Voisey's Bay Stalling Over First Contract: Union
Published by MAC on 2006-05-17Voisey's Bay stalling over first contract: union
By CBC News
17th May 2006
The union representing workers at Voisey's Bay says the mine's operator is taking too long to reach a contract.
The United Steelworkers union was certified in a vote last summer to represent about 115 employees at Voisey's Bay, which began shipping nickel concentrate last fall.
However, Voisey's Bay Nickel - a subsidiary of Inco Ltd. - is challenging the validity of that vote in court.
The Steelworkers are calling that move a stalling tactic, and are displeased with a letter that mine management sent to employees saying that the union is manoeuvring to be in a legal strike position by the end of the month.
"We certified the members last August of '05, and here we are in May of '06, and we still don't have an agreement," said representative Ken Dawson.
"They need to get focused, they need to get moving, and we need an agreement."
The Steelworkers want to have an agreement in place by June.
Mine manager Bob Cooper says that is not enough time to deal with complex issues.
"We have a union and we'll negotiate with them, and in due time we will have a deal with our unions," Cooper said.
Management and union officials are negotiating at a hotel in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Talks are scheduled to continue for the rest of this week.
Worker Terry Decker was happy to move back to Labrador after two decades of working in Yellowknife. However, like many at the mine, he is not satisfied with the wages.
"Moneywise, I took a big drop to come here from what I was used to in the Northwest Territories," Decker said.
The union says hourly rates of pay at Voisey's Bay are about $3 lower than rates paid at the Iron Ore Company of Canada mine in Labrador City.