United Steelworkers Local 2251 has filed a grievance against Essar Steel Algoma claiming the company has employed outside workers to do jobs claimed by the union.
Mr Mike DaPrat,Local 2251 president said the union believes this violates the terms of the collective agreement between Essar and the union.
Mr DaPrat,whose local represents more than 2,000 wage earners at the steel mill,said Essar is giving preferred status to a Sault Ste.Marie company that has advertised in local media and internally for retirees to do jobs that"clearly"violate the 2010 contract.
Mr Brenda Stenta manager of corporate communications at Essar,replied Monday that"We will not comment publicly on the specifics of any grievance or human resource matter."
Essar was asked if they were using one local contractor to hire retirees to work in the steel mill,and if so,to identify the types of jobs they were doing.
To those questions,Stenta replied that"We have contractual processes that allow for the outsourcing of work in various circumstances such as capital projects and down days,and we endeavour to maintain these commitments."
Mr DaPrat,however,said Essar was taking away jobs that should be filled by USW members.He said that"Absolutely,whether it is intentional or not,and I am assuming it is intentional,[Essar]are running with fewer members in our local than they would if they weren't bringing in any of these contractors."
