REGINA — The union representing workers at the former EVRAZ Steel plant in Regina is voicing optimism now that the plant is under the control of Atlas Holdings.
On July 31, U.S.-based Atlas Holdings announced it had formed the Orion Steel Companies after completing its acquisition of EVRAZ North America.
The former EVRAZ Steel plant in Regina now goes by the new name of Interpro Pipe and Steel, which is what all Canadian facilities will be known by.
Its capital letters — I, P and S — are a nod to the former IPSCO name the plant was known by for many years, and the old IPSCO goose emblem is also being restored. However, the name IPSCO itself has stayed with TMK from the previous sale.
“So far, it's very positive,” said Mike Day, president of United Steelworkers Local 5890, to reporters on Friday.
“Atlas Holdings is the parent company, and the overall structure of the steel facilities in North America is Orion Steel. What they're doing is trying to get back to the grassroots of what we used to be.”
Before the takeover, there were roughly 525 workers at the steel plant, according to Day. He said the plant is looking to ramp production back up in the tubular division.
“We are in the middle of recalling everybody that's backed in the tubular seniority list, and they're not sure how much they're going to have to hire, but they're looking for a lot of maintenance and production individuals.”
As for how many workers they plan to recall, Day said the hope is to get back about 100 or so, and from there “the number I'm hearing is in the 100-to-200 possibility of hiring new hires.”
Day made the comments Friday during a media event at the Legislature organized by the Opposition New Democrats. Speaking to reporters, the NDP’s economy and jobs critic, Aleana Young, welcomed the news.
“The workers at Interpro Pipe and Steel, like Mike said, are excited about the opportunity to get more people back to work, and fundamentally, that's the most important thing,” said Young.
