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9 April, 2007
Mediated negotiations to end a strike by the United Steelworkers (USW) against Rio Tinto’s Iron Ore Co. of Canada occurred 1-3 April, but halted needlessly when management walked away from the table. Some 1,300 USW members at a mine and pellet plant in Labrador City, Newfoundland, and an iron ore export facility in Sept-Iles, Quebec, have been on strike since 8 March and 14 March, respectively.
USW District Six Director Wayne Fraser said the two sides were not far apart to end the month-long strike, except that managers abruptly got up and left bargaining on 3 April. “For the company to simply walk away shows remarkable disrespect to both the process and, more importantly, to the employees, who do not take the decision to be on strike likely.”
USW District Six Director Wayne Fraser
Chief among remaining concerns for the three USW local branches that are involved are recognition of seniority, ensuring that employees’ benefits are not capped, and meeting the pay parity of other mining companies in Quebec.
“This fight is about recognising the intrinsic value our members bring to this operation,” stated USW Local 5795 President George Kean. “(The years) 2005 and 2006 broke all production records and our members gave the company the biggest profit in its history.”
Iron Ore Co. of Canada is 59% owned by Rio Tinto.