Summer 2016

Newsletter for members of United Steelworkers Local 5296

Spring 2020 Inside this issue

COVID-19 Resources…….........2

Benefits & T4 / T4As....….…….4

Dental Centre Closures.………..5

Int’l USW Convention.….……...6

Black History Month..….……...7

Int’l Women’s Day.....….……...8

Website Members Portal…….9

MONTHLY LOCAL 5296 MEMBERSHIP

MEETINGS ARE CANCELLED UNTIL

FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO COVID-19

OFFICE HOURS ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

PLEASE CALL US:

(905) 629-3892

(416) 593-7587

EMAIL US: OFFICE@USWLOCAL5296.CA

YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL YOUR LOCAL

REPRESENTATIVE

DIRECTLY FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR

ASSISTANCE

News from the President

Our local union is working hard to respond to the

needs of our members during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Due to social distancing precautions, we have closed

our offices, but are still available by phone, email, and

have updated information on our website

www.uswlocal5296.ca. Our monthly local meetings

have also been cancelled until further notice.

These are stressful times, and we are concerned

about the health and safety of all workers, our families

and the front line workers responding to this global pandemic.

On Monday March 23rd, 2020, the Province of Ontario announced the

closure of all non-essential businesses. Private Security is considered an

essential service to the province of Ontario, and we are fortunate enough to

ensure that our members who want to continue to work, can as a result. We

would like to thank our members for their communication with the local union

on issues at their specific worksites, and their dedication to doing the best job

possible under these difficult circumstances.

Inside this issue of our newsletter, there are tips that reflect the current

science and medical recommendations to protect yourself from COVID-19

transmission. There is also information for those who need to take leave due to

COVID-19, either due to illness, family obligations, or due to shortage of work,

how to access supports through Service Canada.

Please be advised the Steelworkers Dental Centres along with all other non-

emergency dental offices have been forced to close as a result of the state of

emergency in the province.

In solidarity, Julia Rodriguez President USW Local 5296

2

COVID-19 Guide for USW Members

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the new or novel coronavirus spreading in Canada. Not everyone exposed gets sick, and most of those who get sick make a full recovery. But the virus is more dangerous than other respiratory diseases, like the flu. The chance of a serious infection goes up with the amount of exposure, age, and other health problems, especially heart and lung problems, and diabetes.

Stay informed and rely on trusted government and local public health authorities: www.canada.ca/coronavirus

Here are some simple precautions that will reduce the likelihood of contracting the virus.

• Wash your hands thoroughly and often. Hands should be scrubbed for at least 20 seconds with

soap and water. If possible, they should be dried with paper towels, not blowers, which can

spread droplets. It’s especially important to wash after touching objects or surfaces that many

others have touched, like doorknobs, elevator buttons, computers or cash registers. It’s also im-

portant to wash as soon as you get home after being in a public place.

• Use hand sanitizer when you can’t wash. Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol kills germs

and viruses, if it touches them. But it does a poor job of removing dirt, where pathogens can

hide. Don’t use vodka or other spirits. Anything under 120 proof won’t do a proper job.

• Disinfect surfaces that might be touched by the public. Proper disinfectants are based on alco-

hol or chlorine, and are labeled as killing 99.9% of germs and viruses. It’s not necessary to fre-

quently clean surfaces that only you touch or objects at home so long as no potentially infected

person has touched or coughed on them.

• Try not to touch your face with potentially contaminated hands. Some infections come from

airborne droplets, but most people become infected when they touch their face after touching a

contaminated surface. Under the right conditions the virus can live for up to four days on a sur-

face. Indoor surfaces are worse than outdoor surfaces, since the UV-radiation in sunlight is a dis-

infectant. It’s hard not to touch your face. Frequent washing helps. A good strategy is to keep a

box of tissues or wipes handy and put one over your fingers if you need to touch surfaces or your

face.

• Practice social distancing. Avoid crowds! Avoid public places as much as possible. Don’t shake

hands. In public, try to stay two metres (six feet) away from other people.

• If you’re sick, stay home. The symptoms of COVID-19 are a dry cough of unknown origin, fe-

ver, and sometimes, shortness of breath. If you know the reason for the cough, for example

asthma or an allergy, and you have no other symptoms, it’s unlikely to be COVID-19. But any

other cough or symptom should trigger a call to your physician and, in the case of a cough plus

a fever, a call to a public health department for a COVID-19 test. If the symptoms become se-

vere you may need to go to the hospital, but call first, so the hospital is prepared.

• If you’ve been around a person known to be infected, stay home for 14 days. Many employ-

ers are establishing policies requiring or allowing this, and are paying people for the time off.

You may have legal protections too. If your employer retaliates against you or threatens to, let

the union know right away.

• Avoid unnecessary travel. If you absolutely have to travel, it’s safer by car than by air, since

airports involve large crowds from many different regions.

• Get a flu shot, if you haven’t already. The flu vaccine does not protect you from coronavirus.

But having the flu along with coronavirus is especially dangerous. This would also be a good

time to review all your vaccinations with your physician, and make sure they’re up to date.

• Stay up to date. You can check reliable websites, like the ones below, and news organizations,

like the major networks and the CBC. A few other links are below. And check the USW website

for updated information.

• And finally, keep our brave health-care workers and first responders in your thoughts. Many

are union members. All of them are fighting hard to protect us, often at risk of their own

health. They are the heroes of this pandemic. Other links for more information:

The Public Health Agency of Canada: www.canada.ca/public-health

The Public Health Agency of Canada coronavirus telephone info line: 1-833-784-4397

Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline: 416-338-7600

Peel Region Public Health: 905-799-7700

Durham Region Public Health: 905-668-2020

The Government of Canada: www.canada.ca/coronavirus

Employment Insurance line for those in quarantine: 1-833-381-2725

Service Canada Information:

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/coronavirus.html

4

Steelworkers Pension

All pension inquiries are addressed by Gloria Zoratti at BPA extension #1376.

Please visit http://members.steelworkerspensionplan.ca to review your

pension plan contributions and statements.

All health benefit claims are processed through Claimsecure. Members can

now submit claims electronically. Please register at www.claimsecure.com

using the ID and certificate number on your USW prescription card. For all

inquiries, please contact Claimsecure at 1-888-513-446.

Health Benefit Claims

Short-term Disability & Life Insurance

Inquiries regarding life insurance, accident death & dismemberment, short term disability or critical illness, go to the Benefit Plan Administrators (905) 275-6466. Please check your benefits booklet to obtain details of the coverage and limitations. Failure to update your contact information with the BPA may result in denial of benefit claims. To track your benefits go to http://member.steelworkersbenefitplan.com.

Tax Season is here, Look out for your T4 and T4A!

As part of the contribution to the Benefit Plan, your Employer pays for

your life insurance premium. This is a taxable benefit. The Benefit Plan

Administrators (BPA) issue members a T4A slip that must be reported on

your 2019 income tax return. If you do not receive the T4A by the end of

March, please contact the BPA at (905) 275-6466. The Canadian

government has extended the tax filing deadlines due to COVID-19 to June

1st 2020.

News & Events

Keep updated on a variety

of events and information

with USW 5296. Text the

name of your employer to

32323 to subscribe. Text

“STOP” to unsubscribe.

Standard Message & Data

Rates May Apply

Your Contact Info

Please update your contact

information if you have

moved or to request

electronic copies of the

newsletter. Ensure your full

name, your mailing address,

and the company you work

for is included when

contacting us.

Contactupdate@uswlocal5296.ca

Dental Office

Locations

Available For Members

The Steelworker Dental Centres are closed until further notice due to the declared State of Emergency by the Province of Ontario. Dentists providing non-emergency services have been ordered to close. If you have a dental emergency, please contact the Dental Emergency Service at 416-485-7121 or visit the link below to locate a dental office near you.

https://www.rcdso.org/en-ca/rcdso-members/2019-novel-

coronavirus/covid-19-dental-clinics-offices-offering-

emergency-services

United Steelworkers Local 5296 dental benefits are for use with the Steelworkers Dental Centres at 33 Cecil Street, To-ronto and 1158 Aerowood Drive, Mississauga. In addition, our benefits plan also allows our members the use of the private offices listed below and be covered under our plan. 1. Ajax Dental Center - 161 Harwood Avenue North Unit

5B, Ajax, L1Z0A1 (905) 426-8304

2. Dr. Meera Gopalakrishnan - 385 Silverstar Blvd.

Scarborough (416) 491-4533

3. Markham Health + Plex Dental Centre -

5995 - 14th Avenue, Markham (289) 859-9901

Please call W.A. Health Maintenance at (905) 281-9948 to

request an appointment at these offices.

Just a reminder the annual administration fee for the

dental office is $10 for a single member and $20 for a

family.

Local 5296 Contacts

President:

Julia Rodriguez

Jrodriguez@uswlocal5296.ca

Vice President:

Jana Papuckoski

Janap@uswlocal5296.ca

Financial Secretary

Parvinder Kaur

Pkaur@uswlocal5296.ca

Recording Secretary:

Kim Milliard

Kmilliard@uswlocal5296.ca

Toronto Office

Bokhari@uswlocal5296.ca

Tel (416) 593-7587

Mississauga Office

Office@uswlocal5296.ca

Tel (905) 629-3892

Fax (905) 629-2610

Website:

USWLocal5296.ca

Office hours are suspended

due to COVID-19 until further

notice. Please call the offices

or email us any questions or

concerns you may have.

Benefit Plan

(905) 275-6466

Claim Secure

1-888-513-446

USW International News

The United Steelworkers International Convention is being held in Las Vegas, Nevada August 3rd to 6th 2020.

Nominations and elections to attend this event will be held at the Tuesday May 19th 2020, Local 5296 membership meeting.

Eligible members must be in good standing, have 2 years seniority, and have attended 1/3rd of the local meetings in the last two years to be considered for election.

In the event that the COVID-19 restrictions are still in place at that time, further information will be on the USW 5296 website at www.uswlocal5296.ca.

Bargaining Update

Our local, working with our sister locals, 9597, 2020, 5481, have

commenced bargaining for our latest collective agreement with

our employers, GardaWorld, Paladin and Securitas. Many

thanks to all those who have completed a bargaining survey

and returned it to our Staff Rep, Syed Akhtar.

Former Primary Response guards with

GardaWorld in full health and dental benefits

Good news for our former Primary Response guards with

GardaWorld. Our Union was able to negotiate an earlier start

date for full benefit coverage. Benefits were originally to start in

July 2020, but are now effective January 1st 2020. If you are not

already registered for our benefits plan, please contact the

Benefit Plan Administrators at (905) 275-6466 to get a

registration card and benefits booklet mailed to you, and have

any questions you may have regarding benefits answered.

Black History Month February 2020

Rally Against Cuts by Ontario Conservative Government Niagara Falls

Steelworkers, CBTU and the District 6 Human Rights Committee celebrated Black History Month February 22nd, at

the Steelworkers Aerowood Drive office. Black History Month acknowledges and celebrates the contributions

made by black workers to the labour movement. Sheku Koroma (far right) represented USW Local 5296, and also

sits on the District 6 Human Rights Committee.

On Saturday Feburary 22,

workers, unions, community

groups descended on

Niagara Falls to rally against

cuts by the Ontario

Conservative government.

Left to right: USW Staff Syed

Akhtar, District 6 Next Gen

Co-Chair Jordan Rego, USW

7536 President Raul

Gutierrez and his local

member were a few of many

Steelworkers in attendance.

International Women’s Day 2020

Jana and Wendy

attend Peel

Regional Labour

Council’s

International

Women’s Day

Brunch on Sunday

March 1st 2020 in

Brampton. Money

raised at the event

went to a number

of shelters in Peel

Region, supporting

women, families

and youths facing

homelessness.

Toronto Steelworkers

Area Council along

with Toronto and

York Regional Labour

council marching

down Yonge Street on

International

Women’s Day,

Sunday March 8th

2020.

Steelworkers Toronto

Area Council

celebrating

International

Women’s Day with a

breakfast in honour

of Mary Spratt, a

steelworker activist

and feminist. NDP

MPP Faisal Hassan

was one of many

guest speakers.

USW Local 5296

Toronto Office:

25 Cecil Street

Toronto, Ontario

M5T 1N1

Phone: (416) 593-7587

Mississauga Office:

1158 Aerowood Drive

Mississauga, Ontario

L4W 1Y5

Phone: (905)-629-3892

E-mail: office@uswlocal5296.ca

Members Portal Now Available

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