By Devin K.

HAMILTON - Around 100 members and supporters of United Steel Workers Local 1005 gathered at City Hall on Wednesday in the wake of the recent shutdown of the last blast furnace at US Steel (former Stelco) Hamilton works. The move has many workers fearing that the company is preparing for a lockout.

The rally was organized to coincide with East End Councillor Sam Merulla putting forward a motion to City Council that the City of Hamilton demand the restart of the blast furnace. The motion read, in part: “[…] the City of Hamilton call on US Steel to restart the Blast Furnace immediately; and stop Corporate ‘bullying tactics’ […] the City of Hamilton asks US Steel to restart negotiations with Local 1005” While the City of Hamilton itself has no actual power to force the restart of the furnace, the union hopes public pressure will at least contribute to getting US Steel back at the bargaining table.

The Pittsburg based corporation has not resumed contract negotiations with USW Local 1005 since July 7th, negotiations in which the company is demanding a number of concessions relating to pension plans, vacation time and cost of living allowance, among other things. There are fears that with the shutdown of the furnace, US Steel is preparing for a lockout to force the union to accept these concessions. Glenn Faulman, rank and file member of USW 1005, tells Linchpin “I don’t think they want to lay anyone off, because they’ll collect unemployment. They are waiting to lock us all out so nobody gets anything.” US Steel has already demonstrated its capability and willingness to attack workers and their families in order to advance their own corporate interests. The 2008-09 shutdown of the Hamilton plant and the bitter lockout at the Nanticoke plant are two recent examples. “I picture us getting locked out, though I hope it’s not for a year [as in the case of US Steel Lake Eerie works].”

Although Sam Murella’s motion was passed by City Council unanimously, US Steel has shown little regard for federal law or even its own contracts since it purchased Stelco in 2007. Faulman says “I don’t think it will accomplish anything except pissing US Steel off, they don’t like bad press.” While the motion at City Council may provide some bad press, real strength in the struggle against US Steel will come from the resolve of the workers and their surrounding community. “Nobody in Hamilton likes US Steel… things are grim but we’re Steel Workers, we’re tough, and we’re going to be able to take it.”