There may or may not have been strike breakers at the mine mill site, information from some workers indicated that there were, jury still out on that.
Any way, tensions are high, some striking workers took the company offer of flights home, most workers at the site [40 Im told] in the striking union did not. They are being put up in their accommodations; I hear VBNC is seeking a court injunction to remove them.
A number of strikers who were not at the site picketed VBNC office in HV-GB. I wonder if any pickets will go up here at Nain office?
I hear that the gap in the hourly rate between Sudbury and VB for some categories is about $5.00. The company offered up an extra .75 cents an hour. Not sure what other benefits come into play, things like free air transport in Labrador, lodging, food, I believe VB workers pay something but not sure how much.
All this just confirms what I have been saying all along, local people negotiating with INCO really did not have a grip on who they were dealing with. This applies to the past NL government, LIA with the IBA, unions, local people with the Environmental hearings.
Getting some nice light rain this morning, suppose to be a wet weekend, no complaints, good break from all that sun, wont have to water the garden, good for the berry crop, fill the ponds.
Here is a picture of a company representative.
OK, it's not.
It is some weird kind of radish I'm producing this year. This one only 61/2 inches long, I took one out and gave it to a neighbor that was 8 inches looked more bizarrear that this one.
I just looked at the seed packet, the variety is called "French breakfast", no comment on that. They are supposed to be tubular, so that's relief.
2 comments:
A five buck difference is nothing to sneeze at.
Did the steelworkers come in after the construction workers union finished off with the construction phase? I got a lot of time for the steelworkers. I think they're the best of the industrial unions in Canada. Their work on health and safety in Canada is unparallelled among the other unions. They are almost singlehandedly responsible for the Westray Bill, which created a new class of coroporate manslaughter. They seem to be the only union that gives a crap about health and safety.
A rough couple of days for the international nickel corp, that's for sure. strike at their VB site, the collapse of their bid for falconbridge. It remains to be seen how the soon-to-be American corp will manage its Labrador project. Will the Americans view Labrador and its residents in different terms? Will it matter
It's good to read these insider reports about the word in town.
They [steel workers union] came in after construction ended to my knowledge. With many workers on site with other experiences the NL’ers, but especially Labradorians, are getting a feel as to wages and packages at other Inco sites, as well as other remote mining sites. Do not like what they hear.
No support for workers on political front [well color me surprised], different story when the politicos needed help eh?
Inco shares are up no matter what else is going on. Who knows how the re Americanization of the INC will go, maybe a more compassionate company, could not be much worse IMO.
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