Rick Bertrand, the incoming president of Steelworkers Local 6500, said he was unable to convince Vale to reverse its decision to lay off 18 workers during a meeting between the two parties July 28.
“No, I don't think (the meeting) was positive,” he said.
“If we had come out with no layoffs, I would have been saying that it was positive. We went in there hoping to avoid the layoffs. We were unsuccessful when it came to that.”
Union leaders said they were told by Vale during contract negotiations that 113 positions would be eliminated, although the company maintains that was never a final number.
The union had hoped to offset any layoffs through members who had quit or who have taken retirement packages.
However, despite the 150 workers who have quit or taken retirement packages, Vale confirmed earlier this week that 18 workers have been laid off.
Bertrand said he did find out during the meeting that all but one of the 18 workers will "have opportunities” to take positions at Vale's operations in Thompson, Man. or Port Colborne, Ont. When asked why one of the workers was not offered a position elsewhere, Bertrand said "that's something we're looking into right now."
When contacted by e-mail to comment on the meeting about the layoffs, Vale spokesperson Steve Ball said the meeting was “satisfactory from our perspective. The details of what was discussed are between the company and the USW, and we will not be sharing them publicly.”
Bertrand said the union is also currently waiting for a ruling from the Ontario Labour Relations Board as to how eight workers fired by Vale during the strike will be dealt with.
The union is asking that the labour relations board allow a provincial arbitrator to make the decision about whether or not the fired workers should be taken back by Vale.
Both parties presented their case at a July 13 hearing, but the labour board has not yet rendered a decision.
“God, it's eating me up,” Bertrand said. “No, we haven't heard anything yet. Hopefully we'll get that answer soon, and it better be positive.”
Bertrand also said he'll announce who his new vice-president is on Aug. 3.
Local 6500 president John Fera announced last week he will be retiring from both his position from the union and from Vale as of Aug. 1.
Under the union's constitution, Bertrand, as the vice-president of the union, automatically becomes president.
