Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (May 11/01) - As employees at BHPs Ekati mine began a certification vote this week, a worker has filed an unfair labour practices complaint against the company and the union on the ballot.
Gerry Balmer, which names BHP and the BHP Employees' Association, filed the complaint May 7. He is being assisted by the Public Service Alliance of Canada, which is attempting to organize the site.
Dolly Ablitt, a PSAC representative, says that the union "is proud to be helping these people."
In the complaint, BHP is accused of unlawfully participating, "in the formation and administration of the (employees') association and it has contributed financial, and other support, to it in its organizing drive and in its application for certification."
BHP and the association are also accused of excluding 17 employees suspected of being pro-union from a list of eligible voters.
Ablitt says that the board has since allowed those employees to vote.
Association lawyer Paul Smith would not comment on the complaint at this time, saying it would "be inappropriate for me to do so while the matter is before the board."
Smith adds that he will be making a submission to the board with respect to the complaint next week.
Balmer was on site at Ekati and unavailable for comment as of press time. The BHP Employees' Association was formed after a failed attempt to organize the Ekati site last year by the United Steelworkers of America. A majority agreed to join the union by signing payroll deduction slips. BHP then collected dues on behalf of the association.
The Canadian Industrial Relations Board recognized the Employees' Association as a trade union in March. However, the board expressed concern "with the very unusual method used by the Association," to collect dues and ordered a certification vote.
Should the Employees' Association fail to be certified, PSAC or another union could attempt to organize the site.
The certification vote will conclude next week.
