Steelworkers demand inquiry into U.S. Steel Canada's creditor protection

Incensed Hamilton steelworkers are calling for a public inquiry into U.S. Steel Canada's bankruptcy protection process.

This is the latest move in a long fight the union has spearheaded while U.S. Steel Canada searches for a buyer.

"Our retirees deserve to live in dignity and stop having to worry whether what they earned will be swindled from them," United Steelworkers 1005 president Gary Howe said in a statement.

"The best way to ensure that is to start making steel again at our Hamilton plant."

• Sidelined bidder raises 'concerns' about U.S. Steel Canada sale process
• U.S. Steel Canada sale behind-the-scenes maneuvers have workers worried

Together with MPP Paul Miller, the union will make an official call for the public inquiry into U.S. Steel Canada's Company Creditors Arrangement Act at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.

"The Federal Government had an obligation to protect the employees, and the community from letting a foreign company come in and wreck Stelco Hilton Works," their announcement said.

Recently, unionized workers have called for the Ontario government to intervene in the sale process to give steel company Essar Global another chance, after the company was reportedly sidelined from the sales process for U.S. Steel Canada.

In a press release, Howe also called for compensation over the "secret deal" reached between U.S. Steel and the federal government that has never been unsealed. Howe said the group is demanding "nothing less" than fully funded pensions, benefits and guaranteed jobs in Hamilton. 

"Regardless what is in the secret deal, it is clear that we deserve compensation on this deal," he said.