Maria Canton
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 11/99) - Aggressive ad campaigns and the distribution of more than 1,000 United Steelworkers of America union cards to employees at BHP's Ekati diamond mine are keeping the drive to unionize the mine on track, says a union organizer.

"Everything is up-to-date and moving along very well," Gilles Deslauriers said Friday.

"The long-term benefits of a union are priceless and we won't leave until we are certified at Ekati."

After an employee signs a union card, which identifies both occupation and rate of pay, it is good for a six-month period.

"That is how the drive continues and, when six months pass, the employee will sign a card again," said Deslauriers.

If the United Steelworkers have 50 per cent plus one of employees sign cards, they will file with the federal government for certification.

Deslauriers said there are about 12 workers at the mine site who are supporting the union and regularly hold meetings to educate the others on what a union does and what it would do at BHP.

"The main thing is getting the word out on what we can give to the employees," he said.

"We will offer them due process, which is something that BHP is not offering."

Due process, says Deslauriers, involves giving the employees protection in the areas of seniority, the right to negotiate, elimination of wage discrepancies, recall rights and grievance and arbitration rights.

BHP spokesperson Graham Nicholls said there are no problems with on-site meetings, as long as they don't disrupt work and are within the provisions of the Canada Labour Code.

"That is totally their prerogative," he said.

"It isn't for BHP to interfere, but they can't interrupt work."

Union drives traditionally see about 37 per cent of employees signing their union cards immediately, while the rest wait for further information and education.

The United Steelworkers also represent Con mine workers and recently led Breakwater Resources' Nanisivik zinc mine through a successful union drive at the end of April this year.

"That drive went very fast," said Deslauriers.

"We started in January and a successful application was made at the end of April."