At the insistence of the United Steelworkers Union, Local 2251 (“Local 2251”), a Motion was made before Justice Hainey of the Superior Court of Justice for an Order varying the November 9, 2015 Representative Counsel Order.
The Representative Counsel Order appointed Ursel Phillips Fellows Hopkinson LLP (“Representative Counsel”) as representative counsel for retired members and former members of
1) the Essar Steel Algoma Inc. Pension Plan for Hourly Employees (the “Hourly Plan”);
2) the Essar Steel Algoma Inc. Pension Plan for Salaried Employees (the “Salaried Plan”); and
3) the Essar Steel Algoma Inc. Wrap Pension Plan (the “Wrap Plan”).
The new Order sought by Local 2251 (the “Local 2251 Representation Order”), removes Representative Counsel from representing retired members and former members (or the surviving spouse of any such member) of the Hourly Plan if they were represented by Local 2251 immediately prior to the date on which they retired or their employment with Algoma was terminated. The Local 2251 Representation Order allows Local 2251 to represent these retired members.
After much discussion and consultation, the Representative Counsel Retiree Committee decided to agree to the Local 2251 Representation Order in order to allow Representative Counsel and all parties to move ahead with negotiations regarding the Salaried Plan and the Wrap Plan. Representative Counsel continues to represent members of these two plans.
Representative Counsel consented to the Local 2251 Representation Order, which was issued by Justice Hainey on December 5, 2017.
Please note that the Local 2251 Representation Order allows for Hourly Plan members to opt-out of representation by Local 2251 and to continue to be represented by Representative Counsel. All Hourly Plan retirees will receive a letter in the mail explaining the effect of the Local 2251 Representation Order and attaching an Opt-Out Form.
If you are a retired member or former member (or the surviving spouse of any such member) of the Hourly Plan who was represented by Local 2251 immediately prior to the date on which you retired or your employment with Algoma was terminated and you wish to continue to be represented by Representative Counsel, an Opt-Out Form is also available on our website here. In order for your Opt-Out to be valid, you must send the completed form to the Monitor at the following address:
Ernst & Young Inc.
EY Tower, 100 Adelaide St. W.,
P. O. Box 1,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5H 0B3
Phone: 1-416-943-2277
Fax: 1-416-943-3300
Attn: Philip Kan
If you are a retired member or former member of the Salaried Plan or the Wrap Plan, the Local 2251 Representation Order does not apply to you and you continue to be represented by Representative Counsel.
If you wish to contact us directly, please email us at AlgomaRetirees@upfhlaw.ca.