Striking Steelworkers say Vale's attempt to weaken health benefits for younger workers a key issue
Jamie Burke has worked for Vale for 20 years and says this is his third time on strike.
“I’m getting older I want to retire," Burke said. "I already lost one year -- I don’t want to lose another year, but we have to take a stand. We have to fight for the younger people and the younger generation.”
One of the things he said he is most worried about is changes to the current benefit plan.
“I have a buddy who is a pharmacist and he is saying drugs are just going up," Burke said. "There’s a drug that’s out just for cholesterol pills. If you had to pay for it yourself, it's $1,200 a month. We need our benefits we need to be able to provide for the future.”
Late Monday evening the United Steelworkers Local 6500 voted on the second contract offer put forward by the company, rejecting it by a higher margin than the first.
“Our membership has spoken loud and clear with an 87 per cent rejection of this offer, Nick Larochelle, USW Local 6500 president, said Tuesday. "So we would like the company to listen to us and get back to the table and start working on a contract."
Union leaders said the company is trying to weaken health benefits for workers. The latest offer proposed a post-retirement health-care savings account that would replace the existing plan. “Right now, our benefits are the same as what we have while we are working," said Myles Sullivan of United Steelworkers District 6. "When they retire, they have those benefits. The average retiree spent $4,700 on benefits last year -- that’s how much they and their dependant spent."
Sullivan said the company is offering just $1,000.
"Thirty years from now will be less than $300 in today’s terms," he said. "You can not survive on that once a year."
For its part, Vale said it is disappointed that its improved offer for settlement was turned down.
“Our offer was a genuine and sincere attempt to address the issues brought forth by the union’s bargaining committee in the most recent round of discussions,” said Dino Otranto, Vale's chief operating officer for North Atlantic.
'We remain apart on important issues'
"Clearly, we remain apart on important issues."
On the picket lines, meanwhile, members of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees made a donation Tuesday to workers affected by the strike.
“We had some funds available and we always support things like strikes -- especially our brothers and sisters," said Terry Mckenzie. "So we’re gladly donating a cheque for $1,000 and I understand the executive board wants it to go to the food bank. That’s up to them."
Union members said they are also unhappy the company removed a $2,500 pandemic bonus from the second contract that was previously offered.
“Our members for the past 16 months have gone to work every day during the pandemic," Sullivan said. "Some of the workplaces have been closed due to outbreaks, but they went in every day and did their job. And did that and the $2,500 that we negotiated that with the company as recognition for what they did during that time. And they stripped that away.”
It’s unclear when talks between the two sides will resume.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Police investigating shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
3 Indian nationals accused of murdering Hardeep Singh Nijjar facing court in B.C.
Three Indian nationals accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar are due to face court Tuesday over the killing that triggered a major diplomatic rift with India.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.