The Stel Salaried Pensioners Organization wishes to
thank The Hamilton Spectator for permission to post the following article by
Reporters Steve Arnold, Lisa Grace Mar and Tara Perkins published in the
February 18, 2004 edition
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Feb. 18, 2004. 12:37 AM |
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Workers demand action now |
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STELCO IN CRISIS; Steelworkers meet McGuinty today |
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By Steve Arnold, Lisa Grace Marr
and Tara Perkins |
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Steelworkers will tell Premier Dalton McGuinty today that it's time to climb down off the fence on Stelco. Nearly three weeks after the giant steelmaker sought bankruptcy protection, a spokesman for McGuinty said the premier will get "an opportunity to hear firsthand the concerns of workers and pensioners" from national and local steelworker leaders. The United Steelworkers of America are looking for something more concrete. "We're not impressed with this government because they haven't done anything yet," said Wayne Fraser, Ontario-Atlantic director of the union. "We want to be sure that at the end of the day this government will be there for the steel industry." The meeting, arranged at the request of Lawrence McBrearty, the union's Canadian director, will look at issues including protection for pensioners and the establishment of a steel sector advisory committee. "What we need to do is to get a committee together with the provinces which have a steel industry, federal ministers responsible for industry or trade, steel producers and the unions and figure out how we're going to save jobs in Canada," McBrearty said. He added that he has been pushing for such a meeting for the last two weeks. Saving jobs has become a critical issue for the steel union which has seen Sysco collapse into bankruptcy, Algoma restructure for the second time while Ivaco and Stelco shelter under creditor protection and the banks behind Slater Steel push for the company to be liquidated. "All the manufacturing jobs are disappearing and they're being replaced with jobs in the service sector which pay $7 or $8 an hour," McBrearty said. "We've got to do something." "We're getting together so we can talk about the steel sector in Ontario," said Fraser. "We're turning to the government to support the steel industry in any way it can." At the top of the list of union concerns is protection for pensioners who have been warned their retirement incomes could be cut severely if Stelco goes out of business with huge unfunded liabilities in its 17 pension plans. A provincial insurance fund will ensure pensions don't fall below $1,000, but the union has argued since the Ontario election last year that's not enough. Fraser said the union has so far been unimpressed by the support the steel industry has received from McGuinty Liberals. Hamilton East MPP Dominic Agostino defended the Ontario government's aid to the industry. "We've been at the table since Day 1," he said. "I certainly think the province will be a major player as this develops, it's just a matter of what can be done." In addition to McBrearty and Fraser, the 3 p.m. meeting will be attended by local leaders Rolf Gerstenberger (Hilton Works), Bill Ferguson (Lake Erie), Scott Duvall (Stelwire) and Bill Baker (Slater Steel). A similar meeting was held last week between the union and five federal cabinet members, including Transport Minister Tony Valeri, Agriculture Minister Bob Speller, National Revenue Minister Stan Keyes, who all represent Hamilton-area ridings, and International Trade Minister Jim Peterson. McBrearty has also met with Labour Minister Claudette Bradshaw, calling on her to work toward an industrial strategy, and Manitoba Premier Gary Doer. "We have been lobbying the government for more than three years on these issues," he said. sarnold@thespec.com 905-526-3496 lgmarr@thespec.com 905-526-3992 tperkins@thespec.com 905-526-4620 |