The Stel Salaried Pensioners Organization wishes to thank The Hamilton Spectator for permission to post the following letter to the editor,

published in the January 12, 2006 edition

Pratt renewed Stelco spirit

By Graham Crawford, Hamilton
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jan 12, 2006)

RE: 'Stelco seeks fresh blood' (Jan. 11)

Courtney Pratt is someone I have known, worked with and volunteered with over the past 25 years. His beliefs, values and actions have been consistent in all that time.

What he has brought to Stelco is so much more than restructuring and refinancing.

He has brought a renewed spirit to all of its employees; an ever-growing trust between management and unions; and hope for and a belief in the continued success of the company.

Given where Stelco was before he took over as CEO, these are not small feats.

I hope the new investors have done their homework and realize just how much internal progress has been made through the skill, commitment and simple decency demonstrated by Pratt to all of Stelco's employees.

I hope they don't squander this important component of his legacy.

While I agree that it's common for new investors to bring in their own management to manage their investment, I encourage them to take the time to fully understand just how poor relationships were between employees, both salaried and hourly, and management only two short years ago.

It puts me in mind of a phrase that has stayed with me for years: "We serve as we are led." It was true before Pratt arrived, and it is true now. The difference, however, is great.

I wish Pratt all the best in his next endeavour, and Stelco and its new investors all the best as they continue the process of rebuilding the company into a 21st-century model that will be an asset to the city of Hamilton and to all the individuals and families who are touched by it.