The presidents of two Hamilton steelworkers locals are demanding an immediate apology from Hamilton East-Stoney Creek MP Bob Bratina after they say he shouted obscenities at a steelworkers union delegation in a meeting in his Ottawa office on Tuesday and then ordered them out.

At the height of the incident, said Jim McColl, Bratina shouted, "F--- the steelworkers" and "F--- Jake Lombardo (a Local 1005 grievance chairperson)," and also kicked a chair and banged his table, before ousting the five-person delegation from his office.

Bratina, in an emailed response to The Spectator, said he "ended the meeting" after the conversation "became personal."

"It was clear that a productive conversation was not going to take place," said Bratina, a former Hamilton mayor. "As they were leaving I assured them that we would continue to work hard for steelworkers and their employers despite this meeting."

But several union representatives paint a different picture of the discourse.

"He said, 'Get out!' and slammed the door so hard ... if you've seen the offices there, it's a huge door, you could hear it down the hallway," said McColl, who was at the meeting and is recording secretary for the delegation.

Local steelworkers were in Ottawa as part of an effort sponsored by the Canadian Labour Congress to lobby Members of Parliament to change bankruptcy and insolvency laws, as well an institute a universal national pharmacare program. The efforts are meant to protect pensioners and others against threats to benefits and pension that Hamilton steelworkers have experienced.

"We noted that even Florida does better than Canada (on pension protection in cases of insolvency and bankruptcy)."

McColl said that Bratina, in response to demands for improved legislation, grumbled, "I don't know how you're going to do it."

"Then we asked, 'When are you going to schedule another meeting?'" said McColl, to which Bratina responded, "Why bother?" according to McColl.

Then, said McColl, one of the delegation shot back, "Bob, you promised us help before and you lied." That, said McColl, is "when he lost it. He was swearing and called us all names."

Gary Howe, president of Local 1005 representing Stelco employees, said, "This is not behaviour we would expect from an elected representative, especially one who promised to do everything in his power to change the laws during the 2015 election campaign."

"We were shocked by Mr. Bratina's behaviour," said Tony Ciaramella, president of Local 5328 representing employees ArcelorMittal Hamilton East (Formerly Stelwire), who was also at the meeting and is demanding an apology. "In our view, Mr. Bratina has not kept his promise. Not once has he stood in the House and said anything about changing the laws and protecting current or retired steelworkers. It was a legitimate question. His reaction was completely irrational and, as a steelworker and a constituent, I am deeply insulted."

In an email to Mr. Bratina today, Howe and Ciaramella demand Bratina "do the right thing and publicly apologize immediately and unreservedly," claiming that his "behaviour is insulting and disrespectful."

"It's not like he hadn't done this before," Howe told The Spectator. "When Bill Ferguson and I met with him and with the prime minister and Filomena Tassi (MP for Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas), he said to us, 'I don't know what you're complaining about,' and the PM had to intervene. He said, 'Bob, you can't take it personally.' Then he went quiet."

McColl said, "I've done this 27 times over the years (visiting Ottawa to meet with MPs) and it's the first time ever this happened. We were shocked. We hadn't been swearing."

In Bratina's email to The Spectator, he also praised the role unions have played in upholding workers' rights.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

"Canada's labour movement has led the way on work-life balance, safe working conditions and employment equity and diversity," he said. "Our government shares many of the same values and beliefs as the labour movement and we need to continue working together to build on the success of the past three years."

jmahoney@thespec.com

905-526-3306