Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 23/98) - It's business as usual at Con Mine, which means no business at all.

Now in its 32nd week, the strike appears further from being settled than ever, though work shifts remain the only outstanding issue.

"It's not about money," said United Steelworkers of America Local 802 president Cliff Moroz. "The members want to be able to have their weekends with their families. That's what it's come down to right now."

Moroz said the strike would be settled tomorrow if Miramar agreed to the Monday to Friday work week provided for in the last contract, which expired April 30, 1998.

He added that the negotiating team is ready to resume talks whenever the company is ready.

Miramar vice-president Brian Labadie said the company is open to suggestions.

"We made every effort to get a collective agreement before the winter set in, but that failed," said Labadie. "We're on care and maintenance through the winter, that's our plan right now, and we'll re-evaluate where we are in the new year."

Labadie said if the union wants to make any suggestions on how to make the mine cost-effective, it is welcome to call the company.

Meanwhile, the union is asking the labour board to appoint an arbitrator to deal with a union complaint that layoffs made just before the strike were done in violation of the collective agreement.

The company laid off approximately 120 workers last December. The union contends the layoffs should have been, but were not, made on the basis of seniority, from least to most.

A number of Miramar workers have found jobs elsewhere or moved out of town since the strike began. Though he would not say exactly how many workers are officially on strike, Moroz said it is "over 100."

Moroz said strikers are keeping up their resolve in spite of the fact that the strike has dragged on into Christmas.

"It's tough, but these hard times can bring the members together too," said Moroz. "All of our problems are the same, its just different amounts of money involved."

In an effort to keep spirits up, workers and their wives organized a Christmas party for the children of the strikers. A Christmas social is planned for Dec. 23.

The union is also maintaining a food bank adjacent to its office.

Labadie said Tuesday he was aware that Con miners were requesting holiday pay from the company. But, adds Labadie, no decision had been made as of Tuesday morning.