Stelco

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

City wants to push ahead with Randle Reef work

Mayor Bob Bratina says Randle Reef project partners are searching for a way to begin work this year despite delays caused by over-budget construction bids.

Environment Canada recently revealed all construction bids have come in over budget for the first stage of the $138.9-million project to trap more than a million tonnes of coal tar sludge in Hamilton Harbour.

Work on building a steel-walled containment facility was supposed to start this spring, but may now be put off until sometime next year.

Bratina said he and city manager Chris Murray met with federal officials over the weekend and confirmed “absolute support” for the project, including the contentious decision to contain rather than dig up the pollution.

He said federal officials are also convinced the $139-million budget for the project is on target, despite “significant” budget overruns from all bidders.

Federal officials will meet with bidders in July to go over the disparities in detail.

But in the meantime, Bratina said the city and other project partners are keen to “push ahead” on some aspect of the stalled project this year, if possible.

He conceded any decision to hive off a portion of the project would need federal approval, but expressed hope more options would come out of talks with bidders next month.

“We really need to show the public that our commitment is there and we’re willing to start the project and deal with disparities as we go along.” (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Thursday, October 31, 2013By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday, October 31, 2013

U.S. Steel announces shutdown

Hopes that Hamilton’s U.S. Steel blast furnaces will fire up again have burned out, along with more than a century of steel production at the plant.

The announcement Tuesday that U.S. Steel will permanently cease making iron and steel in Hamilton has been feared since the company idled the mills in October 2010.

The final blow came when CEO Mario Longhi told investors Tuesday those operations will wrap up Dec. 31.

“Decisions like this are always difficult, but they are necessary to improve the cost structure of our Canadian operations,” he said.

Tuesday’s announcement does not affect rolling, coating and finishing operations, along with coke making, according to Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel.

Forty-seven non-union jobs will be lost, but company spokesperson Courtney Boone said it would try to move staff into other positions. That leaves approximately 600 members of United Steelworkers Local 1005 and about 228 salaried positions at the Hamilton plant.

Mayor Bob Bratina said he hopes to travel to Pittsburgh within days for a “very urgent” conversation with U.S. Steel officials.

Rolf Gerstenberger, Local 1005 president,said he always hoped the firm would restart steelmaking at the plant, but he wasn’t surprised by the move.
“It’s more of the finality of it, that you are written off, if you think about that … You guys aren’t making steel here anymore.”

Steel analyst Chuck Bradford said the move is only a confirmation of what was inevitable.

“The only question I’ve had is, ‘What took so long?'”
He says because the former Hilton Works lacks a hot strip mill, the only thing it could produce was semi-finished steel.

“There is no market for that product at all.”

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said her party will fight to protect the jobs that remain. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)