Unionized workers at Xstrata PLC’s nickel operations in Sudbury Ontario, Canada voted 98% in favour of a strike if a new labour agreement can’t be reached by the end of the month. The more than 1000 members represented by Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) delivered the mandate to union leaders on 16 January 2007. CAW unit chair Richard Paquin said the union is still seeking details on how a proposed joint venture of Xstrata and CVRD Inco Ltd in the Sudbury region will affect its members. “So far the talks have been very, very slow,” Mr Paquin said, adding that the two sides “haven’t even touched monetary issues yet.” Talks resumed on 17 January and extended into the weekend and the following Monday, the 22nd of January. The major sticking points, which include the contracting out of non-union members and a demand for full disclosure of the company’s plans to work with Brazilian-owned CVRD Inco in the Sudbury basin, have yet to be resolved.
