1. Protect the basic pensions of salaried retired and active employees who are members of the following Ontario registered pension plans.
And
2. Protect the Medical Benefits of all salaried retirees, including former members of those plans which have had their pensions Annuitized and continue to qualify for Medical Benefits (OPEBs):
Hamilton Works/Stelco Tower Plan 338509
Lake Erie Works Plan 698753
Stelpipe Ltd. Plan 1017177 (Annuitized 2017)
Welland Pipe Ltd. Plan 1017185 (Annuitized 2017)
SSPO finances its operations through annual membership fees. The current annual membership fee is $30. The Organization makes allowances for hardship cases should they express their inability to pay the full amount of fees requested of members in the form of a letter to the board.
To Join SSPO use our convenient Self Registration or Click Here to download a Membership Renewal/Application Form complete with instructions.
SSPO communicates with members in “good standing” through postings to the SSPO Website, Annual Membership Meetings, Annual Newsletters. E-mail, and Canada Post.
Name | Board Position | Position at Retirement |
---|---|---|
Gary Dallin | President | Manager Metallurgy &QA HW Rolling & Finishing - Stelco Inc |
George Hanson | Vice-President | Metallurgist & Product Specialist HW Plate Mill - Stelco Inc |
Brian Lisson | Secretary | Supervisor Workers’ Compensation – Human Resources - Hamilton Works |
Ken Tyler | Treasurer | General Manager, Treasury Stelco Inc |
Ron Merk | Liason | Division Manager Reliability and Special Projects |
Denis Boiteau | Membership | Gen. Sales Mgr., Steel Service Centres, Bar Products, Eastern Region - Stelco Inc. |
Pat Mousseau | Political/CFP | Foreman Mobile Equipment - LESC |
John Whittaker | Liason | Metallurgist - Hamilton Works |
Name | Position (current or at retirement) | Active Employee or Retiree |
---|---|---|
Gary Dallin | Manager Metallurgy &QA HW Rolling & Finishing Stelco Inc Hamilton | Retiree |
George Hanson | Metallurgist & Product Specialist HW Plate Mill Stelco Inc Hamilton | Retiree |
Gillian Crawford | Employee Benefits Representative Human Resources US | Retiree |
Fred Meyer | Engineering Manager for Hamilton works | Retiree |
Tony Broeckhuyse | Division Manager for Finishing Operations | Active |
Darlene Wolfe |
Manager, IT & Automation,Finishing Division, Stelco | Active |
Name | Position (current or at retirement) | Active Employee or Retiree |
---|---|---|
Pat Mouseau | Foreman Mobile Equipment LEW | Retiree |
Douglas Ikeda | Energy Manager LEW & Hamilton Works | Active |
Frank Dalimonte | Division Manager Maintenance, Services and Utilities | Retiree |
Ron Merk | Division Manager Reliability and Special Projects | Retiree |
Michael Martorana | Divisional Manager Operating Services & Utilities LEW | Active |
Gary Dallin
George Hanson
Pat Mousseau
Gillian Crawford (former SSPO Board Member)
Pat Mousseau – CFP Board Member
(Additional responsibilities as a member of the Ontario Pension Plan Committee)
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Gerry Goddard (Member & Former SSPO Board Member) serves as a member of the CFP Membership Committee
Since its inception in the Fall of 2003, SSPO has remained a non-profit organization established by a group of volunteer pensioners who, first of all, hope that US Steel Canada (formerly Stelco Inc.) thrives and prospers for many years. Members of the SSPO Board Of Directors are all long time employees, now retired, who are Stelco supporters. We have no agenda other than to see salaried pensioners treated fairly in whatever the future holds.
In July 2003, due to rising concerns about Stelco’s financial health the state of funding of Stelco’s various pension plans, and amid reports of a need to reduce “legacy costs”, a small group of retiree volunteers (formerly known as the Steering Committee) formed the Stel Salaried Pensioners Organization (SSPO) to defend our pensions and benefits. The ongoing financial crisis that Stelco faced at that time poised serious risks for the long-term viability of not only Stelco, but its Pension and Benefit Plans. This raised serious concerns for the long-term survival of our Pension and Health Benefits (group medical, life, and dental) Plans, and the personal financial security of each Plan member. There was an obvious need for Pensioners to be organized and, be prepared to act as a large group possessing sufficient resources to protect our vested interests in a timely fashion as the need arises.
We began by asking retirees to become members of SSPO by signing up on our website, and over 1200 had done so by the time Stelco sought bankruptcy protection (CCAA) on January 29, 2004. The original SSPO Steering Committee was endorsed by an overwhelming majority of the voting members in early January 2004. By the Fall of 2014 over 2600 Pensioners had become members of SSPO.
Name | Position at Retirement |
---|---|
Gary A. Beaudoin – Political Team | Manager, Metallurgy, R&D, QA - HW R&B |
Gary Dallin – Legal Team - CCAA | Manager, Metallurgy & QA, HW Rolling & Finishing |
Richard Dowdy - Membership | Special Duties Superintendent |
Bob Faitz - Membership | Process Metallurgist, HW Plate Mill |
Rick Grigg – Political Team | Coordinator – R&D, HW |
George Hanson – Legal Team CCAA & Chair Person | Metallurgist & Product Specialist HW 148” Plate Mill |
John Hanson – Legal Team - CCAA | General Foreman Utilities HW Eng. & Operating Services |
Richard Harris - Membership | Superintendent Stores, HW |
Klaus Heyer - Membership | Senior Technical Advisor, HW R&D |
John Hood - Membership | Research Manager, HW Cold Roll & Coated |
Murray McDiarmid - Membership | Analyst, Salary & Benefits, HW |
Ron Price - Treasurer | Plant Accountant, HW |
Gordon Thede – Political Team | Assistant Manager, HW Engineering |
Paul Wendling – Legal Team & Media Contact | Project Manager, HW Plate & Strip Division |
Dennis Wright – Political Team | General Foreman Utilities, LESC Operating Services |
Within days of Stelco filing for CCAA protection (January 2014), Justice Farley, the presiding judge over the proceedings directed that SSPO represent all retired salaried employees of Stelco operations in Ontario, a group of approximately 3500. On April 13, 200, at the request of SSPO, Justice Farley of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice further directed that SSPO represent approximately 600 additional former pension plan members and surviving spouses who were in receipt of medical, dental, and life insurance benefits from Stelco Inc., but not pensions (commonly referred to as the Partial Wind-up Group of 1996)
SSPO successfully represented over 4100 beneficiaries in the Stelco Inc. CCAA court proceeding, spanning a 26-month period. We chose The Toronto legal firm of Koskie Minsky, who are considered among the best in the field of employment law, to be legal counsel for Salaried Pensioners throughout the CCAA Hearings, and continue to consult with them on an ongoing basis as required.. Salaried Pensioners emerged from the CCAA with their pensions and benefits fully intact.
A restructured Stelco emerged from CCAA court protection on March 31, 2006. The membership of SSPO recognized the need for Pensioners to continue to have a strong and united voice carrying on into a future clouded with uncertainty. Therefore SSPO was incorporated, formalized its mandate and operations structure (By-laws), and on March 22, 2006 the membership elected its first Board Of Directors.
Name | Board Position | Position at Retirement |
---|---|---|
Gary A. Beaudoin | Secretary | Manager, Metallurgy, R&D, QA - HW R&B |
Gary Dallin | President | Manager, Metallurgy & QA, HW Rolling & Finishing |
George Hanson | Vice-President | Metallurgist & Product Specialist, HW 148” Plate Mill |
John Hanson | Liaison | General Foreman Utilities HW Eng. & Operating Services |
Klaus Heyer | At Large & Membership | Senior Technical Advisor, HW R&D |
Ron Price | Treasurer | Plant Accountant, HW |
Paul Wendling | Communications | Project Manager, HW Plate & Strip Division |
Dennis Wright | Political | General Foreman Utilities, LESC Operating Services |
Name | Position – Current or at Retirement | Status |
---|---|---|
Gary Dallin | Manager, Metallurgy & QA, HW Rolling & Finishing | Retired Hamilton Works |
George Hanson | Metallurgist & Quality Assurance, HW 148” Plate Mill | Retired Hamilton Works |
Pat Mousseau | Foreman Mobile Equipment - LESC | Retired Lake Erie Works |
Paul Wendling | Manager – Special Projects – Plate & Strip Division | Retired Hamilton Works |
Ron McClure | Manager – Human Resources – Lake Erie Works | Retired Lake Erie Works |
Frank Dalimonte | Manager – Plant Services – Lake Erie Works | Active Lake Erie Works |
Bill Missen | Vice-President Marketing – Lake Erie Works | Retired – Stelco Inc |
Tim Huxley |
Corporate Counsel – Stelco Inc. |
Retired – Stelco Inc |
A restructured U. S. Steel Canada emerged from 34 months of CCAA court protection from its creditors on June 30, 2017 as Stelco Inc. and under new ownership/management (Bedrock Industries).
Although it was a prolonged, complicated and extremely difficult insolvency negotiation, The Representatives managed to minimize the sacrifices incurred by Pensioners and Actives required to achieve a Plan of Compromise that allowed Stelco to continue as a going concern. In summary, Pensions were kept whole, non-pension benefits were reduced by 30%, and life insurance was terminated. Under the circumstances, a significant accomplishment for Salaried Pensioners.
Stel Salaried Pensioners Organization
https://stel-sal-pensioners.org/page.php/AboutUs