MONTREAL — The 300 members of United Steelworkers Local 6951 went on strike at the West ArcelorMittal plant in Contrecoeur Aug. 1, the day after their old contract expired. Contrecoeur is an hour’s drive northeast of Montreal.
When Militant worker-correspondents paid a solidarity visit to their picket line Aug. 5, they met with some 20 strikers near the road leading to the huge plant. It produces rebar, billets and steel rods for construction, automobile and other industries.
Daniel Martel, vice president of the local, told us a key issue is wages to help workers make up the losses they’ve suffered from inflation. The union is asking for an immediate wage increase of at least $5 an hour to counteract the losses in real wages they’ve suffered over the six years of the previous contract. Then they want improved pension benefits and steady raises in the new contract.
Martel, who has worked at the plant for 22 years, operates a machine that pours molten steel into casting molds. The plant operates 24/7 on 12-hour shifts.
Martel said the strike has shut down production. There are empty flatbed trucks going into the plant picking up work produced before the strike. Under Quebec’s labor laws, he said, the company has the legal right to do this.
There are four ArcelorMittal plants in the region, including one nearby that makes similar products as this plant. It has a different contract expiration date and is still in operation.
The strikers are winning solidarity. Martel reported workers from three other USW locals joined their picket line Aug. 3.
Solidarity visits are welcome at 2050 Route des Acieries in Contrecoeur.