Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 07/00) - The national president of the Canadian Auto Workers Union says it's "a damn disgrace" what has happened to workers in the wake of the collapse of Giant mine.

Buzz Hargrove, national president of the Canadian AutoWorkers, was in town Tuesday to offer support for Giant miners in search of severance pay and full pension benefits (Malcolm Gorrill/NNSL photo).

Buzz Hargrove spoke to reporters following a meeting Tuesday and said he is urging people here "to keep fighting" for justice.

More than 200 workers laid off from the bankrupt mine in October have yet to receive severance pay. As well, retired miners, and surviving spouses, receiving benefits under the underfunded hourly pension fund are coping with a 25 per cent cut to their benefits, effective the start of this month.

Hargrove referred to the trust fund DIAND set up for the environmental cleanup at the site as part of the takeover of Giant mine by Miramar in December.

"If they can put up $250 million of government money to clean up the waste Peggy Witte left behind, surely they can find a couple of million dollars to look after the human tragedy here," Hargrove said.

"We're making this a national issue but the struggle has to continue locally. Once you lose focus here and you make it just a national issue, the people who've been imparted here locally get lost in the shuffle," Hargrove said.

"I talked to (Western Arctic MP) Ethel Blondin-Andrew today on the phone from Edmonton on my way up here, and she seems very supportive," Hargrove said.

"I'm going to send her a letter, and the people here are as well, asking her to introduce a private member's bill into the (House of Commons), asking the government to make up the shortfall in the pension plan and then the severance payment fund."

Blondin-Andrew could not be reached for comment.

Hargrove also wants the federal government to ensure "that no other worker under the federal jurisdiction will have to suffer this kind of incredible attack on their families' income."

The president said Local 2304 in Yellowknife was the first CAW group under federal jurisdiction to lose pension funds. Hargrove suggested legislation be put in place at the federal level similar to that enacted in Ontario by former premier David Peterson.

In that province there is a pension guarantee fund.

"All employers pay a fee into that fund to ensure that if anyone goes bankrupt, our members are protected," Hargrove said. "And it's interesting, the (Mike) Harris government has left that in place."