Volume 1, Issue 1
August 24, 2005
INITIAL GERDAU PROPOSAL, "EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING"
After 10 months of stellar relations between Gerdau Ameristeel and

the workers of Local 8581, the Company presented a disappointing

proposal that removes almost all workplace protections. This offer

was made in spite of the smooth transition, employee

engagement, and record return on capital employed, that Gerdau

received when they took possession of the Wilton Mill.
The first article the Company rejected was the very successorship

language that guaranteed the uninterrupted flow of product and

profits during the change of ownership. The Company spokesman

David Grigereit, Attorney from the Atlanta based Ogletree &

Deakins, characterized our successorship clause as

"unnecessary."
The main thrust of the Company proposals was to minimize

employee rights, and Union involvement in any sort of work place

protections. The Company proposes to:
1. Reclassify any and all jobs in the plant with regard to duties,

pay, and hours of work. The Union will be allowed to "discuss" the

new classifications. "The matter will not be subject to the

grievance arbitration procedure, and the decision of the Company

will control."
2. Institute a policy of "flexible scheduling" to decide who works

where, when, and how long, including, but not limited to,

mandatory 10 or 12 hour shifts with no guarantee of hours.
3. Remove all overtime pay provisions except for the legally

mandated overtime in excess of 40 hours. Most hours previously

counted toward overtime eligibility will no longer count.
4. Continue the separate contract for the shredder employees,

while expanding the use of low paid "Temp. Employees." We

need to unite our members under one contract.
5. Turn back the clock on 28 years of successful labor relations by

removing the protections afforded under past practices and local

working conditions, while expanding management rights to

include anything else they may vet think of in their wildest dreams.
Further updates will be released as additional issues are

discussed. Make sure management hears the opinion of each and

every one of our members!
Gerdau needs to learn: These are YOUR JOBS - This is YOUR

CONTRACT
ISSUED BY THE NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE OF USW LOCAL

8581