About the trust

The USW 8782 Retiree Benefits Trust provides healthcare benefits and life insurance for retirees of USW 8782 Lake Erie Works. The Trust also covers spouses and other eligible dependants of retirees.

The Trust, officially called the USW Local 8782 ELHT, was established on October 1, 2017, when it assumed the responsibility from Stelco for managing the retiree healthcare benefits plan.

The management of the Trust is overseen by four trustees.

These four trustees were chosen based on their extensive professional experience with the union, benefits plans, investment management, labour relations, and financial matters. It's their job to ensure that the Trust is managed effectively on behalf of the plan members—and that it continues to provide meaningful benefits coverage well into the future.


Why create a Trust?

The Trust was created as a result of the insolvency proceedings of Stelco and the subsequent purchase by Bedrock Industries Incorporated. In order to ensure the sale and ongoing operations of Stelco, an alternative funding arrangement was needed to reinstate some or all of the members’ retiree benefit plans.

All retired members of Stelco were affected, not only Local 8782 members. Your new Trust is part of a collection of complicated agreements between the government, Bedrock Industries, USW Local 8782 and 1005, the non-union employees and other key stakeholders.

In the end, deciding to establish three separate Trusts – one being your USW 8782 Retiree Benefits Trust – was the best solution for everyone involved, and allowed all interested parties to come to an agreement on how to proceed with the purchase of Stelco. And now the Trust ensures that your benefits are funded annually as per the contractual agreements.

Ideally, the Trust will continue to provide comparable benefits coverage until the last surviving member makes their last claim.

In reality, the Trust will remain active as long as there is money in it and Stelco is able to meet its annual funding commitments. It’s the Trustees’ job to see that the money in the Trust is invested and spent appropriately – in a best effort to ensure that the Trust remains active for as long as members are making claims.


Meet the trustees

As Trustees, it is our job to ensure that the USW 8782 Retiree Benefits Trust is managed and administered effectively on behalf of all plan members. It is an obligation that we take very seriously.


            
 
 
MARK TALBOT
Trust Chair

Mark’s extensive experience was a huge asset in getting the Trust set up, and continues to be an important part of the Trust’s ongoing administration.

Since 1987, Mark has been involved in the Local Union representing the members in all aspects, and has held positions in many areas over the years, including VP, Local 8782 (now retired). He has been part of the bargaining committee in many rounds of Collective Bargaining, including Group Insurance Benefits and Pensions. In 2004, Mark represented the workers in the restructuring of Stelco under the Companies Creditor Arrangement Act.

Most recently, he was part of the committee that represented the workers in the successful restructuring of Stelco. The creation of the USW Local 8782 ELHT (Employee Life and Health Trust) was a key component in the successful restructuring process. Mark was involved in both the bargaining of these benefits and in the day-to-day application.


            
 
 
BILL FERGUSON
Trustee

Bill was President of Local 8782 for twenty years, and an executive member since 1987. Now retired from his union role, he brings a wealth of experience to the Trust.

Over the years, he’s held various roles and responsibilities, including employee welfare coordinator, advocate for employee accommodation in the workplace and human rights, dealing with group benefits, workers compensation, and executive oversight of the Union health and safety group. During the CCAA proceedings, Bill led the union negotiating committee and negotiated contracts for other Steelworker locations in the Haldimand Norfolk region.


            
 
 
MARK LAUNDRY
Trustee

Mark worked at Stelco for 40 years. Mark worked as an industrial mechanic in the Primary Maintenance Department where he was a Union Steward and Assistant Chief Steward looking out for the needs of the members he represented. Mark retired in 2021 and as of June 2024, Mark has been appointed and is now working with the Trustees to provide post employment health benefits to the retirees and their dependents.

As a retiree, Mark is a member of the Trust who relies on receiving these benefits, so he also has a personally vested interest in overseeing the Trust’s success.


            
 
 
RICK BEALE
Trustee

Rick is a Stelco retiree, and worked at Stelco for 37 years. In his role, he was Co-Chair of the Health and Safety Committee, and was responsible for ensuring health and safety legislation and agreements – negotiated within the Collective Agreement – were implemented and followed. Rick also took a proactive approach to identifying potential hazards and ergonomic issues in an effort to avoid steel mill worker injuries.

As a retiree, Rick is a member of the Trust who relies on receiving these benefits, so he has a personally vested interest in overseeing the Trust’s success.


            
 
 
Terry Barnard
Trustee

Terry spent 32 years working at Stelco. Now retired, he brings a wealth of experience to his role as a Trustee.

During his time at Stelco, Terry handled retiree benefits and helped active members with benefit issues. He was also in charge of managing claims for active workers' weekly indemnity and worker compensation. On top of that, he played an active role in the Union Executive and Senior Level Committee.

Terry's practical, hands-on experience is a valuable asset in helping to ensure efficient and effective administration of the Trust.