News

Coronavirus Update

In the past couple of weeks, two Great Lakes freight vessels experienced an outbreak of COVID-19 that necessitated an extended stay in port in order to quarantine infected crew members.

State Tax Withholding Changes for Interlake Employees

Interlake employees received an email from Human Resources a couple of weeks ago with information about changes being made to the process of reporting earnings to state tax agencies.

2021 Season Begins

We are now just days away from seeing the vessels crewed by our members returning to service across the Great Lakes.

Members Complete Fire Training

Seven members of USW Local 5000 from the Interlake Steamship Company recently completed Combined Basic & Advanced Fire Fighter training at the Northwest Regional Fire Training Center in Traverse City, Michigan. 

Fire Aboard M/V Roger Blough

Local 5000 has learned of a fire that broke out aboard the M/V Roger Blough, of Key Lakes, Inc. 

Local 5000 has not had any official reports as to the cause of the fire or the extent of the damage. 

Merry Christmas!

We would like to take a quick moment to wish everyone a safe and Merry Christmas, and a happy, healthy, and prosperous holiday season. 

Steel Production Up 1.2% over Previous Week

The American Iron and Steel Institute (steel.org) reports that in the week ending on December 5, 2020, domestic raw steel production was 1,579,000 net tons while the capability utilization rate was 71.4 percent. Production was 1,818,000 net tons in the week ending December 5, 2019 while the capability utilization then was 78.6 percent. The current week production represents a 13.1 percent decrease from the same period in the previous year.

Local 5000 Launches New Mobile App

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Interlake Leasing III Ratifies CBA

The Collective Bargaining Agreement between United Steelworkers Local 5000 and Interlake Leasing III has been ratified. This marks the end of the long process of negotiating and ratifying contracts from all six bargaining units this past year. We understand that the process has been long and difficult, and we thank our members for their continued patience throughout the past several months and to those who participated at the bargaining table. 

M/V Lee A. Tregurtha Returns to Service

The M/V Lee A. Tregurtha of the Interlake Steamship Company returned to service last week, departing Fraser Shipyards in Superior, Wisconsin on October 12. The return to service marks a return o 11 permanent crew positions and opening up room for approximately 5 relief positions throughout the Interlake Fleet. 

Steel Production Up 1.2% Over Last Week

The American Iron and Steel Institute reports that in the week ending on October 10, 2020, domestic raw steel production was 1,502,000 net tons while the capability utilization rate was 67.9 percent. Production was 1,805,000 net tons in the week ending October 10, 2019 while the capability utilization then was 78.0 percent. The current week production represents a 16.8 percent decrease from the same period in the previous year.