USW Members Still Strong In Vale Inco Strike At Voisey Bay

Striking USW members at Vale Inco's Voisey's Bay nickel mine are every bit as resolved as they were when the strike began last Aug. 1, union meetings in several Newfoundland-Labrador communities confirm.

The bargaining committee for United Steelworkers Local 9508 travelled across the province last week, meeting with the striking workers to present the company's latest offer and to get their feedback. Meetings were held in Goose Bay, Labrador City, Nain, Deer Lake, St. John's and Lanse-au-Clair.

A vote on the company offer was taken at every meeting and in each case the result was a 100% rejection of the offer.

Union members held demonstrations in Goose Bay and in Nain on the North Coast of Labrador, where they burned the document containing the Vale Inco offer, which the company had mailed to them.

"The clear message is that the company needs to be talking to the workers' bargaining committee and must negotiate a fair deal," said USW Staff Representative Boyd Bussey.