Yellowknife (Apr 10/06) - Rallying to the cheer "up your offer," unionized workers of BHP Billiton's Ekati diamond mine walked off the job at 6 a.m. Friday.

Jean-Francois Des Lauriers, regional executive vice president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada talks on his cell phone Friday. Workers at the Ekati diamond mine went on strike Friday to press demands for higher wages and job security. - Chris Windeyer/NNSL photo No sign of replacement workers While BHP Billiton has vowed to keep the Ekati diamond mine in operation, Jean-Francois Des Lauriers, regional executive vice president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada said strikers will block any replacement workers who might try to cross picket lines. By mid afternoon Friday, he said there was no movement of replacement workers near the picket line at BBE Ltd. on McMillan Street. In a news release, RCMP Sgt. Francis Cullen pledged to monitor the strike and get involved "to ensure the safety of persons or the security of property." Cullen said there were no reports of trouble on the picket line Friday.

But the union also found itself contesting a decertification application filed the same day with the Canada Industrial Relations Board.

The union said 90 per cent of its 400 members voted in favour of strike action after talks with the employer broke down in Edmonton Thursday. An application to decertify the union requires the signatures of a majority of union members to proceed.

Jean-Francois Des Lauriers, the union's regional executive vice president, said PSAC will contest the application and suspects BHP Billiton of organizing it. He said the union doesn't know who filed the decertification application or how many signed it.

"We're gathering evidence now that the company might have been involved in promoting it," he said.

"We had heard about the possibility that there was a petition going around and sometimes people sign things they don't really know what it's about."

BHP Billiton spokeswoman Deana Twissell didn't return phone calls.

Tom Panelli, western regional director of the Canada Industrial Relations Board, wouldn't say how many names are on the application and said the process could take as much as a month to proceed. He said the board will contact both sides if it needs information.

The Canada Labour Code typically prohibits decertifying unions during a strike, "but for every rule there is an exception," said Panelli.

Union members are demanding wage increases, seniority rights, and job security, including limits on the number of jobs contracted out.

Todd Parsons, president of the Union of Northern Workers, which represents Ekati employees under the PSAC banner, said a tentative agreement rejected by members in March contained improvements in handling grievances, but fell short on the main issues.

"There was no offer of any economic increase and no offer of job security," Parsons said.

Union officials suspect BHP Billiton is trying to break the union through attrition.

"We're worried they'll erode the membership (of the union) to the point we're no longer effective," said PSAC local X3050 president Guy Willy.

He said nearly 100 per cent of the 150 unionized workers present at the Ekati site early Friday morning voted to go off the job.

Close to 150 workers set up a picket line in front of BHP Billiton contractor Braden Burry Expediting Ltd., which is allowing strikers use of washrooms and the parking lot in order to keep strikers off McMillan Street near the Yellowknife Airport.

Strikers drank coffee and ate donuts served out of the back of a minivan.

Picketer Colin Bokovay, a blaster at the Ekati mine, said morale on the line is high and being boosted by the public support.

"That support is coming from all over, not just union people, but other unions and the general public. We're very happy with that."

And while union members hope the strike ends soon, they're prepared to stay on the line as long as it takes to get the contract they want.

"I'm willing to stick it out," said Robert Beaulieu. "We drew a line in the sand."

According to radio reports Friday, Premier Joe Handley said he did not believe BHP would use replacement workers to fill jobs left by striking employees.

The premier did not return phone calls Friday, but a spokesperson said Handley was monitoring the situation.