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
20, 2004 edition
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Mar. 20, 2004. 01:04 AM |
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Non-union group given say in
Stelco |
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By TARA PERKINS |
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Justice James Farley granted an association of salaried employees a seat at the Stelco bankruptcy restructuring bargaining table yesterday. The Ontario judge passed a motion that grants the group official recognition. Unlike the union locals, Stelco's salaried workers had no formal group established to represent them when Stelco filed for bankruptcy protection at the end of January. And creating one hasn't been easy. "The word has got out," said Larry Ciancone, one of eight Stelco employees who form a steering committee to head the Stelco and Subsidiaries Salary Employees Association (SASSEA). But word of mouth has only signed up about 350 people so far, out of about 1,800 active salaried Stelco employees across the four divisions deemed insolvent and under bankruptcy protection. SASSEA, which could represent all non-union workers from the CEO down to the mailroom clerk, is now ramping up efforts to let those employees know it exists. As part of yesterday's court order, Stelco has given SASSEA access to the company's internal communication system -- Intranet, bulletins boards and the like -- to help the association get its word out. "We sense there's a change in the company's level of communication," said Patrick Mousseau, a foreman at Lake Erie who is also part of the SASSEA steering committee. Committee members noted that CEO Courtney Pratt has made an effort to meet employees, and that Stelco executives have been responding to individual e-mails and phone calls from concerned workers. Financial analysts who look at Stelco have, in the past, complained of the company's lack of communication with its employees and its investors, and have been critical of the relationship between Stelco management and employees. Last summer, Griffiths McBurney & Partners analyst, Justin Wu, wrote that "the company must reinvent itself and regain the trust of its employees, as they will be a key to the success or failure of Stelco." In February, Pratt sent a letter out to employees that said "I understand that SASSEA is being formed to ensure that salaried employees have their own representation during the CCAA process ... This initiative on the part of salaried employees is understandable in these circumstances." SASSEA had its first informal meeting Feb. 9. The steering committee considered teaming up with the salaried retirees group, but were told there might be conflicts between the two once negotiations begin. So SASSEA hired its own lawyer, John Varley of Toronto law firm Pallett Valo, who has represented groups of salaried workers at Air Canada, Eaton's, the Red Cross and Ontario Hydro during those restructurings. SASSEA's legal costs will be paid for by Stelco. SASSEA intends to collect some money from salaried workers to pay for financial consultants to examine Stelco's numbers. Ciancone said SASSEA will sign a confidentiality agreement to look at Stelco's books. Members of SASSEA's steering committee said Stelco restructuring officer Hap Stephen has requested that they begin discussions with Stelco and lay out its concerns. But the association plans to take a little more time to gather its members. SASSEA's Web site is www.sassea.ca. The group can also be reached at P.O. Box 99002, Hamilton, L8J 2P7. tperkins@thespec.com 905-526-4620 |