U.S. Steel has decided it is time to act and break the stalemate between the union representing the workers at their Hamilton Works and USS Canada.

The contract covering union workers at U.S. Steel Hamilton (Canada) Works expired on July 31, 2010. Since that time the workers have continued to work without a contract. The union has not taken a vote to strike.

Either side has the right to ask the Canadian government to appoint a conciliation officer (mediator) to see if they can assist in the negotiation process.

United Steel Workers Union 1005, which represents the U.S. Steel workers at the Hamilton, Ontario, Canada facility posted the following notice on their website regarding the status of negotiations between the union and USS Canada:

“US Steel has notified the union that they have filed for conciliation on September 22, 2010. The conciliation process is as follows. A conciliation officer will be appointed by the Ministry of Labour (Conciliation Officers are Ministry staff, who help the parties come to an agreement.) If conciliation is not successful, the officer advises the Minister of Labour, who issues a “NO BOARD “report and sends it to each party. 17 days after the date of the Minister’s “NO BOARD” report the Company could legally lock us out. Should you have any questions do not hesitate to call the Union Hall.”

There is precedence as U.S. Steel locked out the Lake Erie Works in August 2009 and did not settle with USW 8782 until April 2010. Local 8782 agreed to a new pension plan for new hires.

The Hamilton local 1005 is resisting the pension concessions made by local 8782. (Sources: USWA Local 1005, Associated Press).