PSAC attempt to organize diamond mine workers now in high gear
Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Apr 25/01) - With a vote to certify with another organization just weeks away, BHP employees now have another decision to make.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) kicked an organizing drive into high gear last week, taking a run at workers employed by BHP at the company's Ekati mine site.
Dolly Ablitt, a PSAC organizer, says BHP's policy of not paying for overtime, coupled with a sense that the BHP Employees' Association is not up to snuff when it comes to representing workers, means the time is ripe for PSAC to come in.
"An employees' association is a good first step, but it just doesn't go far enough with a multinational industry like BHP," says Ablitt.
Gerry Balmer, a driver at BHP and a PSAC supporter, says there's "big time discontentment," with the Employees' Association among workers.
"They haven't done any research, they've misinformed employees about their intentions," says Balmer.
BHP Employees' Association president Gerry Oliver could not be reached in time for this article.
The Employees' Association was formed by workers after the United Steelworkers of America attempted to organize workers at the site.
The association has recently recognized as a union by the Canadian Labour Relations Board. A majority of workers at the site signed cards indicating that they wish to join the Employees' Association.
However, the CLRB has ordered a certification vote to take place to accurately gauge the will of employees.
The certification vote will take place on site during the second and third weeks of May.
