Yellowknife (Jun 16/06) - BHP Billiton has extended wage increases and other "financial improvements" to its unionized workers who have chosen to return to work.

"We're not implementing the contract (given as a "final offer" to union negotiators May 31), but we are implementing the wage benefits," said company spokesperson Deanna Twissell on Tuesday.

"As far as we know it's completely legal and the union is aware of it. We feel for the employees who've returned to work. They should be compensated."

Mine workers who have crossed union picket lines will receive an average four per cent salary increase taking effect June 30, a $1,000 "appreciation bonus" for returning to work and an additional retention bonus that means an eight per cent salary bonus for Northerners and four per cent for non-northerners.

The plan took effect June 10 and the union was notified of BHP's intentions June 7.

Public Service Alliance of Canada regional vice-president Jean-Francois Des Lauriers says BHP's plan is illegal, as are the company's attempts at negotiating directly with workers.

"They are bribing people to get them back to work. I mean what else is new with these dirty tricks, throwing crumbs at people who've been on strike for nine weeks when this could've been solved back in April," he said.

The union will include this new development in a list of complaints filed June 8 with the Canadian Industrial Relations Board. The union says BHP Billiton violated the Canada Labour Code with "unlawful" bargaining tactics; among which are company negotiators deleting and adding collective agreement clauses to sections of the contract the union contends were "signed off" back in August 2005.

As well, PSAC calls Billiton demands that the union take the company's May 31 "final offer" to its membership for a ratification vote by mail-in ballot meddling with the union's internal affairs, also illegal according to Des Lauriers.

However, union member Joseph Boysis, who has exercised his option to return to work, disagrees.

"It's PSAC policy to enable as many members of the bargaining unit (as possible) to vote on a ratification," he told Yellowknifer during a break in work at the mine Monday afternoon. "They have to show us this thing and let us vote on it (and with) people from New Brunswick, Texas and all over Canada working here, the only way to do that is to have a mail-in ballot."

Meanwhile, PSAC launched its North American information strategy earlier this week, placing advertisements in The New York Times and Wall Street Journal asking consumers to boycott "Dirty Diamonds from Canada!" A campaign of leafleting at Aurias diamond retailers across Canada is set to begin, said Des Lauriers.