delivery performance.

Cleveland’s past performance is a reason this mill was given an opportunity to restart while other facilities remain idle. (Neither Indiana Harbor nor Burns Harbor are running full out at this time.) By taking advantage of this opportunity, we can both earn profits for the company and look forward to a good production bonus and future profit sharing checks.

The mill will not be crewed up at full force. Since it is initially being restarted as a one furnace/single steel shop operation, the down line facilities will not be totally full. Hopefully our performance will convince the company that the next furnace to come on line should be our second furnace. And, once this happens we can look forward to the majority of the Cleveland works restarting.

Many members have asked me about their work schedules. The company said that until they know more about the order book, they will continue to schedule people on a 5 + 2 normal schedule. They continue to monitor the order book carefully to see how many people are needed for start-up.

I am very upset at the company’s position to allow contractors in the mill while we have members on lay-off. The Grievance Committeemen and I are diligently working with the contracting out committee to make sure no contractors remain in the plant unless provided by the contract (e.g. capital work) until all our maintenance people have been recalled.

At this time, there is no word when the maintenance people from #2 steel producing will be recalled. I have already filed grievances that contractors are doing bargaining unit work that should not be done while these maintenance people remain on the street.

This isn’t an issue of overtime. This is about our brothers and sisters being afforded the opportunity to work instead of contractors. Similarly, contractors should not be allowed to perform such non-core work as janitorial services and snow removal while our people are laid of.

If anyone feels they were recalled improperly, please contact your Grievance Committeeman so he can investigate and make sure any mistakes are corrected.

While the plant was reduced to asset protection and fire watch, President Granakis and I continued to fight through the grievance procedure to make sure all our members received the benefits provided under the Basic Labor Agreement. We received a solid victory on the complaint we filed on the pension additive for our railroad members. This additive has been raised to the agreed to figure and back pay will be adjusted to September 2008. I’d like to thank Mike Mormile for his help.

President Granakis and I have been in weekly contact with the International in regards to the production bonus and layoff minimization plan grievances. Although the International has a large backlog of grievances from all American ArcelorMittal plants, I’m sure our date will come.

On September 1, the Basic Labor Agreement provides for a pay raise. The new hourly rates are: Labor Grade 1 - $18.09; Labor Grade 2 - $19.79; Labor Grade 3 - $21.78; Labor Grade 4 - $22.91; Labor Grade 5 - $24.31.

In closing, please make sure the restart of the Cleveland mill is accomplished without any of our members being injured. If you aren’t sure how to do a job safely, step back and contact your supervisor or safety representative.