The blowing snow and sub-zero temperatures failed to faze Mary-Joe Eaton as she marched through the streets of Hamilton in support of workers at U.S. Steel. The Local 1000A activist was among the nearly 10,000 workers who took part in the Hamilton Day of Action: People versus U.S. Steel on January 29, 2011.
The event was held to protest U.S. Steel’s attacks on workers’ pensions and Conservative government’s failure to provide protection for Canadian jobs, quality of life and retirement security.
U.S. Steel wants to strip away pension indexing for retirees under the existing plan. Indexing ensures the value of an employee’s pension keeps up with inflation. The company also wanted new employees to belong to a new pension plan, where payouts wouldn’t be guaranteed.
“We need to be here as one to support our brothers and sisters from U.S. Steel and to ensure their quality of life is not attacked,” said Eaton, a steward at Kretschmar in North York. “Their fight is our fight.”
In these tough times, Local 1000A President Kevin Corporon said it’s critical all workers stand together because what is happening to the Steelworkers could happen to anyone.
“The company is backtracking on its commitments to workers on their retirement security and the government is just standing by, letting it happen,” Corporon said. “This type of inaction leaves not just the Steelworkers, but all workers vulnerable to the whims of the companies.”
Local 1000A activist Kyle McGreal, who works at National Grocers Maple Grove Distribution Centre in Cambridge, said the steelworkers need all the support they can get.
“The steelworkers fought for many of the things workers have today, from better wages to pensions, now they are under attack,” said McGreal. “What happens with the steelworkers could set a precedent and we have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Maria Cabral, a Local 1000A activist and worker at Maple Leaf Poultry in Brampton, said she came to the event because she believes it is vital for workers to stand together. “The union is the power of the people coming together and I am proud to stand with my brothers and sisters who need our help right now,” Cabral said
