November 26, 2009

Nine months of inaction on US Steel: Barrett
Demands Minister, “Act Now”

Queen’s Park – Nine months after first asking questions in the Legislature about the US Steel labour disruption Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett is wondering when government will begin to act on the “solution” former Minister Bryant promised.

“Nine months ago, the government told me it would talk to union and management. Have those talks taken place?” Barrett queried. “I've spoken with union and management; MPP Paul Miller has spoken with union and management….thirteen-hundred steelworkers sitting at home destroys our local economy. It's not just about steelworkers: Everyone wants both sides back to work again.”

Barrett went on to lament the lack of answers that the throng of steelworkers who attended morning Question Period yesterday received from the Minister of Labour in response to direct questions about an unemployment benefit loophole many are falling through.

“After 35 weeks of temporary layoffs, laid-off workers are supposed to be able to qualify for EI,” Barrett reported. “However, the Employment Standards Act allows an employer, in this case US Steel, to arbitrarily lock out workers and stop the 35-week countdown during collective bargaining.
“Workers can't qualify for severance, they can't qualify for EI or Ontario Work,” continued Barrett. “These steelworkers aren't on strike; they're laid off, they're locked out and they are caught in a bureaucratic Catch-22 - Christmas is coming and they’re losing their homes.”

Barrett concluded that after nine months of waiting on the sidelines, government should act now to help those falling through the cracks.

“If government is not already talking to the parties as it said it would, I ask them to speak now,” Barrett directed. “If the minister is not already acting to ensure support for steelworkers, act now.”

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For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: (416) 325-8404,
(519) 428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO
Wednesday 25 November 2009
LABOUR DISPUTE

Mr. Toby Barrett: In March, I asked the then Acting Premier for government action on the US Steel lockout, the layoffs now affecting over 1,300 workers. I was told, "We want to try to broker a solution." Nine months later, the steelworkers in the House today were left with empty words.
Nine months ago, the government told me it would talk to union and management. Have those talks taken place? I've spoken with union and management; MPP Paul Miller has spoken with union and management. Thirteen-hundred steelworkers sitting at home destroys our local economy. It's not just about steelworkers: Everyone wants both sides back to work again.

After 35 weeks of temporary layoffs, laid-off workers are supposed to be able to qualify for EI. However, the Employment Standards Act allows an employer, in this case US Steel, to arbitrarily lock out workers and stop the 35-week countdown during collective bargaining. Workers can't qualify for severance, they can't qualify for EI or Ontario Works. These steelworkers aren't on strike; they're laid off, they're locked out and they are caught in a bureaucratic Catch-22.

Christmas is coming. They are losing their homes. The minister has the power to open up the act, open up regulation and close the loophole. If government is not already talking to the parties as it said it would, I ask them to speak now. If the minister is not already acting to ensure support for steelworkers, act now.