Yellowknife (May 24/06) - A bid to decertify the Local 3050 representing unionized employees at the Ekati mine was turned down by the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB).

That's according to the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).

PSAC regional vice-president for the North, Jean-Francois Des Lauriers, said the main reason for the decision was the union representing the striking workers, "Has demonstrated in good faith that we have diligently intended to negotiate an agreement and have been bargaining in good faith."

Filed with the CIRB on April 5 - two days before the strike began - grievances included with the petition cited poor communication with union members, the short amount of time workers had to review BHP Billiton's proposed contract before voting, and union references to treatment of aboriginal workers at the mine.

According to Joseph Boysis, a signatory of the bid to decertify the union, more than 50 per cent of the membership signed the document.

Sparking a war of words between the company and union, the decertification was followed by conflicting claims from both sides about the number of members who had crossed the picket line to return to their jobs.

In an April 17 News/North story, BHP spokesperson Deanna Twissell said the CIRB had confirmed to BHP that more than half of its member workers had signed the petition.

But according to Des Lauriers, that count was premature, as "(The CIRB) found that the petition had names of individuals not listed as employees and people who had signed more than once."

However, the number of signatories appears to be a moot point, as the CIRB made its decision under section 39(2) of the Canada Labour Code, which states the board cannot decertify a union if it feels a reasonable effort has been made to enter into a collective agreement, where none existed previously.