Steelworkers Provide Update on U.S. Steel Canada Mediation

TORONTO, Sept. 30, 2015 /CNW/ - United Steelworkers (USW) Locals 8782 and 1005 advise members and retirees on the progress of U.S. Steel Canada's CCAA process.

USW has just completed five days of mediation in Toronto and the mediation is ongoing. The mediation is confidential and the parties cannot provide any details of discussions that have and are continuing to take place.

While few details are available, USW can say that discussions are continuing and have not broken off.  

"To our thousands of members and retirees: we will continue to defend your jobs, your pensions and your benefits, that you have fought for and that you deserve," said Gary Howe, President of USW Local 1005 in Hamilton.

"Throughout this process, our priorities have not changed. We will do all in our power to protect our members' pensions, their crucial health benefits and of course Steelworker jobs," said Bill Ferguson, President of USW Local 8782 in Nanticoke.

"We want to move forward and keep making steel in Hamilton and Nanticoke," said Rob Newstead, Unit Chair of USW Local 8782 Pickling Division.

A number of motions were to be heard by the Ontario Superior Court this week. Those motions have now been rescheduled for October 7 and 8.

"As there are no longer any scheduled public proceedings this week, we instead call on our members, retirees and supporters to join us to witness public proceedings before the court on October 7 and 8," said Ferguson.

Motions to be heard by the court on October 7 and 8 include the U.S. Steel Canada motion to stop making certain pension plan contributions and to stop paying for crucial benefits for retirees known as OPEBs (other post-employment benefits). The USW has condemned this motion and is opposing U.S. Steel Canada's efforts to avoid its responsibilities to its employees and retirees.

Retirees received a letter from U.S. Steel Canada dated September 18 that caused confusion and alarm. USW Local 1005 and USW Local 8782 are working to address the concerns of that letter. Our members and retirees can expect to receive another letter from U.S. Steel Canada in the near future, regarding the debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing and OPEBs.

USW hopes to have more information for members and retirees very soon.

"We will continue to stand together and fight hard for our members and retirees throughout this process. We're Steelworkers," said Marty Warren, USW Ontario Director. "We know that Hamilton Works and Lake Erie Works can succeed as stable, long-term, profitable businesses with good jobs and retirements for our members."

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)

Gary Howe, President, USW Local 1005, 905-531-4078, [email protected]; Bill Ferguson, President, USW Local 8782, 905-537-8782, [email protected]; Tony DePaulo, Assistant to USW Ontario Director, 416-243-8792, 905-869-0760, [email protected]; Bob Gallagher, USW Communications, 416-544-5966, 416-434 2221, [email protected]