Labour council supports Hamilton steelworkers

Jan. 30, the Windsor District Labour Council joined unions across the province of Ontario to protest against U.S. Steel Canada for failing to support jobs, pension plans and benefits for steelworkers in Hamilton. The protest took place at Hamilton’s city hall.

In 2014, Stelco a Canadian steel company filed for protection through the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, which allows financially troubled corporations to restructure their affairs to avoid bankruptcy. It also allows the creditors to receive a payment for the amounts owing by the corporation U.S Steel bought Stelco for $ 1.1 billion in 2007 and assumed its debt.

Workers have been laid off since the company took control, and in 2013 U.S Steel announced that it will stop iron and steel making in Hamilton. Workers have also been denied their pensions and benefits since U.S. Steel claimed CCAA.

At city hall, Rolf Gerstenberger, retired president of the United Steelworkers, who organized the protest addressed on his speech that the issue of workers are not getting  pensions or benefits and how the new and old Stelco and now U.S Steel have been permitted discard the law on pension funding.

“The government first passed the 5.1 election, endorsed the CCAA bankruptcy court and U.S. Steel’s special regulation on pensions and subsequently  provided yet another CCAA exemption from all pension funding… all three maneuvers to protect the corporation circumvented the laws, leaving workers, pensioners and the city vulnerable,” said Rolf Gerstenberger.

Seventy-seven year old Dennis McLaren worked for Stelco for 33 years and retired in 2001. McLaren hopes, with this protest, steelworkers will get some recognition for their hard work. Although McLaren retired he has continued to be involved with the steelworkers.

“Our country should think together and fight for the right of the workers,” said McLaren.

Windsor District Labour Council attended the protest at Hamilton holding up signs to show their support for steelworkers.

Windsor District Labour Council  member Marvin Roman, 50, who has been a member since 1993, also took part in the protest. Roman said the workers want to show the  government that workers all around Canada want them to intervene in favour of the workers.

“These workers are the Canadian workers, people who pay for this country,” said Roman.

The steelworkers union are still trying to reach an agreement with U.S. Steel Canada for their pension and benefits. The union is also asking the government to help them with this issue.