News and views from SA Canada Steelworkers in Hamilton
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solidarity with the workers of U.S. Steel. The company locked out the already greatly reduced workforce of 900 on Nov. 7, 2010. hear what the many speakers said. They included USW International President Leo Gerard, USW Local 1005 President Rolf Gerstenberger, Canadian Labour Congress President Ken Georgetti, local NDP MP Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain), NDP federal leader Jack Layton, Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath, Ontario Federation of Labour President Sid Ryan, and Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina.
Many demonstrators carried picket signs that read, “Public Right Yes, Monopoly Right No” and “Hands Off our Pensions.” As the mass of unionists and supporters marched through downtown Hamilton, the powerful chant, “When they say cut back, we say fightback,” could be heard like the percussion section of an orchestra across the city.
Though the demonstration was a success, the battle is far from over. As the lock-out continues, Socialist Action will continue to rally support for the steelworkers, who have stood up to years of company threats and blackmail, including an earlier Stelco demand for a 20 per cent pay cut.
Steel making is essential to a modern economy, and it should serve the public interest. Ottawa has let that slide, not only when it gave Stelco $100 million in 2005 for “re-structuring” but when it approved the U.S. Steel purchase of Stelco in 2007.
Enough is enough. Socialist Action campaigns for public ownership, under workers’ and community control, of the steel industry. So, let’s stand with the steelworkers, and show U.S. Steal where to go. n (Left) SA at Jan. 29 solidarity march for Steelworkers. Photo: John Wilson / Socialist Action