The Stel Salaried
Pensioners Organization wishes to thank The Hamilton Spectator for permission
to post the following article by Reporter Tara Perkins published in the March
18, 2004 edition
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Mar. 18, 2004. 12:57 AM |
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LAYTON STANDS TALL FOR
STEELWORKERS |
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NDP leader says his party would have a national
steel strategy, protect pensions |
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By Tara Perkins |
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Federal NDP leader Jack Layton spent a chummy evening with Hamilton's steelworkers last night, rallying support for the NDP by painting it as the only party that cares about the steel industry. After greeting nightshift workers as they entered Stelco's gates, Layton sat around the union hall on Barton Street, munching on sandwiches and sympathizing with workers over their plight. He then donned a steelworkers baseball hat to speak to an audience of about 30 people about what his party would do for their battered industry. "We want to pass a law that puts workers' pensions in front of other creditors," Layton said. "Some of them are getting $2,500 a month. It's not like they're living high off the hog. If they won't protect those pensions, it's nothing short of theft." Layton would also take a stand against foreign countries that dump steel, he said. He frequently bashed the Liberals. "The government believes in rolling over for free trade, and now the auto industry, lumber and steel are all in trouble. We believe in having an industrial strategy," he said. "How could our government have not seen fit to develop a strategy for the steel industry in the past two years? It's a disgrace." Layton recently flew down to Pittsburgh to meet with the International Council of Steelworkers, including USWA head Leo Gerard. "They said our government hasn't been showing any backbone," Layton said. "It's as though our government will not step up for our workers." Layton took a shot at Liberal MP Tony Valeri for suggesting that Stelco should deal with its own problems without the federal government. "Anybody who says that from this area should be turfed out of office. And I know just the guy who's going to do it too," Layton said, referring to steelworker Tony DePaulo, who is seeking the NDP nomination in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek. DePaulo said people don't care about Liberal yelling matches and infighting, they care about what is being done to help Hamilton. "Over the last two years, we've been lobbying liberals and Mr. Valeri, who was the head of the steel caucus, over tariffs and other actions for the steel industry," DePaulo said, "but nothing has been done." Recent mayoral candidate Dave Christopherson said last night that, barring any major changes, he plans to announce in the next two weeks that he will run for the NDP in Hamilton Centre. tperkins@thespec.com 905-526-4620 |