CANADIAN LABOUR-SUDBURY:

SUDBURY STRIKERS STOP SCAB SHIPMENTS:

Wow, I think that the above headline should win the 'alliteration prize'. Move over Sun Media, Molly's coming into the winners' circle. In any case, here's more from the pages of Northern Life about the blockade of trucks carrying 'scab ore' to the Vale Inco premises in Sudbury. This was previously mentioned on this blog. To keep up with the news from the Vale Inco strike don't forget to visit the strike support site Fair Deal Now.

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Steelworkers blockade contractors' trucks at picket lines:
Sep 21, 2009
By: Heidi Ulrichsen - Sudbury Northern Life

Over the last few days, striking Steelworkers Local 6500 members have been stopping trucks trying to move through their picket lines at Clarabelle Mill and Stobie Mine.

Vale Inco spokesperson Steve Ball said he heard some trucks were stopped for up to seven hours Sept. 17, although he wasn't sure if the same thing happened Sept. 18.

Northern Life observed Day Group trucks being stopped at the entrance to Clarabelle Mill off of Highway 144 during the morning of Sept. 18.

“Over the last couple of days, it's been evident that the trucks trying to get in and our of Clarabelle Mill and Stobie Mine have been blockaded for lengthy periods of time by a large number of pickets,” said Ball.

“Obviously, these actions are to prevent the movement of stockpiled ore from Stobie. We have an injunction in place where we expect certain protocols to be followed. We have a right to enter and exit our plants in accordance to that injunction, and we're disappointed that we're not being permitted to do so at this time.”

When contacted by Northern Life Sept. 18, Steelworkers Local 6500 president John Fera refused to comment on the situation, saying he needed more information before doing so.

Former union vice-president Patrick Veinot told Northern Life at the picket line Sept. 18 that the trucks were being stopped because they are moving ore from Stobie Mine to Clarabelle Mill.

“This is our work. This is the work we normally do. Obviously, this ore from Stobie would normally be moved by train. But we're on strike, and the company has elected to hire this contractor from Sudbury to do our work. We can't let that happen.”

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Molly has to note one very commendable comment that was made above by Patrick Veinot. He recognizes something, at least in the case of the Sudbury mines, that should be generally recognized ie that workers have at least a "moral right" to property rights in their jobs. Their labour, after all, creates the profit that pays the managers and stockholders. If enough people were to recognize this property right then the time when corporations could push around the ordinary person would be limited. these actions are also a sterling example of the 'direct action' that is so often preached but so much misunderstood.

CANADIAN LABOUR-SUDBURY:

VALE INCO PLANS ANGER SUDBURY WORKERS:

It may be just sabre rattling, but Vale Inco has proceeded with its plans to train salaried workers and management personnel in production techniques- with the implicit threat of attempting to restart production despite the present strike. This action has, to say the least, angered the strikers, as the following article from Northern Life makes plain. To follow developments in the strike stay tuned to the strike support website Fair Deal Now.

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Vale Inco resuming production would mean 'war': union:
If Vale Inco resumes any form of production while Steelworkers members are on strike, it would mean “war in Sudbury,” according to Wayne Fraser, director of District 6 for the United Steelworkers Union. File photo.
Aug 19, 2009
By: Ed Veilleux - Sudbury Northern Life Staff

If Vale Inco resumes any form of production while Steelworkers members are on strike, it would mean “war in Sudbury,” according to Wayne Fraser, director of District 6 for the United Steelworkers Union.

“If that (resuming production) means a war in Sudbury, it's going to be a war in Sudbury,” he said. About 3,100 members of Steelworkers Local 6500 have been on strike in the community since July 13.

Vale Inco admitted to putting on training sessions for non-unionized workers to be able to train others for various jobs with the company, as part of a “contingency plan.”

“We have started running some train-the-trainer sessions at the nickel refinery as part of our ongoing contingency plans as a result of the strike,” said Steve Ball, public affairs officer for Vale Inco.

“We're continuing to explore all of our options, including resuming some degree of operations. So we are considering all options for the business right now.”

As far as training workers to be able to operate the production side of the business, Ball repeated the company is “continuing to explore all of our options.”

The possibility of Vale Inco using newly-trained, non-unionized employees to replace striking workers on production is “pretty unrealistic in terms of the whole operation,” said Fraser. “Look at mining, smelting, milling and (the process) to get a final product out, I think it's a pretty impossible task (to replace workers).

“More importantly, we're not going to sit back and watch others do our job when we're on the picket line. Not going to happen in Sudbury.”

As far as how the union would respond, Fraser said, “we'll deal with that if and when it happens, I'll say that very loud and clear.”

During strikes, non-unionized employees for the company are typically on standby to perform maintenance work.

“To fill a hole for 3,200 trained and qualified, skilled workers is really an impossible task,” Fraser said.

Ball said as far as newly-qualified trainers teaching others, it is a “possibility.”

“Will they be training other people down the road, once we've decided and considered what our options are? That is, I guess, a possibility,” Ball said. “But, until we've made decisions on a number of options, we are just training instructors ahead of time.”

At this time, only one training session in underway, but that will depend “on the needs of the business and whatever decisions we make on the best interests of what our business needs,” Ball said.

Fraser said the important task at hand is for Vale Inco to return to bargaining with the union.

“What they need to do, instead of train people, is get back to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith. That's what they need to do.

“That's up to them, we've held the door open for them and told them that we're interested in bargaining and finding a Canadian solution for the difficulties... And they sit back with their arrogance and talk about training people.”

Ball said Vale Inco is willing to talk, when the union is willing to “accept the changes.”

“As we've said, until the Steelworkers are willing to accept the changes that are needed in our business, there will be little to talk about,” he said.

Fraser said Vale Inco, or Inco, has never operated the production side of operations during a strike, and, “they're not going to do it now.”

He said they are “rattling swords. At the end of the day it becomes almost impossible to (replace the workers).”