Steel Mills

USSC Retiree Benefits to Remain Suspended

August 20, 2016

Benefits will not be reinstated to US Steel Canada retirees ruled Justice Herman Wilton-Siegel in Superior Court on Friday. US Steel Canada has been given permission, however, to utilize $1.57 million in cash to pay retention bonuses to key employees.

The judge also directed USSC to follow through on $2.7 million of funding to the province transitional fund that was instituted to help the retirees who have lost benefits. The province has set aside a total of $5.5 million as a temporary fund to help retirees with urgent health needs and prescriptions.

The decision by the Wilton-Siegel was not a surprise and closely matches recommendations by the court-appointed monitor.

Gary Howe, president of USW Local 1005, was among those who were disappointed but not surprised by the decision.

Howe, shortly after hearing the verdict, told the Hamilton Spectator, “Basically we’re outraged, that’s the best way to describe what we’re feeling. The company is sitting on a mountain of cash so there’s no reason it can’t pay for these benefits.

“We’re not talking about the survival of the company, but of the theft of benefits. This is nothing but legalized theft,” he said.