Steelworkers release CITT submission

Sault Ste. Marie, and Algoma Steel, figure prominently in a brief submitted by the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal's hearings on steel trade safeguards.

"The future security of our industry, our company and our community is in the hands of first the trade tribunal, and ultimately the federal government," USWA area co-ordinator Doug Olthuis (shown) said Wednesday as he released copies of the brief to local media.

"Steelworkers and their families in the Sault, as well as the entire community, have suffered the impact of inadequate trade protection against unfairly traded steel," Olthuis said.

"We've been through two Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act processes. We can't do that again. And in large part that will depend on the CITT and the federal government getting it right."

Ernst & Young study

A major part of the steelworkers' submission is an Ernst & Young study done in July of last year on the potential impact of closing Algoma Steel.

That study found that closure of the steel plant would result in a direct loss of 10 per cent of local employment, including 20 per cent of full-time employment and roughly 20 percent of employment income.

"In Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Steel supports directly or indirectly over 11,000 jobs in the community," the steelworkers said in a written statement.

"As well, seamless tubes producer Algoma Tubes/Tenaris has become a significant contributor of employment in the Sault."

Hearings start June 10

The CITT hearings begin on June 10. Sandy Adam, the retiring president and chief executive officer of Algoma Steel, is expected to appear before the tribunal.

It's not know whether the steelworkers will be allowed to augment their 68-page brief with live testimony.

The USWA witness would likely be Canadian research director Hugh Mackenzie, who was extensively involved in the restructuring negotiations at Algoma Steel.

Twelve pages of the steelworker brief consist of the Ernst & Young study on the impact of closing Algoma Steel on the local, regional and national economies.

Turkish steel spotted in Hamilton

At Wednesday's news conference, Norm MacKay, co-ordinator for the Keep Canadian Steel Strong Campaign, expressed concern about a Turkish vessel, believed to be containing steel, spotted this week at a dock in Hamilton.

It's not known where the steel went, MacKay said.

"We want tariffs similar to what the Americans adopted, and we want them retroactive," Olthuis said Wednesday.

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