United Steelworkers union said that MultiServ has locked out about 40 workers who handle slag recycling at ArcelorMittal Dofasco in Hamilton.

Mr Tony DePaulo a union official said that the union had been in contract negotiations for several months and voted 100% in favor of strike action last week. He added that MultiServ supervisors escorted the workers out of the ArcelorMittal operations at 6 PM on July 10th 2009.

The contract for about 150 workers employed by MultiServ ended July 4th 2009 but only about 40 people were still working at the site because of previous layoffs. MultiServ has contracts with ArcelorMittal and US Steel to recycle slag.

Mr DePaulo said that the key issues include company proposals to cut wages by 15%, readjust pensions and benefits and require other concessions.

Ken Julian of Harsco Corporation, the Pennsylvania company that owns MultiServ, said that the company remains ready and willing to get back to the bargaining table.

(Sourced from The Canadian Press)