Sudbury miners reject Vale’s unacceptable offer for a second time

United Steelworkers (USW) informed that the Vale miners in Sudbury rejected Vale’s new offer on June 14. Turnout was 84 per cent and the offer was rejected by a majority of 87 per cent.

Iron Ore Company workers on strike in Labrador, demanding end to two-tier conditions

Around 3:00 am on March 27, the close to 1,400 workers of Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) in Labrador City went on strike. They walked out mainly to oppose IOC employing a “temporary workforce” side-by-side with permanent workers doing the same work under drastically inferior working conditions. The workers do not accept that a mining giant such as IOC should force a section of workers to labour under substandard conditions. The strike vote took place Monday, March 26 in two membership meetings of United Steelworkers Local 5795, one in the morning and one in the evening, in which workers voted on the latest company offer.

Nation-building in the 21st century or empire-building

Finding a practical way forward for the workers’ movement to make the struggle for rights effective at this time | ROLF GERSTENBERGER*

Nation-building in the 21st century has to overcome the obstacles that developed during the 20th century. These obstacles derive primarily from the empire-building of the global monopolies and the big powers with which they are connected. Empire-building of the global monopolies during the twentieth century overwhelmed and defeated the nation-builders of the nineteenth century, the nascent period of capitalism, and the heroic nation-building attempt of the working class in the Soviet Union.

Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal: the issues, the method, the opposition

Indepth report by Renewal Update, May 25, 2016

Demonstrations at hearings oppose the deal

The people’s opposition is deepening the legitimacy crisis of the institutions which advocate the neo-liberal agenda and the parties which champion it. Their attempt to use public consultations to give legitimacy to a neo-liberal free trade deal that has already been negotiated and signed behind the backs of Canadians is seriously at risk. In every city where the government’s consultations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) have been held, Canadians inside and outside pointed out that far from upholding trade on the basis of mutual benefit, the TPP puts trade further under the domination of global monopolies in pursuit of their own private interests. It is a nation-wrecking agreement that attacks the right of Canadians to sovereign decision-making power.

No payoff to US Steel! Keep Stelco producing!

Unite to defeat monopoly right!

The Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) denounces with utmost contempt the CCAA ruling that sanctions not only the bogus claim of U.S. Steel on the remaining Stelco assets but also its deliberate wrecking and liquidation of a productive Canadian asset. The ruling under the anti-social authority of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) puts at risk the pensions of 20,000 retired and retiring steelworkers and salaried employees of the Stelco steelworks in Hamilton and Nanticoke and further threatens the livelihoods of the remaining employees.

Steelworkers hold very successful Day of Action in Hamilton

About 5,000 people rallied in Hamilton on January 30 at a very successful Day of Action organized by Locals 1005 and 8782 USW with the support of United Steelworkers, the Hamilton and District Labour Council, the Ontario Federation of Labour and other labour councils and unions. Active and retired steelworkers from Hamilton, Nanticoke and the surrounding communities attended the rally along with entire families and people from all walks of life who identify with the cause of the steelworkers.

January 30 Day of Action in Hamilton: Together let us stand up for the rights of all

Saturday, January 30 — 1:00 pm
Keep Stelco Producing! Steel not Steal!

PDF

“The People vs U.S. Steel,” Hamilton Day of Action, January 29, 2011

Hamilton City Hall, 71 Main St. W.
For information: Local 1005 USW 905-547-1417
or Local 8782 USW at 519-587-2000.

Hamiltonians and workers from different sectors of the economy from different cities in Ontario are joining steelworkers and pensioners in Hamilton to make the Hamilton Day of Action on January 30 a success. The last day of action was held in Hamilton five years ago, on January 29, 2011, at a time when U.S. Steel had imposed a phoney lockout to extort concessions from steelworkers. To its credit, Local 1005 USW launched a campaign under the theme The People vs. U.S. Steel to uphold the interests of the Stelco workforce and pensioners as well as Hamilton and Canada itself.

Stand as one in defence of the rights of all!

Join Locals 1005 and 8782 USW to Make the Hamilton Day of Action on January 30 a Success!

By ROLF GERSTENBERGER

PDF

Keep Stelco Producing! Steel not Steal! “The People vs U.S. Steel,” Hamilton Day of Action, January 29, 2011. Saturday, January 30 — 1:00 pm Hamilton City Hall, 71 Main St. W. For information: Local 1005 USW 905-547-1417 or Local 8782 USW at 519-587-2000.

 

The situation at U.S. Steel/Stelco needs the people’s intervention. When the people stand as one for a just cause it makes a difference. U.S. Steel has attacked not just active and retired steelworkers and salaried employees but also the Ontario and municipal governments, suppliers, contractors, our collective economy and social fabric. It has assaulted the rights of all and the common good.

A step too far: U.S. Steel files motion to steal $2.2 billion from Canada

(November 5) – U.S. Steel executives are flush with arrogance for having manipulated the Ontario Superior Court to put its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary into bankruptcy protection of the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) without putting U.S. Steel assets in the U.S. at risk. This was done with the criminal magician’s sleight of hand, creating a fictitious separate Canadian company, an offspring that has supposedly bled the good U.S. parent dry.

Stelco and the need for a new direction

CCAA – Wild West show of the monopolies where might makes right

Yes, to a pro-social alternative for Stelco!
Keep Stelco producing!
Let’s make it happen!

Bewilderment is a word that comes to mind when thinking of the damage U.S. Steel has caused the Canadian economy and people without any significant pushback from the federal and Ontario governments.

U.S. Steel’s bogus bankruptcy

Local 1005 Steelworkers protest outside CCAA court hearing in Toronto, October 6, 2014

Legal restructuring means the claims of employees, retirees, suppliers and the federal and Ontario governments are to be disappeared

On September 16, U.S. Steel filed for bankruptcy protection for its Canadian operations under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA).

Information Update, the newsletter of Local 1005 United Steelworkers, questions the assertion that U.S. Steel’s Canadian facilities, called USSC, are bankrupt when they are wholly-owned by the U.S. parent company and the parent company, USS, is far from bankrupt.  This assertion appears as the main argument for CCAA. The factum presented to the court presents no proof of separate ownership of the Canadian subsidiary. The sole equity ownership remains in the hands of the U.S. Steel stock traded as X on the New York Stock Exchange.

Event. Demonstration in support of US Steel pensioners and employees

Ontario government must defend public right! No to U.S. Steel’s bankruptcy fraud!

Labour Day march in Hamilton, 2014

Demonstrate outside Comeback Hearing and DIP Request

October 6, 2014, 10 a.m. • 330 University Avenue (Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List), Toronto

Join Steelworkers in a protest outside the Court hearing in Toronto. The hearing will, among other things, determine whether debter-in-possession (“DIP”) financing in the amount of $185 million, advanced to fund operations during the CCAA proceedings, will be approved, together with a “charge” on the assets of USSC to secure the DIP financing and certain other priority charges (together, the “Priority Charges”). The proposed Priority Charges would rank in priority to all security interests, trusts, liens, charges and encumbrances, claims of secured creditors, statutory or ottherwise, including any deemed trust created under the Pension Benefits Act.

To get a seat on the Local 1005 bus from Hamilton, call 905-547-1417 or sign-up
at the Union Hall at 350 Kenilworth Avenue North. Visit Local 1005 USW online @ http://www.uswa1005.ca.

Hamilton Steelworkers Area Council

For full information, see also on this website:

U.S. Steel files for bankruptcy protection – Steelworkers respond

https://tonyseed.wordpress.com/2014/09/23/u-s-steel-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-steelworkers-respond/

U.S. Steel files for bankruptcy protection – Steelworkers respond

Labour Day march in Hamilton, 2014

Harper Conservatives Enable U.S. Steel’s Latest Blow to Canada

– United Steelworkers –

• Fraudulent Bankruptcy Without an Owner 


– Rolf Gerstenberger, President, Local 1005 USW –

Local 1005 USW Press Conference

• Transcript of Presentation by President Rolf Gerstenberger

• August 13 Letter from Local 1005 to U.S. Steel 

• August 14 Response from Local 1005 to U.S. Steel’s Self-Serving Restructuring Proposals

An Appeal to the Court of Public Opinion

– Local 1005 USW –

Local 1005 condemns in no uncertain terms this phony CCAA bankruptcy filed by U.S. Steel on September 16. It creates a very serious situation for active and retired Canadian steelworkers and their union, the United Steelworkers (USW), as well as the locals directly involved, Local 1005 USW at Hamilton Works and Local 8287 USW at Lake Erie Works. This phony CCAA filing also directly affects present and former salaried employees of the company, the citizens of Hamilton and their Municipal Council, and the Province of Ontario.

Picket and Rally – Manufacturing Yes, Nation Wrecking, No! Oppose the Wrecking of the Steel Industry!

Saturday, November 16 — 11:00 am-1:00 pm

Constituency Office of David Sweet, MP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, 59 Kirby Ave, Unit 3, Greensville, (up the escarpment on Highway 8 above Dundas).

Organized by: Local 1005 USW and Hamilton and District Labour Council

For information: USW Local 1005, (905)547-1417, info@uswa1005.ca

Hamilton steel: Are we a country or not?

By ROLF GERSTENBERGER*

ON BEHALF OF present and former members of Local 1005 USW, I wish to express deep regret and anger at the announced permanent closure of steelmaking at Hilton Works, which has been in operation our entire lives and has made Hamilton what it is today.

This is a dagger into the heart and soul of our community. The hand on this poisonous blade stretches from Pittsburgh but it has been guided into our chest by the federal and Ontario governments. They have the power to say no to this attack on Canada’s economy. They have the power to beat back this invasion of destructive robber barons whose private self-interest has nothing good to offer Canada.

U.S. Steel announces permanent shutdown of steelmaking at Hamilton Works

Time for a new direction for the economy

Manufacturing Yes! Nation-Wrecking No!

TML Daily (Nov. 1)  – U.S. Steel CEO Mario Longhi during a conference call from Pittsburgh to discuss the company’s 3rd quarter results announced, “We have decided to permanently shut down the iron and steel making operations at Hamilton Works on December 31, 2013. This action will result in a sustainable improvement in our cost structure of approximately $50 million per year and reduce our cash needs of these facilities by approximately $25 million per year. This reduction in our total steelmaking capability also improves both our iron ore and coke balance and allows us to take additional actions.”

In response to U.S. Steel’s destruction of steelmaking in Canada, the Harper Minister of Industry James Moore is reported to have said that the wrecking of Canadian steelmaking assets is a private business decision in which the government will not intervene.

Canadian Network on Cuba holds successful convention

5th Biennial CNC Convention affirms determination to strengthen Canada-Cuba relations and step up the work to free the Cuban Five, political prisoners in U.S. jails