Steel Mills

Algoma Union Calls for Strike Vote

February 9, 2017

USW Local 2251 at Essar Steel Algoma has called a strike vote for Tuesday, February 28. The union says it has no choice after withdrawing a complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board and accepting that the collective agreement contract expired on July 31, 2016.

The union is now subject to the provisions of Local Union By-law 32 which states: “A strike vote shall be held either prior to the termination of the Collective Agreement, or upon breakdown of negotiations.”

“Clearly, we now have to conduct a strike mandate vote,” said Local 2251 president Mike Da Prat. “We are well beyond the termination date of the collective agreement and negotiations did not take place prior to the termination of the collective agreement.”

Information meetings have been scheduled for Thursday, February 23 to update the membership on negotiations. The vote will follow on Tuesday, February 28.

More than 50 percent of the membership must vote in favor of a strike before it can be implemented. An affirmative vote does not necessarily mean a strike will take place.

According to union rules a strike may consist of:

a cessation of work
a refusal to work or to continue to work by employees in combination or in concert or in accordance with a common understanding
a slowdown or other concerted activity on the part of employees designed to restrict or limit output

This past week, Essar Steel Algoma received an extension until March 31, 2016 for its Debtor-In-Possession financing and stay of proceedings under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA).

CEO Kalyan Ghosh said in a press release announcing the extension, “We continue to operate business as usual while we look to engage in meaningful discussions with the union in pursuit of an agreement that works for all parties.”