On Wednesday, Aug. 14th, Local 3657 will host a teach-in/Q&A focusing on the basic rights and responsibilities of employees to job-protected leave, along with the administration of FMLA by our employer.

Our sisters Janet Hill and Joan Hill will host this session from noon to 1 p.m. in the 9th floor conference room at headquarters. Members outside the building can call in using the following line: 515-606-5688 (Access code: 274309).

Members who wish to submit questions in advance and remain anonymous should e-mail Joan (johill@usw.org) or Janet (jhill@usw.org) before the session.

Lunch will be provided, and members in the field may submit receipts up to $15 for reimbursement for their lunches.

If you plan to participate either in person or on the phone, please email Elizabeth Laycak (elaycak@usw.org) with the subject “FMLA RSVP.”

Members can access forms and documents related to the presentation at the following links:

Your Rights Under FMLA

USW Salary Continuance Policy

Form WH-380-E

Form WH-380-F

Form WH-381

Form WH-382

The Local 3657 New Member Committee will host our semi-annual new member orientation on Tuesday, Aug. 6, from 9 a.m. to noon in Conference Room B on the 2nd floor at headquarters.

According to our contract, these sessions are considered part of your work day. All new probationary employees (both PFOs and non-PFOs) who are members of Local 3657 are welcome to attend. We will discuss the benefits provided by our contract, the history of our union, how you can get involved in our local, how bargaining works, and other topics.

Members in the field will be invited to participate electronically – we will let you know how to access the system once we have those plans nailed down.

The orientation session will be followed by a catered lunch with the Local 3657 Executive Board.

Local 3657 will be awarding six $500 scholarships to sons, daughters and/or legal wards of active local union members for study at a college, university, trade school or other establishment offering post-secondary education.

The official scholarship notice can be found by clicking here.

All undergraduate and graduate students who qualify for the USW Social Insurance Program and have not previously been granted a Local 3657 scholarship are eligible to participate in the drawing. Please note on your entry your child’s name, whether this would be an academic or technical scholarship, what school your child will be attending, and mail or email entries to:

Carol Gehm, Recording Secretary
USW Local 3657
60 Boulevard of the Allies, Room 706
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222
cgehm@usw.org

Entries must be received by July 12, 2019, and winners will be chosen by lottery at our July meeting.

The USW Local 3657 Civil and Human Rights Committee will welcome the Muslim Women’s Association of Pittsburgh to our International Headquarters on June 18th and 19th for two presentations from Sister Sarah Jameela Martin:

Tuesday, June 18 – “Pittsburgh’s Underground Railroad”

Wednesday, June 19 – “The History of African American Muslims” 

Both events will begin at NOON in the Second Floor Conference Room and will include a potluck lunch. If you are willing to help, please e-mail Paulette Battisti at pbattisti@usw.org.

A conference call line will be provided for members outside the building who wish to participate.

Local 3657 members and allies have officially founded a local chapter of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA). APALA Pittsburgh will be holding its launch party on Saturday, May 11, to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

You are invited to stop by the Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Squirrel Hill on Saturday, May 11 to enjoy free food and cultural performances and learn about what APALA Pittsburgh is doing to promote workers’ rights!

What: Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with APALA Pittsburgh

When: Saturday, May 11, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Where: JCC Pittsburgh, 5738 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

APALA is an AFL-CIO constituency group founded in 1992. It is an organization of Asian American labor activists that works on building labor-community alliances in support of union organizing, worker rights, civil rights, and economic justice. Its members are rank-and-file union members, union staff, and other community members who support the labor movement.

In the coming year, APALA Pittsburgh plans to:

1. Support union organizing in the Pittsburgh area;

2. Conduct “know your rights” sessions about immigrants’ and workers’ rights;

3. Coordinate civic engagement efforts such as 2020 census awareness; and

4. Work with Wage Justice coalition to inform working people about their rights and stand with workers to demand justice.  

The event on May 11 is a celebration. Interpretation in several Asian languages will be available. Everyone is welcome.

There will be an exhibition highlighting Asian American and Pacific Islander labor leaders in our movement. From 2:00 pm to 4:30 p.m., there will be free immigration related legal services and organizations tabling with helpful resources for low-income working families. From 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., stop by for cultural performances and free food.

Join fellow union members and community allies to celebrate and find out what APALA Pittsburgh is doing to empower working people!

For more information and updates about the event, go to the Facebook event at https://www.facebook.com/events/2355381284693860/.

Please welcome to Local 3657 two of our newest members – Katrina Fitzgerald in Strategic Campaigns and Kevin Seklecki in Organizing. If you see them around, say hello!

Kevin Seklecki

Katrina Fitzgerald