We’ve been receiving lots of encouraging words from co-workers in the past 24 hours. This person asked us to share their thoughts with everyone. It’s pretty fair to both sides in this vote and we are happy to share it uneditted, uncensored with you. This vote is your choice!
Hey Folks,
I wanted to weigh in on a few things here:
There are promises and threats being made from both sides regarding the union thing, and honestly, we have no way of knowing how things will play out, but here are some things we do know, because they’ve happened to us/are happening to us.
We were told that to get from level 1 progression plan pay (25.50) to level 7 pp pay (40.00) would take approx. 7 years. This scale was not meant to include market analysis, just our merit increases (either STGP or progression-related). With 75 to 78 cent a year raises, it will take about another 10 years for anyone to make that mark. But we have to take it, because we have no voice.
7 urgent personal days, meant for us to use during rough/unforeseen circumstances, were taken from us and replaced by 3 family medical leave days, and there is nothing to stop them from taking that away next. But we have to take it, because we have no voice.
Our benefits are set to change, for me that means a difference of almost $60 per cheque with less coverage. It is worse for those with families. We have no say in this now, nor will we in the future should it happen again, and what’s to stop it from happening again? But we have to take it, because we have no voice.
Several of you have been suspended without pay, and whether rightly or wrongly, what was your option for appeal? To who could you turn for assistance?
Many of us have been moved from shift to shift with no say in where you landed causing people to change vacation and Christmas plans. This affects quality of life immensely.
All of these above changes, none positive for us, and there’s nothing to prevent the company from continually chipping away in the future. What we have now is not bad, I agree. But what we had last year was better. What we were promised was better. What we’ll have next year may be worse.
Sudbury was mentioned earlier, and how they had to claw just to get there. Well they started in a rough place. We are not. Not yet. Let’s not get there before we realize it is too late and then we begin to bargain with a company that does not have the best interests of you and your family at heart.
Your co-worker.
If you or your fellow employees have any thoughts about why you are supporting the union, we are happy to share them annoymously with your co-workers. Email us: vale@usw.ca Or call Amanda at (902) 219-3544 or Al at 685-8095
You can also subscribe to our text message info alert system. If you aren’t on it text VALE to the number 32-32-3.
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First published on globeandmail.com on October 22, 2026 By Marty Warren, Special to the Globe and Mail Marty Warren, the Canadian national director of the United Steelworkers union. As I write, more workers at Hamilton’s Stelco steel mill are being laid off. In all, the plant’s U.S. owner, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., will cut up to 500 jobs. This, […]
Union representing laid-off workers makes no apology for helping enforce Canadian law TORONTO – The American CEO of the company that owns the Stelco steel mills laying off Canadian workers accused the United Steelworkers union (USW) of “colluding” with the federal government. “Damn right we’re colluding with Ottawa,” said USW national director Marty Warren. “Like […]
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