February 6, 2015

Dear Novelis Worker Committee:

Please accept our congratulations for your recent legal victoryand we want to thank you for agreeing to volunteer
to be part of the Core Committee. A letter was sent out to all Novelis workers explaining the court decision and our
intent to request to bargain; but we want to make sure you have a little more detail about the court decision.
Despite its persistent claims of innocence, Novelis was found guilty by a federal administrative law judge on all of
the counts brought forward in the trial. These include the CEO and Plant Manager unlawfully making threats during
a captive audience meeting two days before the representation election. These threats were about what would
happen if the USW was voted in and they included: plant closure; loss of business; threat of rescinding overtime
benefits and manipulating federal government documents to falsely accuse the USW of filing charges that it had not
filed; substantially lower wages and benefits; and more difficult working conditions.
Novelis was also found guilty of restoring Sunday premium pay in an effort to coerce employees from voting for
the USW. The judge also found Novelis guilty of maintaining unlawful restrictions on solicitation, distribution, and
use of social media, and found that it discriminatorily enforced these policies against USW supporters. Novelis
supervisors were also found guilty of unlawful interrogation, soliciting of grievances, polling of employees, and of
making unlawful threats to USW supporters in smaller group meetings. In addition, they were also found guilty of
discriminatorily demoting USW supporter Everett Abare because of his USW support and the exercise of his rights
to discuss working conditions. The judge has ordered Novelis to cease all illegal conduct, to post and notify
employees of their rights to unionize, and its unlawful violation of those rights. Furthermore, Novelis has been
ordered to reinstate Everett from any demotion and to give him full back pay and reimbursement for any lost wages
or related expenses due to his demotion.
Finally and most importantly, the judge has recognized that Novelis violated the law to such a degree that having an
untainted election would not be possible. The judge has ordered Novelis to recognize and bargain with the USW as
the representative of employees at Oswego. This type of order is only issued when an employer has engaged in the
most severe and extreme illegal conduct violating employees rights to unionize.
We fully expect them to not do the right thing and recognize the union; they will appeal the decision. But rest
assured, we will stand by you as we continue this fight. Novelis management need to see that there still continues
to be support for the union in Oswego, and that is where you will play a critical role. The union is and always has
been Novelis-Oswego employees. We need management to see that solidarity inside the plant.
Unfortunately, Jack Vanderbaan had to go back to his plant, but we will be sending in another member organizer to
work with you. His name is Abdou El Berchoui and is a member from District 4. He will be in contact with you to
introduce himself and to set up a meeting to discuss what the next steps will be.
We are excited to begin the next phase of the organizing campaign at Novelis. And we want to thank you in
advance for your continued commitment to forming your union. If you have any questions, please feel free to
contact Abdou (pronounced Ab-doo) at 860-639-6698.
In Solidarity,

John Shinn, Director

USW District 4