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Retired steelworkers got a quick and painful lesson this morning about the impact of a superior court ruling issued Friday. Just days after judge Herman Wilton-Siegel gave U.S. Steel the right to suspend benefit payments to retired workers, pharmacies and health care providers were on the phone to tell shocked pensioners that their health plans no longer exist.
It could be a bitter winter for Greg Taylor and his wife Brenda. The security that he worked a lifetime for has been swept away. This morning his local drug-store called and told him that he no longer had prescription drug coverage due to a court decision. Greg’s monthly pension from Stelco is $2,200 a month, not nearly enough to cover the medicine he needs for diabetes, and heart issues.
On Monday, former conservative Industry Minister James Moore issued a statement condemning the move to terminate benefits.
“It is unacceptable that U.S. Steel Canada is abandoning these workers and their families.” Moore declared, then added “We are the only government that has taken U.S. Steel Canada to court and are not afraid to do so again.”
But it’s not clear whether Moore is speaking for the Harper government. He is the out-going Industry Minister, and is not currently running for re-election.
“I don’t have much faith in that. I firmly believe it’s just a lot of rhetoric” said Greg. For now, he’ll just have to get along the best he can somehow but he says there’s a lesson here, for all of us. “If they’re gonna set a precedent with this, then no one’s safe. Including the people from the teacher’s union. No one’s safe. ”
