RE: The perfect storm ..... HVCSteelworkers vote in favour of strike at Highland Valley Copper
KAMLOOPS, BC, Sept. 15 /CNW/ - Members of the United Steelworkers (USW)
Local 7619 have voted overwhelmingly to go on strike against Teck Cominco's
Highland Valley Copper (HVC) mine, if a new contract is not reached.
The current contract expires on Sept. 30 and workers voted 99.8 per cent
in favour of taking strike action to back up their negotiating committee.
Local 7619 has more than 640 members and contract talks are scheduled to
resume on Sept. 18 and 19.
An attempt to negotiate a contract earlier this year ended when talks
broke off in June.
Outstanding issues include adequate wage and benefit increases, including
pensions and medical benefits for retirees.
While copper prices have risen by over 300 per cent in the last three
years, the HVC operation produces more pounds of copper concentrate per
man-hour than any mine in the world. Located near the community of Logan Lake,
about 60 kilometers south of Kamloops, the HVC operation is expected to see
staggering profits of over $1.5-billion in 2006.
"Our members of the local union have stepped up to the plate to give
their negotiating committee a strong mandate," said USW Western Canada
Director Steve Hunt. "If a satisfactory settlement can't be reached, picket
lines will go up at an appropriate time."
Local 7619 President Richard Boyce said the union has refused to accept
concessions demanded by the company.
"There has never been a better time than now to negotiate good increases
for workers and retirees," he said. "It's too bad that it has to take a strike
vote to get Teck Cominco's attention."
Boyce said that in 1999, when copper prices were down and the mine closed
for four months, workers, the community, suppliers, BC Gas and BC Hydro, all
pitched in to help re-activate the operation.
"Now that this company is enjoying record profits, it is time that
workers and the community get their fair share."
In the second quarter of 2006, Teck Cominco announced profits of
$613-million.
"We are Teck Cominco's number one producer," said Boyce. "When you look
at the success of our operation and the number of tons produced per employee
and how hard we have worked, it's a no-brainer to see that this company must
negotiate a fair and equitable agreement with our union."
The USW represents about 288,000 men and women working in every sector of
the Canadian economy.