Battle heating up between US Steel and Union

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The battle between the union and US Steel is intensifying tonight. The Steelworkers union held a meeting this afternoon to let their members know that US Steel plans to cut retiree benefits and stop making contributions to the pension plan.

That move would obviously be devastating for the roughly 9000 pensioners, and 550 active workers in Local 1005. The union is also seeking a court order to stop US Steel’s reallocation of Canadian production to the United States.

They say that the company is moving 15000 tonnes of product down to their American operations. If they continue, it will cripple the Canadian operations.

“We’re protesting that, we want an injunction against that” says USW 8782 President Bill Ferguson. “US Steel has responded by intending to go to court and ask that pensioner benefits be eliminated, and payments on the pension be eliminated.”

It was a short meeting, but emotions were high this afternoon, one man from the Nanticoke operations was brought to tears after talking about how his plant has already had to let 10 people go.