Steel Mills
Third USW Local Joins in Conciliation, Strike Vote in Stelco Negotiations
Written by Laura Miller
July 12, 2022
Contract negotiations between Stelco and the United Steelworkers union are progressing slowly, and as a result, a third group of Stelco steelworkers has filed for conciliation and scheduled a strike mandate vote, a union official said.
Members of the USW Local 8782-03, responsible for Stelco’s pickling operations, have now joined the USW Local 8782 and USW Local 1005 in seeking the assistance of a Ministry of Labour conciliator in negotiations with the steelmaker. Local 8782, which represents workers at Stelco’s steel mill in Nanticoke, Ontario, has already voted in favor of a strike mandate, as has Local 1005, which represents workers at Stelco’s Hamilton processing and finishing operations.
Stelco workers have remained on the job despite the June 30 expiration of their previous collective bargaining agreement.
“Bargaining has been slow, to say the least,” commented Troy Cooper, president of the USW Local 8782-03 bargaining unit, which negotiates on behalf of the workers at the Stelco pickling operations.
“To date we have not been able to make the kind of progress that should be expected under the circumstances,” Cooper added.
The Local 8782-03’s strike mandate vote will be held on Wednesday, July 13. The vote is meant to show the solidarity and support of the steelworkers in the contract negotiations but does not necessarily mean a strike will happen.
Stelco did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday afternoon, July 12.
With record steel prices and strong shipments in 2021, Stelco posted record annual profits of Canadian $1.61 billion (US$1.26 billion) after losing C$159 million ($124.9 million) in 2020. This year, the company saw record first quarter net income despite a 50% decline from fourth quarter profit levels.
Stelco, which is based in Hamilton, Ontario, is an important sheet supplier to both Canada and the US.
By Laura Miller, Laura@SteelMarketUpdate.com
Laura Miller
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