Talks break down between Evraz, union

Mediated talks have broken down between Evraz and the union representing its steel workers.

United Steel Workers (USW) Local 5890 stated in a website post Thursday that the mediation process of negotiations with Evraz had ended after three days.

The post said mediation began this week with the union wanting concessions to be removed from Evraz’s monetary package.

USW said the union didn’t sit down face-to-face with Evraz over the course of the three days, adding they invited the company to come back to the bargaining table on day two. Evraz reportedly declined.

The union said an offer was made with one concession remaining — transition wages for new employees — and one new concession for all members — a “hybrid pension plan.”

USW claimed the employer offered “no real money” and had taken a step to attack employee’s pension plans by adding “very little money to future pension years and nothing to pension years already accumulated.”

“Evraz has decided to play with each and every one of our lives, both now and in retirement.”

The union claimed Evraz offered a wage proposal of no increases in 2016 and 2017, followed by one per cent increases in 2018 and 2019.

The union said it had rejected the offer.

Under the Labour Relations Code, there is a 14-day cooling off period that follows mediation. That process begins the day following the date on the letter from the mediator excusing himself from the bargaining process. The union said it hoped to have that letter on Aug. 11.