Hard-working tough talkers fill Sault hotel

Approximately 400 members of United Steelworkers District 6 (Ontario/Atlantic Canada) have gathered in Sault Ste. Marie for the organization's 2015 conference.

A long list of notable speakers will deliver speeches pertaining to the steel industry, labour issues and Canadian politics at Quattro Suites & Conference Centre on Great Northern Road Monday through Thursday.

Ken Neumann, Toronto-based USW national director, is one of those speakers and delivered his address Monday afternoon.

Neumann told SooToday there are many topics up for discussion this week.

"An obvious topic is the upcoming federal election and the importance of what that means to working Canadians, and how we as steelworkers have always been a partisan organization supporting the New Democratic Party."

"We have a chance to make some change, for a chance to have a government that will look after the interests of working people, not just the rich and powerful," Neumann said, encouraged by an increase in federal NDP leader Thomas Mulcair's popularity and the recent election of an NDP provincial government in Alberta.

In his speech, Neumann called for improved healthcare, a $15 minimum wage and an improved childcare program, urging delegates to throw their support behind the New Democrats in the October 19 election.

The union is clearly attacking Stephen Harper's ruling Conservatives for what they consider to be a U.S.-style anti-labour union stance and are also slamming Justin Trudeau's Liberals for supporting the Conservative government's controversial Bill C-51, which critics say infringes on freedoms for the sake of enhanced national security.

Workplace health and safety is another hot topic, Neumann said, referring to Bill C-45, also known as the "Westray Bill."

The legislation reinforces the responsibility of employers to ensure a safe workplace for their employees, and criminal charges can be laid if these responsibilities are not met and serious accidents occur.  

The Westray Bill came about as a result of the 1992 Westray coal mining disaster in Nova Scotia in which 26 miners were killed after methane gas ignited, causing an explosion.

The disaster happened in spite of serious safety concerns raised beforehand by workers, union representatives and government inspectors.

"Our union was instrumental in bringing about the Westray law (in 2004) but since that law has been in existence we've still had 10,000 workers who have lost their lives and not a single CEO has gone to jail," Neumann said.

"We truly believe the law has got the elements and the teeth in it, but we don't have the crown prosecutors and the police that have the proper training to enforce that law."

Neumann said USW will also be discussing a new initiative with its First Nations members.

"We want to assist them, not only as union members, but also their culture and communities."

Local First Nations leaders, including Batchewana First Nations Chief Dean Sayers and Garden River First Nations Chief Lyle Sayers, are scheduled to be in attendance and deliver speeches Wednesday.

Neumann said USW will also fight to make sure pensions for retired workers from the former Stelco (now owned by U.S. Steel Canada, which is currently in bankruptcy protection) are protected.

Neumann was enthusiastic over the fact 2015 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the USW Humanity Fund.

A portion of USW member paycheques goes to the fund, which, Neumann explained, "goes to dozens and dozens of food banks."

"At Christmas 2014 we gave $140,000 to food banks throughout the country, and it gives relief after disasters like floods."

Apart from the usual speeches, members will dedicate Tuesday to the theme of 'Steelworkers make great neighbours.' 

Members will fan out across the Sault and area and take part in community projects.

Those projects include building a garden at Algoma Residential Community Hospice (ARCH), painting at Pauline's Place emergency shelter and St.Vincent Place, serving lunch at the Soup Kitchen and St. Vincent Place, delivering backpacks with school supplies and vouchers for running shoes for Child Care Algoma Best Start Hub programs, a clean-up and path restoration at the Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority office area, building a patio with benches and fire pit at Batchewana First Nation and refurbishing the veterans monument at Garden River First Nation.

"It's not about getting credit for it, it's about giving back to the community," said Jack Ostroski, USW area co-ordinator for Northwestern Ontario (stretching from the Sault to the Ontario-Manitoba border), speaking to SooToday. 

This week marks the first time USW District 6 has held its annual meeting in Sault Ste. Marie.

"It's long overdue, I'm overwhelmed, they're great people, they're putting a lot of money back into the community just by being here…it's the first time here for a lot of the delegates and they just love it," Ostroski said.

About 50 of the 400 attendees are unionized employees from Essar Steel Algoma, Tenaris Algoma Tubes, Soo Foundry and other Sault and area workers represented by USW.

An open-to-the-public USW community festival will take place Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Roberta Bondar Park, and will include a barbecue, bands, face painting and fireworks.

Following speeches by Neumann and Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus Monday, other notable speakers will include USW International President Leo Gerard at 9 a.m. Wednesday, followed by Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

It is also anticipated federal NDP leader Thomas Mulcair will deliver a speech via video Wednesday.

(PHOTO: United Steelworkers National President Ken Neumann delivers a speech to USW District 6 members at Quattro Suites & Conference Centre, August 17, 2015. Darren Taylor/SooToday)