USW to meet with Minister of Labour on Friday

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Jun 30, 2010- 11:55 AM

By: Sudbury Northern Life Staff

UPDATED July 2 at 10:20 a.m.

Vale will also meet with Ontario Labour Minister Peter Fonseca this afternoon (July 2). Their meeting will be conducted separately from the one arranged between the labour minister and the Steelworkers.

Original story:

Minister of Labour Peter Fonseca has called on representatives from Vale and United Steelworkers Locals 6500 and 6200 to meet with him and explain why negotiations broke off on June 29.

The talks, mediated by Kevin Burkett, were subject to a media blackout.

"In the interests of the families and communities affected by this long strike, I will meet with each of the parties by the end of the week, to hear directly why they have been unable to come to agreement on the one remaining issue," Fonseca said in a press release issued by the Ministry of Labour.

In statements made after the media blackout ended, both Vale and USW representatives noted the two sides had come to an agreement on all issues save one: the future of the nine workers fired during the nearly one-year-long strike.

The Ontario Labour Relations Board had directed both sides to work on negotiations, and if the issue of the workers continued to be a sticking point they were to bring it back to the board.

Both sides disagreed with how the issue of the workers was to be brought back to the board, causing the stalemate, according to Burkett's media release.

Wayne Fraser, lead negotiator for the USW, confirmed that representatives from the union will speak with Fonseca on Friday.

The strike will reach one year on July 13. More than 3,000 employees are on strike in Greater Sudbury and Port Colborne, Ont. Workers in Voisey's Bay, Nfld., went on strike last August and are also still on strike.

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40 Comments

  • Phillip Morris 7/8/2010 4:20:36 PM - Report Abuse

    Keep diggin'Deluh.

    Deflect and deny more. Ignore and throw a lame insult.

    Doin' the Deluh dance. ENCORE!

  • Delaware 7/6/2010 11:01:17 PM - Report Abuse

    Exactly,Phil,........just a little sarcasm to show YOU what YOUR 'logic' is usually like.My god,how many times have YOU repeated the SAME mundane comments

  • Phillip Morris 7/6/2010 3:03:57 PM - Report Abuse

    What does that have to do with your union choosing to strike? How is that relevant to your blaming Harris for your current woes? Pathetic.

    Deflect,deny. Ignore and insult.

    Doin' the Deluh dance.

  • Delaware 7/6/2010 9:13:32 AM - Report Abuse

    Gee,Philly,Stephen Harper just apologized to the natives last year..........for something that happened 150 years ago.Whats up with that?

  • Phillip Morris 7/5/2010 4:33:36 PM - Report Abuse

    The obvious? The difference?

    Blaming a retired politician from a decade ago IS what the topic was. You can't revise what your pals tried to use as an excuse. (7/2/2010 2:39:15 PM by cynnical_1) And what you fell lockstep into.
    The tired socialist rant of its the politicans fault. Yada-yada-yada. Mike Harris. George Bush, Ronald Reagan......care to grasp at anyone else?
    Wasn't John A. McDonald a Tory? Surely he's responsible for something you need to excuse. No statute of limitations on your desperation is there?

  • Delaware 7/5/2010 8:40:25 AM - Report Abuse

    Well,Philly,you miss the obvious.......as USUAL.Of course the laws have not been rescinded.Why?......tories......grits.........whats the difference???????

  • Phillip Morris 7/4/2010 3:57:09 PM - Report Abuse

    Right wing supporter? Laughable.
    More accurate is the analyisis of the truth.

    Who can the socialists blame for their self-imposed problems? A politician that hasn't been around for a decade. Yet the laws they "hate" have been in place, not recinded or modified for 10+ years. Gee.......who is responsible to change what so few believe is unfair? (Perhaps its the Liberals?)
    It's easy to fall back and point the finger at something from the foggy past that can't be challenged. Forget about current regimes. The anti-Bush groups even are dumb enough to still pull that dusty book out of the closet.

    Bottom line? It's about CURRENT times Ms.Del. Living in the past is exactly what has 6500 stuck on strike. The modern, global economy ain't your daddy's 1950's Inco. Mike Harris, George Bush, or Ronald Reagan's ghost aren't the problems. Look in the mirror.

  • Delaware 7/4/2010 11:56:29 AM - Report Abuse

    Hmm,Philly a right wing tory supporter.Now,there's a big surprise.....NOT

  • Phillip Morris 7/4/2010 9:23:58 AM - Report Abuse

    You can't be serioius
    Trotting out the ghost of Mike Harris really smacks of desperation. Its been over a DECADE since the PC's were in power. How is it the Liberals and McGuinty get a free ride when it comes to labour? They have a majority. They have had the power all along. If you have any beef, or pathetic excuse to deflect your own choices, point the finger at who's in power.
    It's laughable to see how Harris is to blame for everyone's socialist woes, 10 years later.

  • cynnical1 7/2/2010 2:39:15 PM - Report Abuse

    Not so much of a strike seeing as the Mike Harris regime took away all rights of workers back in his dictatorship!This is more like a lockout of sorts!

  • Hate to break it to you but... 7/2/2010 1:43:09 PM - Report Abuse

    Is there still a strike going on? I hadn't noticed... YAWN.

  • northside 7/2/2010 11:21:26 AM - Report Abuse

    What happens if this contract gets signed?? Has fraser and Leo figured out how to get Voisey Bay back at the same time or are they getting left behind the same as the fired 8......

  • noofie 7/2/2010 10:33:21 AM - Report Abuse

    This strike has never been about Local 6500 and Vale Sudbury. It has always been Pittsburgh vs Brazil and continues to be so.

  • northside 7/2/2010 9:24:57 AM - Report Abuse

    Yes noofie, that would make perfect sense,,maybe Leo saw the writing on the wall a while back and that is why he has been absent from Sudbury for so long..Can't stand to lose....

  • Delaware 7/2/2010 8:54:36 AM - Report Abuse

    Always amazed how Noofie has the inside information on everything

  • noofie 7/2/2010 8:19:13 AM - Report Abuse

    Could the following scenario have happened?

    Fera and the N.C. reached an agreement with Vale on ALL issues on Tuesday at 8 am. Fera asked if Vale would not announce anything until he could work out a favourable "spin" for the release. Everyone comes home thinking the deal is done. Fraser and Gerard review the deal and consider the implications of it as a precedent throughout the USW of A kingdom and change the conditions.

    This would explain why Fera was in town saying that for the life of himself he couldn't understand why the deal wasn't done and that Vale must have changed the conditions.

    Vale say THEY didn't change the deal.

  • spud2_1 7/1/2010 11:39:14 PM - Report Abuse

    bigriver...It is always hard breaking things down for you to understand, but lets try again. Vale "IS NOT" denying anyone anything. These nine have the perfect right to file to the OLRB all they want. Now what the union wants is an arbitrated assisted liaison to face the OLRB paid for by the company of course, it is the way it would be handled if you still had a CBA. Now since you dont have a CBA the company says to face the OLRB the same way every other joe blow in the province does and pay for it yourself....or let the union pay for it for you. Sorry but I cant simplify it any easier for you.

  • bigriver 7/1/2010 11:58:22 AM - Report Abuse

    Any fired worker has the right to appeal their firing in this country. It's called DUE PROCESS. Why does Vale want to deny these workers their right to a fair hearing? Probably cause they cannot prove their allegations. And in our system of jurisprudence, if you can't prove an allegation, you don't get to punish people based on rumours or innuendo.

  • Phillip Morris 7/1/2010 10:56:58 AM - Report Abuse

    Well said Mr.person_1. That's the thought process of the entire community.

    I have friends that are (ashamed) members of 6500. They are all talking open revolt now. Whispers for the head of Fera and Fraser have become open shouts. The rank-and-file are peeved to the maximum. Their eyes are opening to the game the USWofA have been playing with their lives all along. The members won't take this anymore.

    Look for a huge backlash at the next 'special membership meeting'. Demands for full disclosure and a secret VOTE on the last ditched offer WILL happen. If the executive refuses to listen? The members are looking at a mutiny of sorts.
    Decertify or walk out and cross the line.

    They know the reasons for the justified termination of out of control 9 hot heads. Members won't sacrifice any more for a lost cause. Ego is no reason for 2,700 families to lose anything they have left.

    No rhetoric can change those facts.

  • miki 6/30/2010 11:58:50 PM - Report Abuse

    Concerning the naughty nine
    As the saying goes ,if you cant do the time don't do the crime
    As for camoman
    You really need to think about getting help

  • camoman 6/30/2010 10:47:51 PM - Report Abuse

    @ person_1 : Not bad... Thats chapters 2, 3, 6, and 7... I'm putting you down for extra bonus today... Keep up the good work...
    ...LMAO...

  • person_1 6/30/2010 10:40:50 PM - Report Abuse

    This strike is nothing but a "media relations nightmare"! You have a union leadership that is detaining 2600+ people from returning to work to protect 2 board members + seven others. The nine were fired for obvious reasons: Assaulting co-workers (yes that young twenty-something year old and others), verbal assault/harassment/threats of violence, causing damage to personal property, and the list goes on! (All of this is encouraged by the union leadership! Ever notice their silence when such things arise?) Vale is a business, not a resort! When a person violates the rules and regulations that are set out by a company, then that person should not be surprised to be fired. It has been known for many years that INCO, now Vale, has put up with all kinds of crap from employees over the many years that has cost the company valuable time and money. There are many people in this city that do not work for INCO/Vale, that have been fired for a hell of alot less. If these nine did not want to risk losing their jobs, they should have put more thought into the consequences when they chose the behaviour!

    Vale wants to have the ORLB decide what will become of these nine people, and the USW wants to control the outcome of these nine people.

    2600+ people, including their spouses and children are without a good and decent wage thanks to the greed of 2 "brudders" plus seven. When all is finally said and done, and the 2600+ get back to work, you nine better be humble enough to just shut up and show up for work!!! You nine should be ashamed of yourselves. Then again, shame is something that happens when you have a concience and integrity.

    Without integrity there is no respect! I guess that in itself describes just how much these nine respect the 2600+ that are wanting to get back to work!!

  • camoman 6/30/2010 9:10:35 PM - Report Abuse

    The union has been asking for an independent and impartial judge, or a tribunal to rule on this / these cases for almost a year now...
    But vale held steadfast to a stance of "NO"...
    Why is that???
    Do you think it was so they could negotiate a contract in a timely fashion???
    Or maybe they wanted to put the fear of “VALE” into the strikers and keep it there???
    Did they need time to plant a seed of dissention in the membership and let it take hold???
    Remember you must first Divide a Union Before you can Conquer it…
    I think this was a calculated and premeditated plan, not to negotiate a contract; but to break a union, to break a people…
    Is this bargaining in good faith???
    I THINK NOT…
    .
    This “vale” of deception is becoming more and more transparent every day , to everyone…
    People are starting to see what this vale really looks like…And it’s not pretty…

  • cynnical1 6/30/2010 8:41:46 PM - Report Abuse

    Funny thing with Phil and his gang of lemmings is the reason they trash 6500 members (for being sheep) is the same thing that Vale has them doing.They hang on every word Vale throws out and like the little dog on Bugs Bunny (eh Spike wanna play Spike, can we be pals Spike) and lap it up!Typical....

  • cynnical1 6/30/2010 8:39:16 PM - Report Abuse

    So Phil....you still running for Mayor, because I for one will vote for you.I would love the opportunity to see your brilliance in action and when you faulter slam you on the blogs....hahahahahah

  • camoman 6/30/2010 6:50:43 PM - Report Abuse

    These guys are so predictable...
    .
    Once you learn their plan...
    .
    So lets have some fun with them...eh...

  • camoman 6/30/2010 6:48:32 PM - Report Abuse

    See "D"... Chapter 5 and chapter 7...
    .
    No bonus for him, today...

  • Phillip Morris 6/30/2010 6:43:01 PM - Report Abuse

    Its not inside information Del. It was all presented right here in the media.
    Get a deal done. Then come back to the OLRB to settle the issue of the Naughty 9.
    Problem is the USWofA walked off this time. Shooting themselves in the foot AGAIN.

    You can try and ignore the truth. Deflect from the facts. But at the end of it all, no imaginary white knight is coming to rescue 6500 from their own mess. Chapter 7 (b) 12 months and no hope of getting your jobs back. Meanwhile smoke churns from the stack. Some "battle".

    One Day Too Long. One Strike Proved Wrong.

  • camoman 6/30/2010 6:38:17 PM - Report Abuse

    The "vale" of deception...

  • camoman 6/30/2010 6:36:57 PM - Report Abuse

    Oh and Delaware... Remember there are at least 80 of them, plus all the staff inside...
    They have acess to all sorts of info...
    It's all on how it's presented...

  • camoman 6/30/2010 6:34:18 PM - Report Abuse

    This strike is finally getting some attention from powers that are higher than vale: the Government...
    I say let 6500 state their case before an independent and impartial judge, or a tribunal, and let them decide, they have all the power here...
    What they say goes, for company and union alike...
    .
    I think the sooner the better…
    .
    We all want to is know…The truth…
    .
    (I still think this is a WIN)

  • Delaware 6/30/2010 6:27:09 PM - Report Abuse

    Just curious how,"Phil'has all the 'inside information' on everything

  • Phillip Morris 6/30/2010 6:02:58 PM - Report Abuse

    Its no apparent that many blind unionists still refuse to see the facts.Lets be perfectly clear folks. THERE IS NO OLRB hearing coming!

    When the case was heard BOTH sides were told to have a contract agreement in place. THEN the OLRB would entertain a hearing.
    The USWofA walked away from this session. It does not satisfy the mandate put down by the board. Furthermore, 6500 better pray that Vale doesn't pull the offer off the table for good.

    Make no mistake. This was the LAST chance for the Steelworkers to get a settlement. Vale is moving on.

    Time for the members to demand full disclosure of the negotiations. Let them VOTE on the deal. 2,700 families are in the balance because of 8?
    Will the majority really want to sacrifice themselves for a handfull of reported goons? Lets test true union majority rules.
    Enough of the misdirection and bungling by Gerard, Fera, and Fraser. Now we are seeing EXACTLY how things have been run all along by the USWofA. Greed, entitlement, and protection of a few egos. Do they dare honour a vote?

    One Day Too Long. One Strike Proved Wrong.

  • camoman 6/30/2010 5:58:56 PM - Report Abuse

    Apparently some people are forgetting some of the chapters of the union busting handbook…
    So I will post them again…SHEESH…
    Chapter 1: you MUST Divide a Union Before you can Conquer it...
    Chapter 2: take over the media...
    Chapter 3: Start a lie, get as many as you can to tell it, because it is easier for people believe a lie that they have heard a thousand times, than for them to believe a fact that no one has heard before...
    Chapter 4: the more afi on a subject the less chance you will lose...
    Chapter 5: If you start to lose an argument, berate that person or change the subject...
    Chapter 6: If you don’t have anything intelligent to say, resort to insults…
    Chapter 7: DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT get into a battle of wits, because you don't have the ammunition to win...
    Now you are doing extremely well on chapters 2 & 3 , but apparently you are forgetting chapter 7…
    BUCK UP… or no bonus…
    .
    . Remember the OLRB , or Government has all the power…They have the final say…
    ALL MUST COMPLY… company and union alike…
    .
    SO… Now how long will it take before 6500 gets to state their case before an independent and impartial judge, or a tribunal???
    I think the sooner the better…
    .
    We all want to know…The truth…
    .
    (I still think this is a WIN)

  • spud2_1 6/30/2010 5:53:13 PM - Report Abuse

    Dont get so excited about government involvement there cumoman...they are just reporting to the minister, nothing you might hope for will become of it. Fera retire....no chit, its that or get crucified on the hall front steps.

  • Phillip Morris 6/30/2010 5:39:20 PM - Report Abuse

    This is just an exercise in public relations by the Minister.
    Nothing more. A pacifier to keep the USWofA from grumbling that government doesn't care. A bone to Vale to let them know the Liberals haven't forgotten the rights of a company also aren't being ignored.
    The Minister has ZERO power to do a thing here. Perhaps Fraser can explain how USWofA 2020 didn't need any intervention getting their agreement?

  • camoman 6/30/2010 5:33:11 PM - Report Abuse

    Finally Government involvement…
    Now how long will it take before 6500 gets to state their case before an independent and impartial judge, or a tribunal???
    I think the sooner the better…
    .
    We all want to know…The truth…

  • skndstry 6/30/2010 3:09:55 PM - Report Abuse

    Do you have a point, and what does that have to do with mine?

    You're about as coherent as the idiots in the video.

  • Raise Miner 6/30/2010 3:06:38 PM - Report Abuse

    Fera said he was gonna retire after this and he also has 39 years service, if you think you can do better run for president, or are you just as scared?

  • skndstry 6/30/2010 2:10:42 PM - Report Abuse

    I have it on several independant, corroborated accounts that there is a core group of bullies at the union hall who regularly act in a threatening manner and shout down anyone who dares deviate or question the union line.

    Is it really that much of a stretch to imagine that Fera and Fraser may be just as afraid of these guys as anyone else, and don't want to sell them down the river?

    Could this have dragged on as long as it has because of threats and intimidation of the union leadership? After all, was the leadership not bitterly contested right before the strike, with one of the naughty nine, known for his radical stance, running to unseat Fera?

    How many of his buddies are the whackos down at the union hall? I bet quite a few.

    Sudbury is small, right boys?

    Think about it.
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