http://agmetalminer.com/2010/06/16/us-steel-ordered-to-pay-fines-for-idling-canadian-stelco-facilities/ Sourcing & Trading Intelligence for Global Metals Markets Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:39:20 +0100 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://agmetalminer.com/2010/06/16/us-steel-ordered-to-pay-fines-for-idling-canadian-stelco-facilities/comment-page-1/#comment-21625 Harry Greenwood Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:29:35 +0000 http://agmetalminer.com/?p=4757#comment-21625 The Court decision is small victory unless all displaced Stelco workers are rehired or compensated by the arrogant US Steel. I also hope that the Canadian in American clothing Preident of USWA in Pittsburgh recognizes that now is the time for Canadian autonomy within the Union and stand up for Canadian workers. I applaud the leadership that was shown by the President of Local 1005 in Hamilton who was the real catalyst in attending to this court decision. The Court decision is small victory unless all displaced Stelco workers are rehired or compensated by the arrogant US Steel. I also hope that the Canadian in American clothing Preident of USWA in Pittsburgh recognizes that now is the time for Canadian autonomy within the Union and stand up for Canadian workers. I applaud the leadership that was shown by the President of Local 1005 in Hamilton who was the real catalyst in attending to this court decision.

]]> http://agmetalminer.com/2010/06/16/us-steel-ordered-to-pay-fines-for-idling-canadian-stelco-facilities/comment-page-1/#comment-21614 Al Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:36:59 +0000 http://agmetalminer.com/?p=4757#comment-21614 The purchase and shutting down of the Canadian operation was totally unethical and uncalled for. Can you imagine the Chinese buying US Steel ( American plants) and then "idling" them and re routing orders to Chinese plants in China until the "economy improves"? That is precisely what US Steel did to Canada and Canadians. What this also did was gutted Hamilton and Lake Erie of quality knowledgeable workers who quit or retired as a result. Having equipment sit for a year causes all kinds of start up problems. Your car would have problems too if it just sat for a year in the driveway. It's funny that the 2 other forein owned steel companies did not feel the need to idle their businesses. Essar Algoma and Arcelor Dofasco simply shortened the work week among other things. Hopefully US Steel and the government of Canada and the local unions will come to some sort of settlement. If US Steel is truly committed to Canada then they will now gear up once again and perhaps invest in new technologies etc. This company could improve its pension obligations by using the proceeds of the sale of the Bloom and Bar Mill and putting it towards funding the pensions of the Hamilton plant. They could also use the proceeds of all of the old scrap metal parts etc. to fund this as well. This would be using value of something they do not want to improve their bottom line. How about a partnership in wind turbines along the north shore of Lake Erie property? These turbines are going up all along the North shore as it is and having a partnership would improve future energy costs. I guess we will see in the near future if US Steel is truly committed to it's Canadian operation or if they were simply plundering the resources of a Canadian operation while the economy was hot. If the latter is true it certainly does not bode well for their reputation or the reputation of the United States as well. Canadians are America's friends to the north so lets hope that they do not develop the anti-American attitude that so much of the world now has. US Steel, the ball is in your court to show what sort of ethics and principles you truly have. The purchase and shutting down of the Canadian operation was totally unethical and uncalled for. Can you imagine the Chinese buying US Steel ( American plants) and then “idling” them and re routing orders to Chinese plants in China until the “economy improves”? That is precisely what US Steel did to Canada and Canadians. What this also did was gutted Hamilton and Lake Erie of quality knowledgeable workers who quit or retired as a result. Having equipment sit for a year causes all kinds of start up problems. Your car would have problems too if it just sat for a year in the driveway. It’s funny that the 2 other forein owned steel companies did not feel the need to idle their businesses. Essar Algoma and Arcelor Dofasco simply shortened the work week among other things.
Hopefully US Steel and the government of Canada and the local unions will come to some sort of settlement. If US Steel is truly committed to Canada then they will now gear up once again and perhaps invest in new technologies etc. This company could improve its pension obligations by using the proceeds of the sale of the Bloom and Bar Mill and putting it towards funding the pensions of the Hamilton plant. They could also use the proceeds of all of the old scrap metal parts etc. to fund this as well. This would be using value of something they do not want to improve their bottom line. How about a partnership in wind turbines along the north shore of Lake Erie property? These turbines are going up all along the North shore as it is and having a partnership would improve future energy costs.
I guess we will see in the near future if US Steel is truly committed to it’s Canadian operation or if they were simply plundering the resources of a Canadian operation while the economy was hot. If the latter is true it certainly does not bode well for their reputation or the reputation of the United States as well. Canadians are America’s friends to the north so lets hope that they do not develop the anti-American attitude that so much of the world now has. US Steel, the ball is in your court to show what sort of ethics and principles you truly have.

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