Quebec aluminium smelter lobby opposed by United Steelworkers union for job abolishment in the region

The United Steelworkers union at the invocation of the Association of the aluminium industry in regards to seeing employment requirements evacuated from government investments reacted by commenting: “The aluminium industry wants the butter, the butter money and the money to sell in the United States, all this, financed by our taxes and duties.”

The Quebec aluminium smelter lobby is opposed and criticised by the Steelworkers. Alexandre Fréchette, the person in charge of aluminium at the union said: "It is not true that the money from our taxes will be used to finance robots that will make us lose our jobs and reduce the economic spinoffs for Quebec.”

The union also stated that they are aware of the need for technologies like Elysis, which is focusing to displace carbon anodes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, the Steelworkers spokesperson wants aluminium-producing cities like Sept-Îles and Baie-Comeau to find their advantage in terms of jobs.

Alexandre Fréchette highlighted: “This means that aluminium smelters have to start investing again in manufacturing value-added products and opening up new production capacities. Jobs must be there. Otherwise, the workers are the losers, the regions of Quebec are the losers and the entire economy of Quebec loses!”

In Quebec’s aluminium sector, United Steelworkers represents 2,500 workers, while those of Aluminerie Alouette in Sept-Îles are not unionized and the ones of Alcoa in Baie-Comeau are affiliated with the CSN.