Con miners continue to wait word from employer
NNSL (Aug 07/98) - Since manning the picket lines last May, Con employees have yet to hear anything from their employer, Miramar Mining Corp., about negotiating a new collective agreement.
Local 802 of the United Steelworker's of America has been without a contract since April 30, 1997, when a three-year deal expired. The two sides have been negotiating since February of 1997.
"We're not asking for anything. We just don't want to lose what we have got. That's the bottom line," said Local 802 president Cliff Moroz.
There were about 185 members of the union working last year. Just after Christmas, employees were stunned by the announcement of about 120 layoffs.
That action was seen by the union as an example of the company failing to live up to the prior collective agreement. Increasing deterioration of safety, the transformation of casual positions into staff jobs and failure to accept worker input on how to make the mine more efficient were said to be reasons behind the strike action.
A demand by the employer for "significant monetary concessions" was cited as another major reason to walk out. The union has a 94 per cent mandate to reject making any further concessions to the company, said Moroz.
Miramar Mine Corp senior vice-president Brian Labadie said no negotiations are scheduled anytime soon but the company is willing to get back to the table.
"The objective of the mine is to ensure that over the long-term it is economically viable and we've had discussions since the contract expired in 1997 on how we could achieve that," said Labadie.
"There has to be participation by the employees, productivity improvement, other things which we have been looking at over time -- trying to make the mine economically viable in light of current gold prices. Until we can see a way to take steps towards that or until the union is willing to sit down and discuss how that can happen then there hasn't been really anything to get together and talk about."
Spread the word
To get the message out to the public striking miners are not looking for anything but a fair collective agreement, the union recently launched a large publicity campaign through advertisements in local media.
"It was a bit of a blitz," said Moroz. "Our members were telling us that the people in Yellowknife didn't know what the reasons were for us being on strike. Part of the reason for it is to inform the public and hopefully the company will get a copy of it and have an idea of what we want."
"Most of the brothers and sisters are hanging on. A few people have found small jobs in town to compensate them a little bit just to get through."
With cooler weather not far off, Moroz said members will prepare by building a couple of shacks near the mine to keep picketers comfortable.
