United Steelworkers' Atlantic/Ontario Director Wayne Fraser is urging Canada’s Minister of the Environment Stéphane Dion and the provincial government to move ahead with the clean-up of the Sydney Tar Ponds and Coke Ovens.

"Since the steel plant closed in 2001, our members have been waiting for clean-up of the site to begin," said Fraser. "Steelworkers' Local 1064 had bargaining rights at the steel plant for over a hundred years, and the province made a commitment that our members would be part of the site clean-up. For local people, it gives them an opportunity to finish their careers in their own community."

The United Steelworkers has been active in the fight to have the site cleaned up and keep jobs in the community. Steelworkers participated on the Joint Action Group (JAG), which provided the government with recommendations for clean-up, as well as an on-going community liaison committee.

"We are part of this community and we want to see this problem resolved," said Steelworkers' Local 1064 President Michael Buchanan. "We want to see Cape Breton restored to a vibrant community, with a future. The sooner the site is cleaned up, the sooner we will see some economic development move into the area."

Clean-up of the area is estimated to take 10 years.

The United Steelworkers represents more than 250,000 men and women working in every sector of Canada's economy.

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