Vale Inco targetting 'full resumption of production'

Feb 08, 2010- 9:03 AM

By: Sudbury Northern Life Staff

Vale Inco spokesperson Cory McPhee reportedly told the news organization Reuters that the company eventually hopes to resume full production at its Sudbury operations, regardless of whether the nearly seven-month-long strike involving Steelworkers Local 6500 is resolved.

"Our preference is to resume full operations with all employees, but our plan is to continue moving forward with the operations - which would eventually include full resumption of production, even in the absence of an agreement," he said in a Feb. 5 Reuters article.

"There is no timetable for this at this point."

Vale Inco spokesperson Steve Ball told Northern Life last week that it plans to ramp up production at its Creighton and Coleman mines in the near future. Coleman has been at partial production levels since the fall.

He said a combination of Vale Inco staff and the services of a “contractor” will be used to staff the mines.

Last month, Vale Inco also partially re-started the Copper Cliff smelter.

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27 Comments

Kratos624 2/10/2010 8:43:41 AM - Report Abuse

Thank-you very much rightofcenter, haha.
rightofcentre 2/10/2010 8:26:27 AM - Report Abuse

haha that was a pretty good comeback krato
noofie 2/9/2010 8:37:03 PM - Report Abuse

Vale Inco targetting 'full"
Hey- Fera was probaby pretty "full" of that big ole lobster I saw him eating at the Fish Bowl Monday nite.
Kratos624 2/9/2010 8:35:00 PM - Report Abuse

I guess time will tell!
giver121 2/9/2010 12:04:07 PM - Report Abuse

The thing is kratos, they won't have a hard time finding workers and they will go on without you and your brothers. It is unfortunate that the union has lost the support that it has from the community but the acts from certain members have marred the strike from the beginning. Nobody feels bad anymore.......
99gt 2/9/2010 9:37:25 AM - Report Abuse

"if u are a miner u know what it's all about then..why be agains the miner......did u ever have closed call? did u ever been injury.....did ever got sick because of the gas after blast?? did u ever clean ur nose and all the stuff coming out wasmore» black...did u ever loose appetit because of all the shit u eat every day.....did u ever saw ur partner die because of his injury......l did see all that stuff,,,,,and beleive me,,,,,,u look at just the wages,,,but u don't look at what left after when ur sick,,,,,,,what kind of life is that ,,,,,,"

Well thank you for that Retired Miner, but miners are not the only ones with hazordous jobs in the world.

You're the one who picked your profession...would like some cheese with that?
on371 2/8/2010 10:48:30 PM - Report Abuse

Good job Johnny Rod, certainly improved Sudbury during your tenure.
sean10 2/8/2010 10:25:05 PM - Report Abuse

Agree with PM, 6500 is too ego and over estimated themselves, making lies, poor plannng and stupidity have caused their brothers and sisters to lose their houses.

Vale has proven again and again that they are the boss and the ego 6500.

Actually decertification of the union will help the workers more, no more thugs....
Kratos624 2/8/2010 9:03:25 PM - Report Abuse

I know who hasn't delivered any good to Sudbury since it took over Inco, is VALE! What have they done? Cut jobs? Freeze wages, take away Staff Incentive Bonus's for the ones who were lucky enough to make the cuts? No pay out of Nickel Bonus for the past 3 or 4 quarters while in operation? They sure are delivering something to Sudbury... POVERTY!
Phillip Morris 2/8/2010 8:53:10 PM - Report Abuse

Vale has promised starting up the smelter and delivered on it.
They said they'd bring mines back online, and did.
Now Vale has gone on the record and promised FULL production in the near future.

Meanwhile.....

On the picket lines the Stealworkers promised the members the LME stockpile would be gone by October. - Its pushing spring now.
Vale would be desperate for income by the fall. -Groundhog day has passed.
The union would "Bring Vale to it's knees". - Their stock has nearly doubled since 2008.
6500 lead members to believe the strike would be over by the fall. - See Groundhog day.
Sudburians would support the union.- Rallies and campaigns have been abysmal failures.
Gerard promised a global solidarity with other Steelworkers and Vale unions. - His personal vision and legacy project has destroyed a once proud and respected 6500.
The union believed that respect and intimidation would keep people from crossing the lines. - Thousands of applications and replacement workers have been selected.
Finally, 6500 laughed at Vale for suggesting production starting. - It has.

Bottom line? Weigh what has been stated by each side. See who has delivered. Who has misled and postured all along. Egos and emotions have put workers on the brink of losing everything. And the collapse of a local that once was regarded as a labour icon.
It's over. One Day Too Long.
Kratos624 2/8/2010 5:18:45 PM - Report Abuse

Partially re-started, that's all Steve's Balls have been talking about since the beginning of the strike haha. Vale is a huge joke. Once they finally get back to work and all the old-timers start retiring, they are going to have a hard time finding well trained competent employees to take over for the retirees. We'll use our educations to work for better companies then YOU! Good luck in your 'sustainable future' VALE! You're going to need it!
Kratos624 2/8/2010 4:35:42 PM - Report Abuse

haha, you must not have known that much to begin with. I never said once 'noofie' that I stood under broken rock. Rock is obviously broken to drive a drift. But you obviously wouldn't remember too much anymore, too much of an old-timer trying to recall the old-days between bathroom breaks at the home, lol.
Nobody Special 2/8/2010 2:53:52 PM - Report Abuse

Kratos... guys who are as afraid of being "under rock that has been broken" as you seem to be, usually don't work underground.
I've forgotten more about mining than you can ever hope to know.
noofie 2/8/2010 2:23:02 PM - Report Abuse

Karatos
Give your head a shake.
Even back in the day of Nobody Special and even Retired Miner, we knew better than being under broken rock. You sound like some kid with 6 or 7 years experience in the u/g in Sudbury and think you know mining.

Ranger 48 - What Vale and Vale Inco intend to accomplish is in the medium term bring the smelter to steady 50% production. In the longer term, return to full production with or without Local 6500. Steve Ball has made that plain a number of times.
ranger48 2/8/2010 2:05:46 PM - Report Abuse

well vale is going to have explain more in detail at what they hope to accomplish.Both sides are doing alot of talking,but are not releasing any information.That would help in comming up with somekind of Resolution.
Kratos624 2/8/2010 1:18:16 PM - Report Abuse

Nobody Special, your name says it all, I couldn't have said it better myself. You have obviously never EVER worked in a mine in your life. All this stuff about the 70's, and back in the day. PPE, and safety rules do you no good when you're under rock that has been broken, no matter how screened and bolted it is. You are at the mercy of the rock all around you. I have never worked "back in the day" in a mine, but I do now, so obviously the dangers are still the same! So don't comment on things you OBVIOUSLY have no knowledge of!
Nobody Special 2/8/2010 12:30:06 PM - Report Abuse

Parfoit il faut lui maudire une claque sur la guelle.
Nobody Special 2/8/2010 12:28:07 PM - Report Abuse

retired miner... do you ever wear your PPE? Do you ever follow safety rules and legislation?
Spare us the drama about how dangerous it is underground, and before you spout off about how I would know, I've worked U.G. as a miner as well as a tradesperson. Your job, just like any job, is as safe as you want it to be.
-
Un vraix chum ne laisse pas un ami se pendre.
rightofcentre 2/8/2010 12:26:07 PM - Report Abuse

how does a real chum speak then?

Again, this isn't the 1970s. Accidents don't happen like they used to underground. The worst I've seen is someone getting struck in the ribs by a piece of loose... I may not have your years and I certainly don't believe in all the macho crap about mining.

More people die on construction sites than they do in mines and we have unionized miners to thank for that. That when unions were fighting a just cause - to protect the lives of those working in hazardous environemnts. Now its all about the mighty dollar and squeezing the company for everything they can get eventhough they dont deserve it.
retired miner 2/8/2010 12:17:07 PM - Report Abuse

and un vraix chum parle pas comme ca,,,,,
retired miner 2/8/2010 11:28:34 AM - Report Abuse

if u are a miner u know what it's all about then..why be agains the miner......did u ever have closed call? did u ever been injury.....did ever got sick because of the gas after blast?? did u ever clean ur nose and all the stuff coming out was black...did u ever loose appetit because of all the shit u eat every day.....did u ever saw ur partner die because of his injury......l did see all that stuff,,,,,and beleive me,,,,,,u look at just the wages,,,but u don't look at what left after when ur sick,,,,,,,what kind of life is that ,,,,,,
rightofcentre 2/8/2010 10:58:50 AM - Report Abuse

retired - who says I've neevr worked underground? Don't assume what you don't know mon chum.
retired miner 2/8/2010 10:46:53 AM - Report Abuse

u guys has never work underground and leave ur health like l did........and for your information l never work for Inco before,,,so l don't get any of their pension but l support those workers and l feel the company got no right to take what they gain before.....go SCAB and u will see the reality
sean10 2/8/2010 10:19:14 AM - Report Abuse

Some thugs like steelworker are destroying their own reputation to gain no supports from community, you will never win against vale, this union will be gone soon as well as the pension if they still persists of their ego.....

Good luck
rightofcentre 2/8/2010 10:09:07 AM - Report Abuse

Hey retired - threatening violence on the community and Vale managmement might have been acceptable in the "Glory" days of 78-79 but Sudbury is a diferent city now.

All the majority of Sudburians see right now are 3000 greedy, arrogant and childish whiners that think they can get their way by initimidation and violence.

This has gone beyond negotiting a collective agreement - the utterly disrespectful behaviour and lack of dignity shown by the stealworkers in this labour dispute has made this a personal vendetta for Vale. Decertification is just round the corner.
johnboy44 2/8/2010 10:08:37 AM - Report Abuse

retired miner: The main problem is attitudes such as yours who regard this strike as a "war". Who fired the first shot with racist comments and "no concessions"?

The company cleary states here they wish they could resume with all employees, including 6500. Vale wants to work with 6500, too bad the feeling isn't mutual. The only war going on here is the one between 6500 leadership and common sense.
retired miner 2/8/2010 9:45:58 AM - Report Abuse

they want to start a war in sudbury. shame on u vale,,,,,we had a peace full city and soon that gone be a war zone all striker u will win this fight,,,wake up sudbury