Vale, Local 6500 should go into mediation: Bartolucci

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Dec 30, 2009- 3:26 PM

By: Sudbury Northern Life Staff

There's "no reason why both sides" in the six-month-long labour dispute between Vale Inco and Steelworkers Local 6500 should be unwilling to work with a provincial mediator, said Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci in a Dec. 30 press release.

The United Steelworkers Local in Newfoundland has been speaking to representatives at Vale through a mediator, working towards getting both sides back to the table, and employees back to work.

"There can be no settlement without talking," said Bartolucci, in the press release. "In light of what will be taking place in Voisey's Bay, this appears to be an alternative worth exploring."

Bartolucci's press release states he has contacted the mediation specialists with the Ministry of Labour, asking them to contact representatives from both the Local 6500 and Vale Inco, to see if talks can begin on getting both sides back to the table.

"There should be no reason why both sides wouldn't want to try this," Bartolucci said. "Anything is worth trying to facilitate a resumption of talks, and this approach seems reasonable."

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41 Comments

  • 99gt 1/4/2010 1:26:37 AM - Report Abuse

    2010,

    Lemme guess, anybody that opposes the strike will get laughed at, right?

    I dunno bout you but i'm going to work this morning and not sitting outside at -25 by a camp fire making $200 a week because that's what I choose to do.....who's laughing at who?

  • 99gt 1/4/2010 1:22:05 AM - Report Abuse

    Bravo ,Sean10.

    It's refreshing to see posts such as yours.

  • sean10 1/3/2010 9:56:54 PM - Report Abuse

    To 2010: haha!!!! Haha!!!!

  • 2010 1/3/2010 6:16:42 PM - Report Abuse

    sean you just did it again they will laugh at you

  • sean10 1/3/2010 6:01:18 PM - Report Abuse

    To 2010, I don't think the smart USW ppl will laugh @ my articles... The ppl that will laugh are selfish and hardcore strikers that poison their kids brain to send Xmas cards to Inco...

  • sean10 1/3/2010 5:58:16 PM - Report Abuse

    Thanks DL, is sad to see more jobs moving out from Canada!!!! I think our unions have helped to help some Asian countries to be superpower soon while unionized countries keep facing deficits....in my opinion , unions are needed in underdeveloped and developing countries only!!!!
    USW, why not you become a shareholder in Inco otherwise you will never understand economy!!!!!
    FERA, I think you owe the poor workers an explanation on your analytical and management skills..

  • D. Laframboise 1/3/2010 11:01:44 AM - Report Abuse

    Sean10 I got to agree with you. There are too many lazy people in canada nowadays. There are people that are so lazy they won't even fight for their own future. They are so lazy they would screw over future generations of canadians to benefit only themselves. Thats pretty disgusting if you ask me.

  • 2010 1/2/2010 11:26:23 PM - Report Abuse

    @sean10 why all the anger and hatred. These type of sentiments are only harmful to you yourself. The 6500 members will just read this and laugh. There is nothing that people like more than to get under someone's skin and by reading this post they can sense your panic and despair. I mean you are so freaked out right now you even unawaringly posted twice. I don't know you but I am sure there is someone you can talk to a family member or friend that is calm and willing to listen to what you have to say. Good luck!

  • sean10 1/2/2010 10:42:43 PM - Report Abuse

    At the workplace today, the same cleaning lady keep using her work time to do surfing. Today I saw her writing something on a CAW union handbook, that immediately tells me how lazy she is!!!
    Union ppl, do not blame other countries taking your jobs because you do not appreciate your jobs...even a cleaning lady is so lazy, what is the future of this country? And we see strikers waving maple flag pretending like a national hero to serve their greed!!!
    The development of Canada will slow down and major companies are moving to Asia, why staying in Canada and your employees keep using strike to threaten your business to demand more money? Paying 1 worker is equal to paying more than 4 workers in Asia!!!!
    The idiot union thinks companies need to share wealth with them. Come-on, is the people who use the brain to make money for the business not the workers... Only workers's hands needed and not their brain or knowledge.....
    Keep on striking USW, you will kill our fellow country men eventually!!

  • Phillip Morris 1/2/2010 3:01:58 PM - Report Abuse

    Well said sean10.
    The unionists will gladly rake in the dough during economic booms. Including absurd bonuses. Not once ever giving kudos to the companies for their capital investments and shrewd leadership.
    When the cycles downturn, they immediately turn on the employers blaming the evil corporations for their woes.
    How convenient.
    It's all about take-take-take for the unions. Their position is to represent a group of workers. Getting the best deal. And making a.....profit...for the union. The Stealworkers are in fact, a corporation that makes money and employs tens of thousands of their own.
    They even strike against themselves!

  • sean10 1/2/2010 7:38:39 AM - Report Abuse

    I agree with PM, I think DL has no clues on life...
    Why u keep blaming corporate greed? Why not union greed ? The unions always crying like a baby on the media when they demand a contract!!!! In the real world, CAW is smarter than USW..
    DL, just quit ur job and stop picket if you don't like it...people are not stupid and do not the whole community support the USW
    do not forget the USW Sudbury strike and also Ontario driving examiners strike...the companies just let u guys to strike like an idiot and then you will come back for a job, then the company will cut down the job hour and force some people to resign (certain trouble makers).
    In my mind, these union workers are stupid for trusting the union will help them, just played by both sides!!!

  • Top Gun 1/2/2010 1:33:44 AM - Report Abuse

    I can see sean10 and DL have been in the Kool Aid. Giver guys. Call for more wood.

  • sean10 1/1/2010 11:04:34 PM - Report Abuse

    I agree with PM, I think DL has no clues on life...
    Why u keep blaming corporate greed? Why not union greed ? The unions always crying like a baby on the media when they demand a contract!!!! In the real world, CAW is smarter than USW..
    DL, just quit ur job and stop picket if you don't like it...people are not stupid and do not the whole community support the USW
    do not forget the USW Sudbury strike and also Ontario driving examiners strike...the companies just let u guys to strike like an idiot and then you will come back for a job, then the company will cut down the job hour and force some people to resign (certain trouble makers).
    In my mind, these union workers are stupid for trusting the union will help them, just played by both sides!!!

  • D. Laframboise 1/1/2010 9:17:53 PM - Report Abuse

    Phillip Morris said:

    "However, bloated, antagonistic, and egotistical unions figure they deserve rewards all the time. Its give and take D.Laugh. But 6500 doesn't want to budge. Despite reality staring them in the face."

    Union members didn't cause the economic melt down. It was corporate greed. The same kind of corporate greed is destroying vale inco and reducing the amount of money that the shareholders are getting. The union wasn't asking for "rewards" all the time. They were asking to keep what they had already fought for and earned.

  • noofie 1/1/2010 3:19:30 PM - Report Abuse

    this strike is kinda like that fighting on tv with the brazilians and americans in it - that mma stuff

    this ones got Leo (Lost Again) Gerard vs Roger (Makin Money) Agnelli and Rogers kickin the shxt of of Leo.

    Thats what they told me last nite at the ny party.

  • muff_1 1/1/2010 12:57:30 PM - Report Abuse

    noone...... how about looking up the number of companies that have for one reason or another come up short with their employees DB pensions. NEGOTIATE the new DC pension The DB pensions are a thing of the past and good while they lasted . Do yourselves a favour tell your higher ups to think outside the box before the whole crew sinks with the ship.

  • Phillip Morris 1/1/2010 12:37:09 PM - Report Abuse

    So when times are good, companies share the wealth and reward the employees with raises and increased benefits.
    When times go sour, the employees are supposed to keep demanding more?
    What kind of logic is that?
    Yeah, and companies are charities, established to just make worker's lives better, right?
    Take into consideration that profitable times far out weigh the downturns. If not, then by your thinking, every company in the world would be bankrupt!
    What the truth is an intelligent workforce (ahem..union) would employ a logical strategy and fight when they are in a position of strength. Not during a recession. (ahem..x2 USWA)
    Finally, any company, from a mom-and-pop store to conglomerates answers to one thing. Profits for the shareholders. And those people are mutual fund, shareholders, people like you and me. Workers are just that. Employees that are paid to produce. Good times mean good pay. Bad times mean belt tightening.
    However, bloated, antagonistic, and egotistical unions figure they deserve rewards all the time.
    Its give and take D.Laugh. But 6500 doesn't want to budge. Despite reality staring them in the face.
    Keep sipping the Kool-Aid. Thank god socialists don't run the country. We (I) fight our own battles and succeed on our own choices and struggles. Not behind a union protecting and rewarding mediocrity.

  • D. Laframboise 1/1/2010 11:49:24 AM - Report Abuse

    Phillip if the unions gave up everything everytime the economy had a hick-up only to bargain it back in better times you would be living in a cave and riding a donkey to work. Its too bad you don't have the foresight to realize that your attitude and beliefs would lead canada down a one way path to self destruction.

    Do huge multinational companies give out wage, and benifit increases when the economy is going well? No, they still make the employee fight for ever cent that they make.

    Phillip you have obviously never fought for and earned anything in your life. You would rather reap the benifits from other unions / peoples fights.

  • Phillip Morris 1/1/2010 9:58:09 AM - Report Abuse

    Take back all the rhetoric and posturing by 6500. Want the bare bones truth of the strike?

    =Union leaders misrepresent the strength of their position and convince the rank and file to strike.
    =There is a recession going on and the company is losing tens of millions in the division the union represents.
    =There are few buyers and a huge stockpile of product the union makes
    =The workers swallow the propaganda and despite unemployment at 10%+ and many companies shutting down they chose to strike.
    =Hundreds of thousands of fellow Canadians are losing jobs and taking massive cuts to keep working.
    =The contract offer made by Vale doesn't have a single layoff clause. COLA is still there. Only a few, potential new hires will have a different pension formula.
    =There are pension bonuses and other pluses not mentioned to the rank and file by their leaders.
    =There's nothing preventing the union from signing and in better economic times fighting for better contracts.

    There it is people. Plain and simple. No BS. No emotions or rhetoric or promises of a short strike/vacation.
    6500 has passed the point of no return. Personal losses are huge and so are the bruised egos. Leaders and picketers. The work action is no longer about black and white economics. It's about misguided pride.

  • noone_1 12/31/2009 9:00:48 PM - Report Abuse

    muff- Because every company that introduced these type of benefit plans has ultimately done away with contributing to pensions altogether within 10 years. Look it up.

  • north7_1 12/31/2009 8:02:10 PM - Report Abuse

    who cares 6500 decided to go on strike because they thought offer was not fair. There is people going hunger,companies going broke, people losing their jobs, people losing their houses, so if workers at Inco feel they should go on strike more power to them but can we stop hearing about and get back to stuff people care about

  • noofie 12/31/2009 5:55:15 PM - Report Abuse

    yissss me sonny boy
    don't you pay no attention to what I'm saying.
    If they says it right, vote strike

    (I grew up with Sean Majunder on White Bay...you don't do that without a sense of humour "me son")

  • Top Gun 12/31/2009 5:12:49 PM - Report Abuse

    I don't read posts that are silly and are rude to the province of Newfoundland and their people. From now on I will just pass by yours.

  • noofie 12/31/2009 4:39:44 PM - Report Abuse

    Lard thunderin Nooner.....yer woman must be pullin a good wage er yer living in Dads basement.

    She's over me son.......you lost it.....best ting now is to save your job and tell Leo's Klan not to bodder wit ye.

  • muff_1 12/31/2009 4:26:58 PM - Report Abuse

    noone . "A different pension for new hires is the first step in doing away with pensions altogether" what kind of koolaid are they forcing down your throat?? Does accepting the dc pension now mean that you can no longer negotiate improvements to it in years to come? Db pensions were great in their time,unfortunately they are a thing of the past and thats life.

  • Top Gun 12/31/2009 2:13:16 PM - Report Abuse

    Rick Bartolucci's comments were directed to both sides. Governments are neutral in labour disputes unless the disputes will effect something like public safety, as an example. His comments were fair to both sides and he stayed neutral.
    What he is saying is, if both sides are reasonable, why aren't they at the table?

  • looseends 12/31/2009 12:50:07 PM - Report Abuse

    In time the Union will eventually give in and except some concessions, they have already gone from statements such as " we'll bring Vale to their knees", and now they are saying we want to talk but Vale does not. They are softening their stance a little because they realize Vale may very well bring 6500 to their knees. A few more months and 6500 will be begging Vale to get back to the table and they will except the concessions and the whole strike will have been a waste of time and money for their members and the whole city.Nice job Gerard
    One day longer!!

  • noone_1 12/31/2009 11:32:42 AM - Report Abuse

    Wrong again, Phillip Morris. Nobody is losing their jobs this summer. Nobody misrepresented anything. A different pension for new hires is the first step in doing away with pensions altogether. It will devide the union. The mandate was given to strike.

    ONE DAY LONGER!

  • cutiepie 12/31/2009 10:48:16 AM - Report Abuse

    First of all, why the hell does anyone care what the hell is said by Bartolucci. It's HIS fault Inco was bought out by the Brazilian's because he "didn't want a Monopoly" with Inco and Falconbridge. I think it's about time he realizes that all of this, is not because of the Union trying to do what's right by the members, but because of him. Step down Bart...let someone who actually cares about this community in the seat you do not deserve.

  • 2010 12/31/2009 6:58:27 AM - Report Abuse

    I think what is really really important is to do whatever it takes even if it falls outside our contract to protect our surface plants and high cost mine sites.

  • Phillip Morris 12/31/2009 4:47:35 AM - Report Abuse

    6500 is going to have to budge on their demands eventually or they could be charged with bad faith bargaining. I don't think the local 6500 members really mind the changes the company is proposing. Its the stubborn leaders that have misrepresented the position of the union in a poor economy.

    Sudbury cannot continue to be a huge money loser and have growing legacy costs. The Steelworkers will have to face facts that their old contract just doesn't fit in a modern world. A few small concessions is nothing compared to losing your jobs by this summer.
    Hopefully, there will be some brave, self-thinkers that push 6500 into reality. The strikers have lost far too much already in the name of egos.

  • jmcb 12/30/2009 9:33:34 PM - Report Abuse

    hahaha, trying to get a fast one in there Rick..very low of you- don't feed off of the suffering of others.

  • Pork&Beans 12/30/2009 9:04:53 PM - Report Abuse

    One would think that Rick Bartolucci would have met with Newfoundland's Premier Danny Williams by now to express his concerns over Vale's unwillingness to meet with local 6500.
    France Gelinas MPP has proved that she isn't worried of stepping up to the plate for Sudburians.
    What are you waiting for Rick?

  • 2010 12/30/2009 8:57:02 PM - Report Abuse

    I mean internet.

  • 2010 12/30/2009 8:56:41 PM - Report Abuse

    If all 6500 cut off their cable who would keep you in line.

  • noofie 12/30/2009 8:03:03 PM - Report Abuse

    Lard thunderin
    the company what owns the nickle operations in sudbury is Vale Inco what is owned by Vale. Your union should explain tings like that to you. Yer strike is wit Vale Inco.

    Garfield me brother in law just ask me to suggest you strikers could save some money if you cut off yer internet & cabel tv.

  • whiteswan69_1 12/30/2009 7:38:01 PM - Report Abuse

    Noone,
    Write Christmas the right way and not Xmas.You should know better than that.

  • noofie 12/30/2009 6:52:28 PM - Report Abuse

    Jeez fella......do you read what you write here?
    As long as the level of compensation stays the same ​o​r​ ​g​e​t​s​ ​b​e​t​t​e​r​.​
    Thats not gonna happen me son.....tink about it......Nickle bonus is going down.

  • beefy 12/30/2009 6:12:04 PM - Report Abuse

    Did you just find out there was a strike going on Rick?

  • D. Laframboise 12/30/2009 5:45:29 PM - Report Abuse

    Vale is going to have to budge on their demands eventually or they could be charged with bad faith bargaining. I don't think the local 6500 members really mind the changes the company is proposing. As long as the level of compensation stays the same or gets better.

    The DC pension the company is proposing is not bad but the amount the company wants to contribute isn't enough. The nickel bonus trigger price could be negotiated as well as the transfers. All this needs to be talked about at the negotiating table. Hopefully the talks in newfoundland lead to talks in sudbury as well.

  • noone_1 12/30/2009 5:29:22 PM - Report Abuse

    It's pretty clear Vale has no interest in bargaining whatsoever. Either accept the "changes" (read: demands)or they won't even give the union the time of day. It's time to see what the government of Canada and Vale agreed to in that document that's being hidden from the public. Probably won't happen though...it might mean some politician somewhere doesn't get their Vale Xmas present (an envelope stuffed with cash).
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