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Hundreds of Stelco's salaried workers met with a company official
yesterday in an effort to clear up questions about their future.
Stelco is actively encouraging employees to retire. The steelmaker
wants to emerge from bankruptcy protection with a trimmed workforce.
It has promised the salaried workers they will receive full retirement
benefits if they retire before Sept. 30. That has workers wondering what
happens after Oct. 1.
Many employees are weighing whether or not to leave in the next month,
and want to know what will happen if they don't, said salaried
representatives.
The Stelco and Subsidiaries Salary Employees Association (SASSEA)
hosted the meetings, where employees were able to ask questions of the
steelmaker's director of human resources.
A significant number of salaried workers have been retiring recently,
said Larry Ciancone, a member of SASSEA's steering committee.
Because of that, the salaried workers "don't expect mass
terminations," he said.
Frank Sergi, another steering committee member, said it's important to
point out that "at this point employees have lost absolutely
nothing."
"To date there's been nothing put on the table that's a
concession or demand," said Pat Mousseau, of SASSEA.
But he expects the first demand to be changes to employee benefits.
In a letter to salaried employees, Stelco CEO Courtney Pratt said
"the company has looked at a number of options for reducing the cost
of its group benefits program -- both for the active employees and for
retirees."
Stelco is looking to reduce the amount it pays for prescription drugs,
and may eliminate the life insurance it offers. Right now, the company
pays the full amount for drugs and hospital stays. It is considering
reducing that coverage and having the employee pick up some of the costs.
Ciancone said information for salaried workers has been slow in
coming.
"Negotiations (with Stelco) are starting to move forward now that
the union's talking," he said.
As of March, Stelco had about 1,800 salaried workers.
For more information on SASSEA see www.sassea.ca.
tperkins@thespec.com 905-526-4620
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