Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Apr 30/99) - As Con Mine workers ready themselves to get back at it, there are rumours that Breakwater Resources Limited, the 10th largest zinc producer in the world and owners of Nanisivik Mine, may be considering purchasing Con.

United Steelworkers local 802 president, Cliff Moroz, said representatives from the company did come up and look the property over.

Breakwater investor relations officer, Ann Wilkinson, confirmed that they did have representatives in Yellowknife. But, she said, that doesn't mean they did anything more than look.

"We are and have been for a number of years a growth company and a fairly aggressive one," Wilkinson said.

"We acquire mines and advanced stage projects so we look at a lot of (properties) worldwide. When we make a deal on any of our acquisitions, then that's when we announce it."

In the meantime, Moroz said crews are making their way into Con Mine to check the stability of the main shaft and infrastructure.

After lying idle for 11 months, the mine needs some repair to get back up to full production.

"The mine has been down for quite awhile so there is some infrastructure damage. We're not rushing ahead," Moroz said, adding he's not ready to speculate on when full production will be achieved.

He also said now that workers are slowly returning to the site, he feels the long union holdout should stand as an example to other Northern unions.

"It's a credit to our members that they stood for so long. A credit to them and a strong message to the new unions in the NWT," Moroz said.

"If you go on strike, you do it peacefully and legitimately. From the (Steelworkers) head office in Pittsburgh to the district office in Vancouver and all the way down to the line, we had support."