'Light at the end of the tunnel' for fired Steelworkers

The lawyer for three of the men fired during the 2009-2010 Vale-Steelworkers labour dispute said he can see “light at the end of the tunnel” when it comes to finally finding out whether they'll get their jobs back.

Patrick Veinot, Jason Patterson and Mike French were fired by Vale on Jan. 19, 2010 after an incident in the community that resulted in criminal charges.

All three men were eventually found not guilty of criminal harassment, while French was found guilty of assault against a man who crossed the picket line during the strike.

Their union, United Steelworkers Local 6500, fought for and won the right for the men, along with five others fired during the strike, to participate in arbitration hearings determining if they can return to work at Vale.

Two of the workers won their jobs back last year, and another three decided not to return to Vale after receiving settlements from the company.

However, more than three years after the strike ended, the joint arbitration for Veinot, Patterson and French is still ongoing.

Another hearing in the men's case was held July 18, during which time Veinot and Patterson gave evidence, said Steelworkers lawyer Brian Shell. French already gave testimony during a hearing this spring.

The arbitration hearings resume Aug. 26-27, when Shell, as well as lawyers representing Vale, will give their final arguments.

“The company will say they should be fired, and the union will say they shouldn't be fired,” Shell said. “We'll probably both say that in many more words.”

After the final hearings, arbitrator William Kaplan will make his decision.

Shell said he expects Kaplan will take three to six weeks to make his decision, so he expects the case to be concluded in late September or early October.

“I am very hopeful,” he said. “I believe we have put a very good case in before Mr. Kaplan, and that we will be able to advance a very strong argument as to why these men should not have been discharged.”