Steelworkers give update on Group Health Centre court action

Mike Da Prat, president of United Steelworkers Local Union 2251, provided an update Tuesday on the union's legal proceedings against Sault Ste. Marie's Group Health Centre.

Two motions will be heard by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Oct. 30, Da Prat said.

The Steelworkers, whose members provided initial funding to build the pioneering union-sponsored community health centre in 1963, are asking the court to temporarily stop Group Health Centre from de-rostering current and former members of Local 2251, which represents 2,226 hourly rated workers at Algoma Steel.

The motion is intended to halt de-rostering until the court can weigh and determine the merits of the Steelworkers' bid for a permanent injunction.

The court is also being asked to rule on whether Da Prat can be appointed to represent all de-rostered current and former members of Local 2251 so individual lawsuits aren't needed.

GHC announced in January that it would de-roster 10,000 of its 60,000 patients effective May 31.

Those 10,000 patients include many "brickers" – members of the Steelworkers who originally built the place.

In his update on Tuesday, Da Prat said:

• the affidavit evidence of Local 2251 has been delivered
• the affidavit evidence of the Group Health Centre and Algoma District Medical Group has been received
• the cross-examinations on the affidavits of Michael Da Prat on behalf of Local 2251, Liliana Silvano on behalf of Group Health Centre, and Dr. Jodie Stewart on behalf of the Algoma District Medical Group have been completed

"The exact schedule for the exchange of written arguments, which are the main steps leading up to the hearing that have not been completed, are tentative and continue to be discussed by the parties," Da Prat said.

He said the Steelworkers have proposed these dates:

• Sept. 13, 2024 – delivery of written arguments on behalf of Local 2251
• Oct. 4, 2024 – delivery of written arguments on behalf of Group Health Centre and Algoma District Medical group
• Oct. 11, 2024 – delivery of written reply arguments on behalf of Local 2251

"The court has indicated that interested members of the public should be able to view the proceedings in court by videoconference," Da Prat said.

"We anticipate receiving the information for how the hearing can be accessed by the public closer to the date of the hearing."