Media Advisory: OFL President Sid Ryan to Join Sunday Rally on Parliament Hill for Pensions and Workers' Rights

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 29, 2011) - The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) will be joining locked-out members of USW Local 1005 as they take their protest about wages, pensions and foreign-ownership directly to Parliament Hill on the eve of the federal election. On Sunday, May 1, 2011, up to 20 busloads of Hamilton Steelworkers and supporters from different parts of the province will travel to Ottawa to demand that the federal government defend pensions and hold foreign-owned corporations accountable.

OFL President Sid Ryan will be speaking at the rally and will be on hand for media interviews.

At issue in Hamilton is U.S. Steel's aggressive attack on 900 employees and 9,000 retirees and its failure to follow through on its legal obligations. Since U.S. Steel took over Stelco, the workforce was cut by two-thirds and the remaining 900 have been locked out since Nov. 7, 2010. Now, U.S. Steel is trying to beat its remaining workers into submission with demands that they agree to de-index retiree pensions and block new employees from any income security.

"Stephen Harper betrayed Hamilton steelworkers when he allowed a foreign-owned company to renege on its obligation to protect over 3,000 jobs and he betrayed every worker in Canada when he broke his promise to expand the CPP. On Monday, outraged workers will deliver their judgment on the Conservative record and it will cost Harper his much-coveted majority," said OFL President Sid Ryan.

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. OFL President Sid Ryan is the voice of Ontario's labour movement.

Visit www.UWSA1005.ca for more information and rally details.