Union gains support to change pension legislation

Marilyn has been a widow since 2006 after her husband, a former Vale employee, died from an “industrial disease.”

Marilyn (who asked to have her last name withheld) is still receiving her husband’s pension, but is worried what will happen if legislation isn’t changed regarding pensions for widows.

However, United Steelworkers (USW) members and widows of union members are ramping up support to have provincial legislation changed so widows can receive their fair share of their late spouses’ pensions.

Sudbury MPP Rick Barotlucci said current legislation regarding Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) pensions for widows who lost their spouses to occupational diseases is “unclear.”

“I think it’s wrong that (a widow) should have to cry and worry about tomorrow,” he said during an Aug. 3 meeting with USW members and widows of union members.

“I think it’s wrong someone … should have to worry about having their pensions cut because of lack of clarity in the legislation.”

United Steelworker members said Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas has also expressed support for the legislation change by writing letters to the minister of labour about the issue.

J.P. Mrochek, who works in the compensation department with USW Local 6500, said the current practice doesn’t match the legislation in place.
Normally, a widow of a pension earner would be entitled to the pension based on the worker’s income if he were still in the workplace, he explained.

However, the provincial legislation states that a widow’s pension is to be based on the worker’s current earnings and receiving a pension from the company does not count as income.

Mrochek said he knows of two cases where Vale is appealing a widow’s pension due to the wording of the legislation.

He also said the problem is not unique to Vale employees that are members of USW 6500. He said the legislation affects all unions and their spouses.
“This topic is going to affect every widow in the province,” he said.

Marilyn told Northern Life after the meeting that she supports the USW Local 6500 for working to get support to change the legislation, but said more could be done to raise awareness of the issue.

“They may have to get other union activists from other unions,” he said. “It affects everybody. You’re looking at … any union involving industry.”

Mrochek said one positive thing about the issue is that Ontario is in an election year. “I don’t think that (Bartolucci’s) committed to this particular topic because it’s an election year,” he said. “I think he was sincere in saying that this is wrong.”

He also said he’s spoken with other unions, including CAW and CUPE, who are in support of having the legislation changed.

- Posted by Vivian Scinto