A laid-off Xstrata worker filed a complaint earlier this week with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.

The tribunal is designed to deal with claims of discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

George McIvor was injured on the job, and was working in a modified position when 686 workers were laid off at the company's Sudbury operations last year.

With a new contract signed between Mine Mill Local 598/CAW and Xstrata, there was an agreement that Fraser Copper Mine would be brought back into production, creating work for some of those laid off from Xstrata Nickel in 2009.

McIvor and four others have been overlooked in the recalls, despite the fact that they're high on the seniority list.

The Ontario Human Rights Code states that employers must grant accommodation requests because of injury in a timely manner, according to McIvor's wife, Vicky.
“He's just hoping to get his job back, and be treated like any of the other individuals,” she said.

Vicky said the injured workers and their supporters have picketed outside of either Xstrata's smelter sites or one of the mines early each morning for the last three weeks.

A rally will be held at the Nickel Rim mine Aug. 11 from 5:45 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.
She said the protests will continue until all of the injured workers are recalled.
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