Presented by Ken Georgetti on Monday, 1 March 2010

Sisters and brothers – I am very pleased to bring a message of solidarity to the Steelworkers from the 3.2 million workers represented by the Canadian Labour Congress.

It is truly a pleasure to be here on this important day to congratulate all of the newly elected members of the International Executive Board who will be guiding our great union.

Consoeurs et confrères – Je suis très heureux de livrer un message de solidarité aux Métallos au nom des 3.2 millions de travailleurs et travailleuses représentés par le Congrès du travail du Canada.

C’est vraiment un plaisir d’être ici, en ce jour important, pour féliciter tous les nouveaux membres élus du Conseil exécutif international qui guideront notre grand syndicat.

I particularly want to congratulate Brother Leo Gerard and thank him for the tremendous job he is doing leading this great union in some of the toughest economic times Canada and the United States have ever seen.

Leo has put his heart into this union – almost literally! – and his dedication to not only the Steelworkers but our world-wide labour movement is astounding.

I also want to thank Brother Ken Neumann for the excellent work he is doing as your National Director for Canada and as an officer of the Canadian Labour Congress.

Ken and I have worked together for decades, I’m glad to say – but shocked it’s been that long!

First when I was president of the BC Federation of Labour and Ken was District 3 Director and now in our current roles – he is a great friend, a great leader and a great advocate for all working people in Canada.

I also want to recognize Steve Hunt, my good friend and District 3 Director.

Steve – congratulations.

I congratulate all of the District Directors who are being sworn in today as well – it is a tough job at times but without a doubt, one of the most satisfying opportunities you can possibly get to represent the hard-working men and women who make up the Steelworker family.

Sisters and brothers – we all know these are very tough times.

It’s been seven long months since the strike against Vale Inco in Sudbury, Voisey’s Bay and Port Colborne began.

All across North America, Steelworkers have lost their jobs, as plants, mills, mines and shops close because of the economic crisis.

Right-wing governments are not only failing to adequately respond to the struggles facing all working people – they are actively working to help big business increase profits at the cost of jobs and social programs.

But these are not the worst of times.

These are our times – the times when unions are the most important to workers.

In good times, unions fight to improve workers’ wages, benefits and working conditions.

But in bad times, unions fight just so workers can survive.

And right now we have to fight like hell.

Some people worry about the strike at Vale Inco – and they are right to worry when workers, their families and their community are all at great risk, and when a giant and profitable multinational corporation demands unfair concessions.

I worry too.

But I also say this – Steelworkers have been around as long as there was ore in the ground and foundries to make it into steel.

And rest assured that this union will be around far, far longer than Vale Inco ever will be.

When Vale Inco is just a dusty footnote in corporate history, the Steelworkers union will still be representing the workers in this industry – count on it!

Companies come and go – but Steelworkers stay.

Where is Enron today? Gone. Lehman Brothers? Gone. World Com? Gone.

So to the striking members at Vale Inco I say – you have your community’s strong support, you have your union’s strong support and you have the support of the 3.2 million members of the CLC – and you... will... win!

I want to briefly mention two other important issues.

Brother Gerard – we in Canada have watched with what can only be described as amazement as right‑wing forces have attacked President Barack Obama’s plans to extend health care coverage to all Americans.

For those of us who have lived our entire lives with Canadian public Medicare, it comes as a shock to see just how powerful the health care corporations in the United States are – and how ruthless they can be in protecting their windfall profits.

We can only urge you and all Steelworkers in the United States to keep fighting for a better health care system – we can’t let corporate greed win out over public need!

Secondly, I want to ask all Canadian Steelworkers to join with the Canadian Labour Congress in the biggest battle we have had since winning our public health care system – the fight to double Canada Pension Plan benefits and reform pensions in our country.

Sisters and brothers, 1.6 million seniors in our country of 33 million people live on less than $15,000 per year.
That means about 35% of those receiving public pensions are living in poverty.

And that’s simply offensive.

Consoeurs et confrères, 1.6 million de personnes âgées, dans notre pays de trente‑trois millions de personnes, vivent avec moins de quinze mille dollars par année.

Autrement dit, environ trente-cinq pour cent des personnes qui reçoivent des prestations de pensions publiques vivent dans la pauvreté.

« C'est tout simplement un affront! »

We can’t allow the people who built this country suffer for it in their retirement.

The CLC’s idea is to double Canada Pension Plan benefits – to a maximum of $1635 a month – so that no worker is forced to retire into poverty.

We would do this over 7 years by gradually increasing both employer and worker contributions to the CPP by just 2.85%!

So picture this – just a 50% increase in premiums – from 4.95% of salary to 7.8% of salary - and we will have a 100% increase in benefits.

Sounds too good to be true?

That’s the magic of the Canada Pension Plan – its size, its efficiencies, and the low management costs – not the rip-offs the financial industry charge us for our RRSPs – that’s what makes this plan work.

Improving the Canada Pension Plan is the single best way to protect the retirement security of all workers – union or non-union.

It is simple, it is cost-effective and it can and will be done – with your help.

Sisters and brothers - steel is the strongest metal in our world because it is forged with the toughest materials – at the highest heat.

That also describes our union and our Steelworkers leadership – we are strong, we are tough and we can take the heat!

Congratulations one and all!

Félicitations à tous et à toutes!