Hey Everybody!
I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday season, and equally enjoy sticking their
face back on the grindstone to keep our social betters in their Escalades and
tax-sheltered mansions.
My apologies for being quiet for so long. Aside from quitting smoking, I have resolved to be a more diligent blogger in 2011 ( or as I like to call it, 2000 lemons). I think for expediency I won't try to list all the cool bands that blew through town since my last entry. But I did thoroughly enjoy getting to see the Avengers again, as well as the Sadies, DOA, and the Canadian Subhumans (their openers, local band Coffincheater were pretty good too).
Although I like a good time as much (or more) than the next guy, there is some serious trouble afoot in our fair city, and despite what a few might expect from a punk music blog, I intend to address them.
Ever since I started working at Stelco (1999), I couldn't help but draw a comparison between the state of the company to the well being of the city as a whole. As the years have rolled by I saw more and more abandoned buildings at work and throughout the city. The only difference is that at work (with the exception of the ancient Blacksmith Shop, rumoured to be the last pre-Stelco building) they haven't knocked the buildings down. But the same as in the city/bar, older friends at work inform me of what used to occupy vacant lots and parking areas.
Over there used to be the Open Hearth, the Spike Mill, the 12/10 Mill, etc. Conversely, downtown there used to be Canadian Canners, Robinson Cone, Fearman's Meats, and Tallman Brass.
The same kind of cruise control mentality have gotten both the Steel Company (of Canada) and the City of Hamilton in deep doo doo.
With the purchase of Stelco, by the nefarious US Steel, things have certainly changed at work for the worse. John Surma, CEO of US Steel, insists that the unionized workers of Stelco not only sell out their predecessors by giving up pension concessions, but also sell out what I call "the unborn worker" (someone who hasn't been hired yet). As they are to be put on an entirely new (and cheaper) pension plan. So far, the response of the Union and the majority of it's members
is a flat out "NO!". Keep in mind too, these are things that were fought for over the years, and are supposed to be given up before US Steel will even begin to negotiate a new contract.
Negotiate indeed.
On the City's scene, Bob Young, owner of our beloved Tiger Cats, seems to have attempted the same kind of power play. Trying to bully the citizenry, and city council, into accepting a new stadium site that suits him and no one else. Although, it looks like we have lost the oppourtunity to build a new stadium with all sorts of government money, I still think no new stadium is better than one that would hurt the city in the long run. City Council says "NO!". For the first time ever, I'm proud of
those folks. Bob Young's arguments are full of just as much garbage as US Steel's. He complains that people aren't coming to games because there is no parking. Well, people do go to games, and have gone to games for the last 80 years, with no parking! He just wants to maximize his investment and milk the community a little more. In a way I hope he moves the team to Aldershot. Then the city
can sue him for using the name "Hamilton", since they will be operating outside the city limits. Maybe then Bob Young can enjoy a nice quiet game watching the Aldershot Tiger Cats play someone in an empty stadium.
The same is true down on Burlington Street. US Steel was the first company to be worth a billion dollars way back in 1903. That was when the Wright Brothers invented the first plane! The company is worth numbers that us average Joe's can't even fathom. And yet they cry poor. Our pensions are too big.
Bigger than their workers in the States. Well, guess what this ain't the States! They knew what they were getting into when they bought us. Then they told the Spectator that our pensions were safe with them.
Lies, lies, lies. US Steel are the company that used to hire the Pinkerton's (company still exists under a different name) to burn down Union Halls while meetings went on.
Hey Surma! Give Bob Young a call! See how easy Hamiltonians get pushed around. We say NO!
Whether we call on the ghosts of 1946 on the picket line, or our first pro football fans way back in 1869, you play our way. Go ahead, pick up your ball and go home. Our heads are held high!
See ya soon!
The Hamilton Kid!
