Please welcome our newest USW Local 3657 sister Lori Biedzinski, who works as a clerical in our legal department on the 8th floor of the International Headquarters. If you see Lori around the building, be sure to say hello!

Over the past year, the international has had difficulty finding Certified Testing Centers throughout the United States and Canada for the members in the field to complete their 2010 Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Certifications.

Certiport will no longer be supporting Microsoft Office 2010 and at the end of the month we will have to upgrade to Office 2016. For members who have previously taken training and/or classes for 2010, it may be in your best interest to take the Certification before August 31. All testing after this date for MOS Certifications will be in Office 2016. At this time, all of the practice software will also be updated.

Accessing Practice Software

Below are the instructions on how to access our GMetrix practice software remotely from your USW computer.  You must score at least 85% on one of the GMetrix practice tests before I can give you a prepaid voucher to take the actual exam.  The GMetrix for Outlook does not work with our Outlook, but you can use it for the other programs.

-Go to your start menu

-Accessories

-Remote Desktop Computer

-In pop up screen where it says computer, type win7-test01 or win7-test02

-In pop up screen you can enter your USW password

-Your screen will change to the remote desktop screen

-Click the GMetrix icon

-You will have to register as a new user to set up a GMetrix account.  Create your account and then log in

-You will be prompted to enter an access code.  Access code 58077-GMXMOS5-13751. You can reuse this code –  repeatedly

-You will then choose your application (Word, Excel, Access).  Make a selection.

-There will be a training mode or a testing mode, choose whichever you want.  I would suggest trying the training mode first and then when you are comfortable with that move on to the testing mode.

For testing, there is a Core 1, 2, and 3.  These are not different levels, they are just 3 different sets of questions.  You only have to pass one of the tests at 85% or higher, not all 3.

Please note that currently only 2 people can be logged in to the testing software at one time.  If you are trying to log in and get the message someone else in currently logged in, switch the computer password to either 01 or 02, the opposite of what you are currently using.  The international is in the process of adding more computers to accommodate more people and will let you know when that is complete.

The members of USW Local 3657 unanimously passed the following resolution on Thursday, June 28:

RESOLUTION REGARDING THE MURDER OF ANTWON ROSE BY EAST PITTSBURGH POLICE

WHEREAS:

USW Local 3657 is committed to fighting to uphold civil rights. As our goals have always been to empower workers in their workplace, advance and promote equality in our union and communities, encourage political and legislative involvement, organize workers into unions and promote policies that support working families, we are saddened to have to address the death of Antwon Rose Jr., the unarmed child shot three times by an East Pittsburgh, PA, officer as he fled from a vehicle suspected in an earlier shooting. This can only be described as an egregious attack on civil rights.

WHEREAS:

Our democracy is suffering because segregation by race and class has again resulted in tragedy and reactions based on fear, splitting a community and the country at large. The labor movement has confronted the issues of racism and classism in America on many occasions and must do so now with this tragedy. We must stand in solidarity and be a voice for justice.

WHEREAS:

The lack of training of the officer involved, and history of improper reporting and behavior, played a role in this tragedy and we must recognize that. USW Local 3657 empathizes with those who take up the shield of a badge and its corresponding risks. However, USW Local 3657 cannot abide the demonization of our youth by those same authorities simply because they are of a different color, race, gender, ethnicity or background.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That the members of the USW Local 3657 stand in solidarity with the family of Antwon Rose Jr. and all those children who have been slain in an environment of fear and hostility;

That USW Local 3657 urges all media to commit to fair and balanced coverage of such incidents and avoid sensationalizing and spreading false information, regardless of jurisdiction;

That USW Local 3657 urges elected officials and policy makers at all levels to work together in their communities to create an environment of justice for all, not just for the privileged few;

That USW Local 3657 remains committed to fighting for justice and equality and will continue working to break down the systems of racial segregation;

That USW Local 3657 remains committed to holding workshops for our members and the wider community on racial and socioeconomic injustice; and

That USW Local 3657 urges our members to contact elected officials to demand that officers be screened and trained, to avoid instances such as this, where an officer chooses to take the judge and jury roles upon themselves.

Respectfully submitted this 28th of June 2018 by the Civil Rights and Women of Steel Committees of USW Local 3657. Adopted unanimously.