SAULT STE. MARIE, – Employees of S&T Industrial Inc. in Sault Ste. Marie have joined the United Steelworkers (USW).
In a vote certified by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, more than 90 per cent of employees casting ballots voted to join the USW. The new bargaining unit covers more than 100 S&T employees, who work primarily on maintenance contracts at Essar Steel Algoma operations.
The workers will become members of the amalgamated USW Local 8748.
“We welcome these workers to our union and congratulate them on their democratic decision to join the USW to give them a real voice in their workplace,” said Marty Warren, the USW’s Ontario Director.
“Our union will provide all the support and resources these new members need to defend their rights and to negotiate a fair collective agreement with their employer,” Warren said.
The workers sought to join the USW to help address concerns over issues including seniority rights, wages and hours of work,” said Jack Ostroski, Steelworkers Area Coordinator.
“We’ve scheduled a membership meeting for April 9 to get started on electing a negotiating committee and conducting a bargaining survey among the members,” Ostroski said. “Our priority is to get a collective agreement that is good for the workers and good for the employer.”
The workers received significant help in their organizing campaign from retired Steelworker Merle Evans, a former Essar Algoma employee and a member of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR), Ostroski noted.
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For further information:
Marty Warren, USW Ontario Director, 416-243-8792
Jack Ostroski, USW Area Coordinator, 705-759-4945, 705-941-1224, jostroski@usw.ca
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