Union and Vale Inco set to meet with labour board twice this week

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Feb 08, 2010- 2:28 PM

By: Heidi Ulrichsen - Sudbury Northern Life

UPDATED - Feb. 9 at 9:09 a.m.

The Ontario Labour Relations Board has cancelled the Feb. 10 hearing of the bargaining in bad faith complaint because of a scheduling conflict, according to Vale Inco spokesperson Steve Ball.

Original story:

United Steelworkers and Vale Inco officials are scheduled to appear twice this week before the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

One of the hearings, which took place today (Feb. 8) in Toronto, involved a joint complaint by Steelworkers Local 2020 and Steelworkers Local 6500 against Vale Inco.

The two union locals say the fact that Vale Inco is asking members of Local 2020 to do the work of striking members of Local 6500 violates the Ontario Labour Relations Act.

Vale Inco spokesperson Steve Ball said the labour board received the company's submission on Feb. 8, which basically stated “we weren't violating the (Ontario Labour Relations Act).”

The labour board didn't make a decision, but instead went away to consider the evidence. The board will make a decision at a yet-to-be-determined date, Ball said.

The other hearing, scheduled to take place Feb. 10 in Toronto, will deal with Local 6500's claim that Vale Inco has been bargaining in bad faith.

Ball said the Feb. 10 hearing is basically the start of the Steelworkers bargaining in bad faith case. The bargaining in bad faith application was made by the Steelworkers on Jan. 13 on behalf of striking workers in Sudbury and Port Colborne, Ont.

Vale Inco's lawyers have submitted a response to the Steelworkers' bargaining in bad faith application, Ball said.

Local 6500 president John Fera was not immediately available for comment about either of the hearings.

A third labour relations case involving Vale Inco and the Steelworkers is also in the works.

Local 2020 filed its own complaint that asking members of Local 2020 to do the work of striking members of Local 6500 violates the Ontario Labour Relations Act.

A Jan. 26 arbitration session to deal with this complaint failed to resolve the issue, and further arbitration will continue at a later date.

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21 Comments

  • BEHAPPY 2/13/2010 8:08:21 PM - Report Abuse

    It's time to go back to work, the union has poorly represented the majority of it members. 500 pro union and the other 2500 scared to actually stick up to them. They bully,intimidate, lie, deceipt and place poor judgement. They take no accoutabilty, "it's what the members want"

    By being on strike for this length of time, 6500 has provided Vale with the ammunition to confirm just a few of the following:

    1) To see how many people it would actually take to run the mine, don't kid yourself, when you go back, half of you are probably going to be gone

    2) The opportunity to have contract employees trained on common core and to do your jobs. Call them what you want, at the end of the day you gave them the leverage.

    3) The amount of dollars saved on Health/Dental and pooled (Life and LTD) benefits - don't kid yourself, next collective agreement, this is where you will see hits, be thankful you have the benefits that you do. .35 cent deductible, OTC's covered say bye bye

    The community support is not there - 500 pro union members + 2 or 3 family members, looks like support, but concider the population of Sudbury.

    One question 6500 - What "realistically" is it that you want from Vale, keeping in mind that 7 months have passed and "Status Quo" is not an option.

  • Phillip Morris 2/10/2010 11:02:23 AM - Report Abuse

    Problem is Lucky, you speak of things 30 years ago. When the labour movement was still relevant.
    Safety, security, and other rights once only seen in contract language has been instilled in Labour Laws for decades. People have protection from unjust dismissal and refusing unsafe work. As well as wage and work hour standards. Vacation and stat holidays,etc...etc.

    Yes, unions have played a part in the fabric of building the country and worker's rights. THAT WAS THE PAST. This is NOW.
    Unions, particularly 6500, have nothing much left to strive for. Turning to being antagonistic and belligerent they live for the fight. No longer an agent for the workers, unions have become corporate themselves. With inner unions representing their staff. (There even have been strikes within unions!)
    Today's economy simply doesn't fit 'yesterday's union' you reminisce about. And THAT is the problem with 6500's greedy and egotistical mindset. They still believe they are entitled to the status quo while their labour loses money for the division they work for.
    The time of union bedtime stories is long over.

  • rightofcentre 2/10/2010 8:37:50 AM - Report Abuse

    all is well - i apologise. I checked the site yesterday and it has changed since I read it. There is a small unknown in that the company will match additional employee contributions to a certain level based on seniority and years of service.

    Still it is a very good pension - 8% plus whatever you put in + the matched contribution is an excellent pension plan in my opinion.

  • 99gt 2/9/2010 10:43:22 PM - Report Abuse

    Nobody said Unions are bad..just the 6500.

  • Lucky 2/9/2010 9:20:36 PM - Report Abuse

    I have worked in unionised construction for over 30 years, first while building the Syncrude project. In the late 1970s, this was the largest oilsands project. Sice then, I have worked on almost every tarsands project in the Fort MacMurray area, Suncor, Long Lake, CNRL and more. Vancouver, the city I live in, was largely built union. More importantly, unions have not only brought us the weekend, but they have brought a high standard of living to the working class, which in turn has brought higher living standards even to those who are opposed to unions. Free public education to high school, health care, the list goes on, all these things were brought into being by organised labour. So my statement about unions building the country stands.

  • alliswell 2/9/2010 4:34:28 PM - Report Abuse

    it may be on their site now, but 7 months ago it was a different story.

  • rightofcentre 2/9/2010 4:27:58 PM - Report Abuse

    sorry all is well - i believe the contribution comittments are on the valeinconegotiations.com website

  • rightofcentre 2/9/2010 4:27:23 PM - Report Abuse

    its a flat rate DC pension - you put in x% the company matches that x% and then adds on another y% for your troubles.

    Seniority has, and shouldn't have, anything to do with how much the company contributes to your pension. The more you earn - promotions, job class increases etc the more gets put away into your pension fund.

    Have any of you USW guys thought about seeking professional financial advice from an investment broker rather than a skin headed biker looking Union shop steward?

    There's nothing evil about a DC pension.

  • alliswell 2/9/2010 2:30:57 PM - Report Abuse

    right of centre- dont know where you get your info but the truth is that they did not want to share the particulars of what percentage they would match according to years served, and then pressured a vote on the contract. this is a fact!!!

  • 99gt 2/9/2010 1:36:37 PM - Report Abuse

    Your vindictive speech is a very touching story, Lucky.
    But thats all it is.

    It's a threatening antic that some how compares religion and patriots to the average working man...get a life!

  • rightofcentre 2/9/2010 12:51:26 PM - Report Abuse

    all is well - that is simply not true about the pension. Vale have told what they will match in terms of contributions. the rest is up to you... i.e how much risk do you want to pace on your pension fund. It works great for me and 90% of the workforce...

    also this whole debate about strikers scabbing other peoples jobs is quite ironic. USW members are saying that they have to do what they have to do and it's survival of the fittest etc... Where's the solidarity with other members of your community? Sounds very CAPITALIST to me.

  • alliswell 2/9/2010 10:49:02 AM - Report Abuse

    there is nothing wrong with providing for your family by working eslewhere while being on strike, it is not like an employer fired somebody to give a striker a job. this strike was forced on us, I would gladly accept the contract if it was as it seems to be, but the language in the contract makes it all together different.We all need to work, but if i had to displace someone from their ability to support their family so that i could work, i would not, i have more dignity than that. I would find work elsewhere.

  • alliswell 2/9/2010 10:32:00 AM - Report Abuse

    just a question for all you negative people. Would you sign a mortgage if your bank said that they will tell you the interest rate after you sign? No difference than Vale asking us to sign a contract where the terms of the pension will be revealed after we sign. Just this alone is enough to win a bad faith suit, plus the other stuff they are pulling there is no doubt. it may take a while but they will pay.

  • sunshine_2 2/9/2010 9:32:38 AM - Report Abuse

    Hey Lloyd If they are taking those "jobs" must mean you didn't want it. You would rather sit on your a$#@ and collect welfare.What does that make you? Think about it!!!

  • deletethispost 2/9/2010 8:55:18 AM - Report Abuse

    HAHAHA oh lucky, unions built the country in the first place? get a history lesson on your next break from McDonalds would ya? ONe day toooo long.

  • Lloyd 2/9/2010 8:53:49 AM - Report Abuse

    What aboout strikers who are taking jobs in the community, that other people (who haven't voluntarily given up their $100,000 a year job, like the strikers) badly need? I guess that makes them even worse than a scab.How about a puss-filled, festering boil?

  • Lucky 2/9/2010 12:41:40 AM - Report Abuse

    The famous author Jack London had a few words to say about scabs, who steal work from workers on strike,

    After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, and the vampire, he had some awful substance left with which he made a scab.

    A scab is a two-legged animal with a corkscrew soul, a water brain, a combination backbone of jelly and glue.

    Where others have hearts, he carries a tumor of rotten principles.

    When a scab comes down the street, men turn their backs and angels weep in heaven, and the devil shuts the gates of hell to keep him out.

    No man (or woman) has a right to scab so long as there is a pool of water to drown his carcass in, or a rope long enough to hang his body with.

    Judas was a gentleman compared with a scab. For betraying his master, he had character enough to hang himself. A scab has not.

    Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage.

    Judas sold his Savior for thirty pieces of silver.

    Benedict Arnold sold his country for a promise of a commission in the British Army.

    The scab sells his birthright, country, his wife, his children and his fellowmen for an unfulfilled promise from his employer.

    Esau was a traitor to himself; Judas was a traitor to his God; Benedict Arnold was a traitor to his country.

    A scab is a traitor to his God, his country, his family and his class.

  • mining1 2/8/2010 10:21:53 PM - Report Abuse

    it will be interesting to see the out come of the next steelworkers bargaining with xstrata and the OCT office clerical and technical workers which they are doing now and the contract runs the end of february.«The CAW just got a fair contract with xstrata and if the steelworkers can not get the same from the same company then maybe just maybe it is not vale who is the bad guy but the steelworkers because two different companies, no contract at either yet a canadian union got a good and fair contract. this up coming contract will tell the tale of who is realy the ones not bargaining in good faith.

  • Lucky 2/8/2010 9:56:21 PM - Report Abuse

    Noofie is certainly a different kettle of fish than any workers I have met from NL. I work in the tarsands and have met literally hundreds of noofies, all good trade unionists, who probably back 6500 against the union busting of Vile Inco. Philip Moris names himself after cancer sticks, so I imagine it is a natural for him to support union busting. If USW 2020 members are laid off and scabs take these workers place, then 2020 members are fully justified in opposing Vile Inco's union busting moves. Bravo to the USW, you are fighting for all labour, including, of course workers in Brazil. You will defeat Vile Inco's union busting and teach that company a lesson on how union workers can fight. Don't listen to the cheap seats. Keep on fighting, thenm "noofie" and "cancer sticks" can go back to grousing about the unions destroying the cpuntry, that we built in the first place.

  • Phillip Morris 2/8/2010 8:39:34 PM - Report Abuse

    Vale successfully wins with the position they must seek concessions to operate in the black.
    The Stealworkers base their entire bad faith position that Vale won't budge. Yet they use the "No Concessions" position and refuse to bargain from there.
    Nice going Fera. Brilliant strategy. And if 2020 somehow squeaks out some changes in their jobs, Vale will put them back in the offices and then lay them off.
    Bringing in more replacement workers that want to work.

    More shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic by Leo's deck hands.

  • noofie 2/8/2010 5:38:14 PM - Report Abuse

    Tremendous leadership from the USW
    Now Local 2020 could win this case and find themselves laid off for lack of work. How's that going to feel?

    Lets say the Local 6500 strike goes the way the strike went in Red Lake and the company just resumes work with the Local remaining on strike. Now the company will hire the O & T guys laid off from Xstrata leaving Local 2020 on lay off. How's that going to work Fera?
    What will happen to Local 2020 if Vale Inco busts Local 6500? How's that going to work Fera?
    Ask Leo how he handled that in Red Lake.
    Ask him if you couldn't have another vote if the company offered everyone a pair of boots. Tell him to bring in Homer Seguin if he needs help with that.
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