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Unions clash over BHP

Steelworkers organizer accuses PSAC of 'misleading' workers in overtime fight

Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 06/02) - A rival union organizer says the Public Service Alliance of Canada is "misleading" BHP Billiton workers.

"An organizing drive should be based on expertise and the facts," said Gilles Deslauriers, of the United Steelworkers of America.

Deslauriers said last week that the USWA had already lost a court battle on the issue against Echo Bay Mines in the late 1990s.

Both PSAC and the Steelworkers are vying to represent workers at BHP's Ekati mine.

An organizing drive by PSAC has been in high gear since last April, while the Steelworkers mothballed their drive in September 2000.

Last week, PSAC announced it had asked the NWT Labour Services Branch to investigate whether BHP was underpaying workers for overtime worked.

Ekati employees work two week shifts on site. Their pay is based on a contract each worker signs with the employer. Hours worked are covered by an overtime averaging permit issued by the NWT Labour Standards Board.

PSAC regional representative Dolly Ablitt disputed Deslauriers claims.

"That contract can't be in violation of the Labour Standards Act," she said.

The Steelworkers lost their case because, "they tried to do it as a class action on their behalf without consulting any of the workers," she added.

An impending ruling from the Canadian Labour Relations Board may have something to do with the flareup between the two unions.

The CLRB is expected issue a ruling on the legitimacy of the BHP Employees' Association any day now.

The ruling was expected last week, but Ablitt said she, "hasn't seen anything yet."

Deslauriers confirmed the Steelworkers "will resume our drive" if the board rules against the Employees' Association.

Gerry Balmer, a boiler operator at the mine, filed an unfair labour practices complaint against the Employees' Association and BHP last spring, arguing that the company and the Employees' Association of colluding to keep other unions out.

The board's decision will determine whether the association will act as a bargaining agent for the workers.