HAMILTON - The United Steelworkers said yestrday the union will support Lakeside Steel's bid to acquire the former Stelco's steelmaking facilities at Hamilton and Nanticoke, based on Lakeside's commitment to respect the collective agreements, support the defined benefit pension plans and fulfill production and employment undertakings at both plants.

"We are excited by the chance to get these plants operating again and our members back to work making steel," said Ken Neumann, National Director for Canada of the USW. "Lakeside Steel stands alone in declaring itself willing and able to meet this challenge."

"We have the opportunity to bring a Canadian manufacturing icon back under Canadian control," said Bill Ferguson, president of USW Local 8782 at Nanticoke, whose members were laid off by U.S. Steel last spring and then locked out on August 4 when they refused to accept a package of drastic concessions to their wages, defined benefit pensions and health benefits. "I like what I have heard from Lakeside about respecting the union and getting our members back to work."

"Lakeside's commitment to work closely with Steelworkers to bring Hamilton and Nanticoke back to their full potential is exactly what our members and communities are looking for," said Tony DePaulo, USW Hamilton Area Coordinator.

The USW and Lakeside are separately seeking intervener status in the federal government's lawsuit against U.S. Steel under the Investment Canada Act. The government contends U.S. Steel, by halting steelmaking operations at Hamilton and Nanticoke earlier this year, failed to keep legally binding commitments to production and employment levels in the former Stelco operations it purchased in 2007.

The union said it would support Lakeside's application for intervener status in the case and the proposed remedy of requiring U.S. Steel to sell the Canadian facilities, and also ask the court to make Lakeside's promises binding as part of the final order.