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
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it’s too late
She was lying in bed on a Thursday morning, thinking about the man she loved, hoping to win his freedom before time ran out.