Yellowknife (Apr 24/06) - Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington says meeting the demands of striking Ekati mine workers would have only a minor impact on the profits of the mine's parent company, BHP Billiton.

Western Arctic MP Dennis Bevington addresses striking Ekati workers on the picket line in Yellowknife, Friday. Bevington called on the diamond mine's parent company BHP Billiton to meet union demands. - Chris Windeyer/NNSL photo

"When workers call for pay equity and seniority agreements or to live up to the spirit of the Impact Benefit Agreements signed with First Nations, BHP Billiton's response is to call this excessive," Bevington said to a crowd of strikers on the picket line in Yellowknife Friday.

"I call on your employer to consider what is fair when they take so much."

But he also called on both sides in the 19-day long labour dispute to return to the bargaining table. That's something BHP Billiton has said it's willing to do if the Public Service Alliance of Canada makes the first move.

In the meantime Bevington urged both sides to "stop the rhetoric and any actions which may be considered harassment, whether it is name-calling or following people home."

"Such actions benefit no one," he said.

Last week, Union of Northern Workers president Todd Parsons said a security firm hired by BHP Billiton was following strikers home.

The company had earlier complained publicly that the union was making harassing telephone calls to the homes of union workers who have stayed on the job.

Late Friday, BHP Billiton issued a statement saying the Ekati mine last week recorded its best production levels since August, 2005.

The company also said one third of the bargaining unit, roughly 125 workers, remains on the job.

Jean-Francois Des Lauriers, PSAC's regional executive vice president, said between 20 and 40 union workers remained on the job, although BHP said Friday that one-third of its unionized workforce remains at Ekati. Those workers, he said, could face disciplinary action by the union.

The union can seek to recover the wages of workers who have crossed the picket line through legal action, he said.

PSAC officials will study the union's constitution to determine whether that action would take place during or after the strike.

"They're going to find that they've been working for no wages at all," Des Lauriers said.

BHP Billiton spokewoman Deana Twissell said "it's no surprise" Bevington, a New Democrat, is backing union demands.

But she said the company can't meet union demands on seniority rights because the current setup favours aboriginal workers as per agreements signed with First Nations.

Bevington denied he was toeing his party's traditional line of close ties to the labour movement.

"I have enough experience with Northern working conditions and the cost of living up here to say that a lot of (union members) are not overly paid for the work that they do," he said. "They have to leave their homes for two weeks at a time. That has social implications for them."

Premier Joe Handley said Saturday the territorial government isn't taking sides in the dispute.

Since the Canada Industrial Relations board is involved in determining whether an April 5 decertification application is valid, Bevington, as a federal MP is free to do as he likes, the premier said. Handley did say he hopes to see a resolution soon.

Yellowknife mayor Gord Van Tighem echoed the premier's comments and called for both parties to return to the table.