Unfortunately, for us, we don’t live in OZ and we do have a nickel bonus that has not paid a dime since we signed the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Isn’t that convenient! We don’t lose a dime up to that point and told nickel bonus will go unchanged... we know the rest of the story...... NO BONUS FOR YOU!!! I do not know about everyone else, but I find it difficult to understand.

We all know about the global market meltdown. We watched it on CNN. We’ve seen it on our Sun Life statements and we all took a hit on our investments. Let’s be honest, we all know the feeling when we are seemingly being taken advantage of. We have that feeling right now.

Let’s go over what we know: We lost millions and millions of dollars in the last 19 or so months, yet the doors stay open and we all have jobs. We lose millions and millions of dollars in the last 19 or so months and the people responsible for that loss get bonuses. I realize with the new corporate structure or should I say alignment, the managers and frontline supervisors really have no say if we should get bonus or not. So, there is no bonus for us, the workers, because we lost money, but there is bonus for others. Yes. I understand we are on a different bonus system, but if we lost millions and millions of dollars, how can they afford to give out a bonus at all!! If we lost money where did the staff bonus money come from? Did it come from the proverbial money tree?

We all count on that bonus these days. I know we are all told we should not count on Nickel Bonus, but most of us were hired with the promise of nickel bonus as part of our wage. I hope the people who are doing the hiring have enough respect for new workers to explain that nickel bonus won’t be paying and don’t tell them it is part of the wage.

We have to make mortgage payments, truck payments, sled payments, university tuition for our children and list of other things a mile long. Not to mention the city wants us to pay for a water main break to the tune of $2,000. Have you driven around lately because water main break season is on us.

I have been asked what the Union is doing about this? What I can tell you is we are going to take our Nickel Bonus Grievances to Arbitration to find out for sure if we are entitled to nickel bonus or not. The Union truly feel this will be the only way to get an answer we can trust. I am not saying we are being lied to, I’m just saying their information might be a bit suspect, only because I am not an accountant.

Secondly, I’m writing this article to say SHAME...... SHAME ON YOU VALE!!!! You don’t think morale is already at all time low. It’s probably not in their long term needs to have a happy and productive work force. Didn’t see that on the website!!

When a company, such as VALE, say their values are to treat all employees with respect and dignity, why would you not just tell the workers the reason why we are not going to be paid nickel bonus? Put the information up for all of the employees to see. Respect and dignity means you tell the truth and not hide behind confidentiality documents. Respect and dignity means you stand up to corporate and let them know "YES" the workers are busting their asses everyday and do deserve a bonus. Call outs in the middle of the night, doubles, shift changes and a host of other things you, the membership, do to keep this company going. Let them know about that. We have a unique relationship in the Manitoba Division, unlike any that VALE has currently.

There may be a few people who might be offended by my comments, for that I apologize. I may not speak for all members, but I do speak as one of many who are very frustrated with our employer VALE.

I only ask we let the process work and we will get the answer from an Arbitrator, because in this land of OZ we call VALE, the Arbitrator is the wizard.  

In Solidarity
USW6166

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