Wabush miners' union office closing after 52 years
After 52 years, the United Steelworkers Union office in Wabush has shut its doors. The Local 6285 closed on Friday, after decades representing workers at the now-closed Wabush Mines.
"We're at a point where we don't know what the future is like," said former union local president Jason Penney.
"The resources that the company put forward have run out. With no members and Wabush Mines not operating, we can't keep the office going."
The closing of the union office comes just a week after pensioners learned the former owner of Wabush Mines, U.S.-based Cliff Natural Resources, is cancelling their health and life insurance benefits.
The benefits ended on June 1. An estimated 700 to 800 people are now scrambling to find alternative coverage.
"It's terrible timing," said Penney. "People who worked their whole lives now could be worse off than people who never worked a day in their life."
According to Penney, pensioners had an "extensive plan" that covered travel and prescriptions, among other things, and paid a death benefit of between $10,000 and $12,500.
While there are no resources to keep the local office open, former workers can still speak to the international representative in Labrador City.
Penney says that in its final week the office was particularly hectic. While we will still try to help members as much as he can, it will have to be in a volunteer capacity.
"It's just uncertainty all around."