US Steel Canada workers take down American flags outside the company's Hamilton office

American flags began to disappear from US Steel Canada's offices and buildings on Friday, following a decision by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to separate US Steel's Canadian mills into an independent company.

Typically, three flags fluttered over the US Steel divisions in Canada: Canada, the United States, and US Steel. However, just minutes after Judge Herman Wilton-Segal announced his decision, a lone Canadian banner was fluttering on a flagpole in front of the US Steel Canada office.

Bill Ferguson, president of the United Steelworkers Union of Canada, said he was not interested in who removed the flags, but stressed that US Steel Canada workers and employees were happy to hear of the event.

The symbolic move puts an end to the long-term struggle of Canadian workers for their rights, infringed by the American company, Ferguson said. At least 20,600 retirees and 2,200 US Steel Canada employees are pleased to see the removal of the US flag.

US Steel bought the Canadian company Stelco in 2007 and became US Steel Canada. Last September, US Steel Canada filed for bankruptcy amid a sharp drop in oil prices, and this Friday Judge Wilton-Segal agreed that US Steel Canada would once again become a separate entity. By its decision, the court allowed the company to suspend payments on debts and taxes, although how long it is not yet clear.

In addition, this decision will prevent US Steel from mothballing Canadian factories and throwing several thousand people into the street. The Ontario state government announced that it is ready to support the returned home enterprise financially and develop the metallurgical industry in the region.