CANADIAN LABOUR:

STEELWORKERS TAKE IT TO THE BIG APPLE:
In their quest for international support for their strike against an international corporation-Vale Inco- the United Steelworkers have expanded their solidarity efforts across the world. Germany, Brazil, Sweden, Australia, New Caledonia, you name it. Here, from the Sudbury Star, is the story of one of their recent efforts in New York City where they threw a little kink into what would have been a major PR coup on the part of Vale. The following item came to Molly's attention via the strike support site Fair Deal Now. Read on.
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Steelworkers take New York by storm:
VALE INCO STRIKE: Strikers take fight to Wall Street
Posted By CAROL MULLIGAN, THE SUDBURY STAR
Two dozen striking Steelworkers got their message out loud and clear to the financial community and others in the Big Apple on Wednesday.





Fourteen members of Sudbury's United Steelworkers Local 6500 and 10 from Local 6200 in Port Colborne made a 48-hour return road trip to New York City to spread the word about their labour dispute with Vale Inco Ltd.





Wednesday was to be Vale Day on the New York Stock Exchange and Vale officials were to ring the bell at the opening of trading. The event was cancelled due to scheduling conflict, said a Vale spokeswoman in Brazil.





But Steelworker Joe Guido and his travelling colleagues think it was the threat of them embarrassing the mining company at the NYSE that forced the postponement.





A machinist at Vale Inco's divisional shops, Guido organized the trip for members of USW's Political and Allies Committee. The Canadian strikers rallied on the steps of the Federal Building, paraded with banners along Broadway and "rode" the symbolic bull outside the stock exchange.





"We brought our message to Wall Street and it was loud and clear," said Guido on Thursday. "It was a good day."





Steelworkers were joined by American USW members, as well as members of the United Federation of Teachers. The latter union served lunch to the Canadians.





They also joined the rally, which by law required a permit for strikers to use a bullhorn. Police officers armed with automatic rifles were vigilant and have been present since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.





One officer told the delegation, "you make all the noise you want," said Guido.





The visitors presented another officer with the Steelworkers' tiny shovel pin, which is worn handle down during a labour dispute.





"The officer said he couldn't wear it on his uniform, but he would keep it," said Guido.





Strikers used bullhorns to ask where Vale president and chief executive officer Roger Agnelli was.





"What is he hiding from?" they asked, said Guido.





Passers-by, many clearly investors by the look of their "thousand-dollar suits," said Guido, accepted leaflets the delegation distributed. Some promised to research Steelworkers' claims Vale is seeking "significant cutbacks" that led to the strike.





"I never had a negative comment," said Guido, who also arranged a trip to Queen's Park where striking Steelworkers supported the Ontario New Democrats' call for legislation prohibiting the hiring of replacement workers during labour disputes.





But the private member's bill co-sponsored by Welland MPP Peter Kormos and Nickel Belt MPP France Gelinas did not pass second reading. Before the vote, Steelworkers were ejected from the visitors' gallery for cheering and jeering while MPPs spoke to the bill.





Guido said he and his union brothers spoke with people in New York City, including Canadian tourists who wondered what a delegation from their country was doing on Wall Street.





"A high number were appalled when we told them what Vale is doing," said Guido.





USW insists Vale Inco was seeking concessions with a settlement offer calling for a defined contribution pension to replace the defined benefit one, reductions in the nickel bonus and limits on transfers among workplaces.





Vale Inco officials call the proposals "changes" and insist they are necessary to keep the business competitive in all business cycles.





Sudbury strikers left the city Tuesday at 5:30 a. m. and returned 48 hours later. Guido said he slept for a couple of hours before attending a Thursday morning USW Local 6500 membership meeting where he gave an update on the NYSE trip.





"I told them it wasn't a walk in the park," said Guido. "They were impressed."





The New York rally was staged as similar events were held in Sudbury, Toronto and Brazil, where Vale is headquartered.





When asked to comment on the Toronto demonstration, Vale Inco spokesman Steve Ball said Steelworkers were doing "what they feel is right to help their cause.





"We consider this is really another distraction and, unfortunately, the Steelworkers seem to be more committed to these kinds of events than they are to meaningful negotiations," said Ball.
"It would be nice if some of that time and effort was directed toward getting a deal done, and that can only be achieved when they commit to sitting down with us and dealing seriously with the issues that need to be discussed at the bargaining table."
cmulligan@thesudburystar.com

CANADIAN LABOUR-TORONTO:

INCO STRIKERS TAKE IT TO BAY STREET:

Last Tuesday striking workers took their campaign against Vale Inco into the corporate heartland of Bay Street in downtown Toronto as they rallied outside offices where an union representative from Brasil who sits as a token labour representative on the Vale Inco Board of Directors made their case inside. The token labour rep, appointed by Brasil's social democratic government has, of course, no real influence on Board decisions. It was, however, a good opportunity to bring the issue to the centre of power. Here's the story from the pages of the Toronto Star via the strike support site Fair Deal Now.

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Inco strikers bring beefs, nickels to Bay St.:
Toronto protest aims to sway headquarters in Brazil
Madhavi Acharya-Tom Yew Business Reporter
Vale Inco workers are hoping an appeal directly to the mining giant's board of directors will help bring their increasingly bitter conflict to an end.

Brazilian union leader Eduardo Pinto said yesterday that he plans to tell the company's board that it must take the ongoing strike, now more than two months old, very seriously.

"The community is fully behind these workers in this struggle. They are well-organized. They have a lot of will and I am convinced that they are going to win this battle," Pinto said in an interview.

"Vale is getting into a big fight for very little and this may not lead the company to a good outcome."

Pinto, who is a union representative on Vale's board, is also president of STEFEM, a railroad workers union in Brazil. He spoke to reporters in Toronto's financial district, as striking miners handed out leaflets and nickels to draw attention to their fight.

About 3,600 employees, largely at the company's flagship mine in Sudbury, walked off the job July 13 after rejecting the company offer for a new labour contract. The United Steelworkers union is also on strike against Vale Inco in Port Colborne and Voisey's Bay, Nfld.

The company offer would change workers' bonus structure, which is tied to nickel prices. It also offered defined contribution pension plans to newly hired workers, not the current defined-benefit plan.

Vale Inco, the second-largest mining company in the world with operations in 35 countries, said recently it plans to resume partial production at its Sudbury mine, regardless of the strike.

"This is the best thing to do for the business. We have 1,200 staff and employees who are not on strike for whom this provides an opportunity to offer meaningful employment," said Cory McPhee, spokesperson for Vale Inco.

Referring to the rally in Toronto, McPhee said: "We would prefer the time and effort be put into resolving the labour dispute. We didn't want the strike. We put forward a very fair offer that we feel helps the immediate and long-term health of the business."

Brazilian iron-ore giant Cia Vale do Rio Doce bought Inco in 2006 for $19.4 billion.

Workers say that, from 2006 to 2008, the company made more than $4 billion (U.S.) – twice as much as Inco made in the previous 10 years.

In 2007, nickel prices were above $24 a pound as demand from China boosted prices for the metal, used in everything from construction to jet engines and kitchen sinks. Prices now are in the $8-a-pound range and inventories are bulging.

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:

MORE ON MOORE-ON A SUDBURY SATURDAY NIGHT:

Molly knows this is a little late, as the event of the United Steelworkers solidarity rally is now ongoing. I beg the time zone difference and other extenuating circumstances (don't ask). In any case the guys and girls of the USW who are on strike against Vale Inco will have an extra treat this Sudbury Saturday Night as American film maker Michael Moore has agreed to have the third preliminary screening of his new movie 'Capitalism:A Love Story' at the solidarity rally today. The film will be released in theatres sometime in October. The more I hear about this Moore character the better I like him, even if he always looks like he got off a 36 hour ride on The Dog. In ny case here's the story from the Sudbury Star.

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Moore's film gets rare Sudbury screening:
Posted By STAR STAFF
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore won't be here for today's solidarity rally for United Steelworkers, but he is sending a copy of his latest film as a gesture of support.

Moore has taken an interest in the Steelworkers' strike against Vale Inco and is permitting a screening of his film that will be released in theatres later this year.

Capitalism: A Love Storywill be screened privately for strikers and visiting dignitaries ("dignitaries" ???-Molly )today at 5 p. m. at Silver City.

"We are proud and thankful to Michael Moore for providing such meaningful support for our members here in Sudbury," said Leo Gerard, international president of United Steelworkers.

"Throughout his career, Michael has consistently called for social justice and fair treatment for working people."

The Sudbury screening will be only the third time the film has been shown. At its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, Moore walked the red carpet with four striking miners and the national director of United Steelworkers.

Moore told reporters Sudbury's battle epitomizes the community values and need for justice his films convey. The second screening of the film was Monday in support of Steelworkers at the AFL-CIO convention.

John Fera, president of USW Local 6500, said this promises to be a great weekend in Sudbury. The film will be shown hours after an international solidarity rally at 11 a. m. at Sudbury Community Arena. Labour leaders and members from several countries will attend.

"We have our wonderful Sudbury community coming out to a rally to show us support. We have international leaders coming to show us that communities around the world support Sudbury. And, now we see that famous people who care about justice will lend their support," said Fera.
CUPE LENDS SUPPORT
The Canadian Union of Public Employees has thrown its support behind striking Vale Inco workers in Sudbury, Port Colbourne and Voisey's Bay, Nl.

In addition to its moral support, the union is also donating $10,000 to the United Steelworkers' strike fund and encouraging CUPE locals to provide financial and/or picket line support.

CUPE will also join the United Steelworkers in lobbying all levels of government to introduce anti-scab legislation.

"Vale Inco is attempting to weaken striking workers' morale," CUPE national president Paul Moist said in a release. "But by using scab labour, they are only heightening and prolonging tensions, and poisoning relations with Vale Inco workers for years to come. This is incredibly damaging for the Sudbury community."

"As employers continue to use the recession as an excuse to demand concessions from workers, CUPE stands in solidarity with the workers at Vale Inco who are fighting to protect their hard-won benefits," said Moist.

Vale Inco has said it intends to resume partial production at its Sudbury operations, and plans to use non-union staff and union members not on strike to do most of the work.

The resolution comes as more than 3,300 Steelworkers enter their third month on strike. Vale Inco, which is now 100% owned by Brazilian interests, is attempting "to gut workers' collective agreements by demanding they accept inferior pension plans and seniority agreements," CUPE said in its release.
editorial@ thesudburystar.com

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In addition to the Michael Moore film there will be/is a lot more going on at the Sudbury rally, as the following from the United Steelworkers site says. One can only hope that the travel expenses were paid for by the unions in solidarity with the USW and not by the strike fund. One union which is absent from the 'star line-up' is the Union des Syndicates des Travailleurs Kanak et Exploitées in the French overseas territory of New Caledonia. Said union, which is in sympathy with the anarcho-syndicalism of the French CNT (the CNT-Vignoles,) represents some of the workers at Vale Inco operations in New Caledonia. The USTKE has more than its own share of troubles ie government repression, as a visitor to their site can verify, but they are surely watching the strike in Sudbury with sympathy. Or at least I can judge that because people from that island have visted Molly's Blog on this subject. There is little doubt that these people have little extra money to send representatives on plane trips to the wilds of Northern Ontario, but that doesn't mean that they aren't watching and hoping for a victory for the Sudbury strikers. Here's the story from the USW.

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Ten International Guests from Around the World to Highlight Saturday’s Steelworkers Rally in Sudbury:
RELEASE, 17 Sept 2009 – In the largest gathering of international labour leaders northern Ontario has ever seen, International guests representing over 168 millions of workers from countries around the world will join the citizens of Sudbury in a rally of support for Vale Inco strikers and their families this Saturday.

The local labour battle with Vale Inco has captured the attention of workers and communities around the world. “There are many communities in Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia that are watching the Vale Inco strike very closely,” said Ken Neumann, National Director of United Steelworkers. “They know this is a battle over what massively profitable multinationals can get away with in the communities where they extract resources.”

“For two months, our members have appreciated the overwhelming support shown by the citizens of Sudbury. Now, we realize there is also significant international support for our issue,” said John Fera, President of USW Local 6500.

“Saturday’s rally promises to be an historic event that demonstrates that our strikers and their families have strong support within the Sudbury community and from workers in communities in many parts of the world,” said Wayne Fraser, USW District Director for Ontario and Atlantic Canada.
WHAT
International and Community Rally in Support of Sudbury’s Strikers
WHO
Labour Leaders from Around the World, and Sudbury Community
WHEN
Saturday, Sept 19th, 11:00 am
WHERE
Sudbury Arena (240 Elgin St)
Guests at Sudbury’s Sept 19th rally include:
**Sharon Burrow, President ITUC (largest trade union confederation in the world) and ACTU (Australia largest trade union council) (Australia)
**Manfred Warda, General Secretary of ICEM (Int’l federation (incl mining) of over 500 unions) (Germany)
**Jyki Raina, General Secretary of IMF (Int’l federation of over 200 unions of metalworkers) (Geneva, Switzerland)
**Ken Georgetti, President of Canadian Labour Congress (Canada)
Artur Henrique da Silva Santos, President of CUT (Largest trade union in Brazil) (Brazil)
**Edwardo Pinto, President STEFEM (Brazilian railway workers) and member of Vale Board of Directors (Brazil) ( uhhh. does one spell the new South American leftism as "corporatism" ?-Molly )
**Paul Talbot, Assistant General Secretary, Unite (Britain’s largest labour union w/ over 2million members) (UK)
**Jorge Campos, International Affairs Secretary for Vale Union Network (network of workers internationally that work for Vale), and General Secretary, Sindimina (Brazilian mineworkers) (Brazil)
**John Sweeney, Recent President of AFL-CIO (Largest trade union federation in America) (USA) ( Any relation to the Sweeney, or dare I ask ?- Molly )
**Napoleon Gomez Urutia, General Secretary, National Union of Mineworkers (Mexico)
These guests are in addition to United Steelworker leaders:
**Leo Gerard, International President of United Steelworkers
**Ken Neumann, National Director of the United Steelworkers
**Wayne Fraser, USW District Director for Ont. and Atlantic Canada
**John Fera, President of USW Local 6500 (Sudbury)

Contacts:

John Fera, President of USW Local 6500, 705-675-228 1x238 /

Wayne Fraser, USW District Director, 416-577-4045 /

Bob Gallagher, USW Communications, 416-544-5966 / 416-434-2221 /

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Well, at least somebody is donating into the strike fund and not drawing travel expenses. CUPE has come out in full support of the strikers, as mentioned above. Here is their statement. This strike is very much a test case. Lose it and international corporations will walk all over ordinary Canadians for years to come.

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CUPE backs Vale Inco workers:
In a resolution passed this week, CUPE pledges its financial and moral support to the United Steelworkers locals on strike at Vale Inco. Workers are on strike in Sudbury and Port Colbourne, Ontario, and in Voisey’s Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.

The resolution comes as thousands of workers enter their third month on strike. Vale Inco, which is now 100 per cent owned by Brazilian interests, is attempting to gut workers’ collective agreements by demanding they accept inferior pension plans and seniority agreements.

Instead of returning to the bargaining table, Vale Inco is resuming production during the labour dispute by using inexperienced, non-union staff and scab labour.

“Vale Inco is attempting to weaken striking workers’ morale” said CUPE National President Paul Moist. “But by using scab labour, they are only heightening and prolonging tensions, and poisoning relations with Vale Inco workers for years to come. This is incredibly damaging for the Sudbury community”.

“As employers continue to use the recession as an excuse to demand concessions from workers, CUPE stands in solidarity with the workers at Vale Inco who are fighting to protect their hard-won benefits,” said Moist.

CUPE will donate $10,000.00 to the United Steelworkers’ strike fund, and encourage CUPE locals to provide financial and/or picket line support. CUPE will also join the United Steelworkers in lobbying all levels of government to introduce anti-scab legislation.

“We would also like to see the federal government put some conditions on foreign ownership,” said Moist. “The majority ownership of Canadian resource-based businesses should remain in the hands of Canadians.” (I don't know if that will improve things much-Molly )

For more information, contact:
CUPE media relations - 613-818-0067
Resolution of CUPE’s National Executive Board – Vale Inco

CUPE NATIONAL WILL:

Provide financial and moral support to United Steelworkers locals on strike at Vale Inco in Sudbury and Port Colbourne, Ontario and Voisey’s Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, that includes:

• A financial contribution in the amount of $10,000.00 to the United Steelworkers’ strike fund

• Encouraging CUPE locals to provide financial and/or picket line support.

• Lobbying all governments to introduce anti-scab legislation.

• Writing to the Prime Minister of Canada requesting that the Federal government change the conditions put on the purchase of Canadian resource-based businesses so that the majority ownership of such businesses remains in the hands of Canadians.

• Writing a joint letter with the CUPE Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador Divisions to the Premiers of Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador requesting that their governments take the steps necessary to ensure that scab workers are not used during this labour dispute, and to request that their respective health and safety branches increase inspections and surveillance, and step up enforcement efforts during this labour dispute.

BECAUSE:

• Vale Inco is now 100% owned by Brazilian interests.

* Vale Inco is attempting to gut the collective agreement by requesting that:

1. New employees be subject to a defined contribution pension plan rather than the current defined benefit pension plan; and

2. An increased trigger point for the “nickel bonus” which was negotiated at the insistence of the company many years ago when the company was suffering through a downturn in the economy; and

3. Company-wide seniority be changed to plant or business unit seniority only.

• Vale Inco is resuming production during this labour dispute intending to use inexperienced, non-union staff and scab labour.

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Good luck to all the boys and girls down Sudbury way this Sudbury Saturday Night. Just to close off here's the lyrics to Sudbury Saturday Night from another of my heroes, Stompin' Tom Conners. I imagine there'll be a lot of singing of this tune tonight. You can, by the way view a video of Stompin' Tom doing this signature song HERE.

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The girls are out to Bingo and the boys are gettin' stinko,
And we think no more of Inco on a Sudbury Saturday night.
The glasses they will tinkle when our eyes begin to twinkle,
And we'll think no more of Inco on a Sudbury Saturday night.

***
With Irish Jim O'Connel there and Scotty Jack MacDonald,
There's honky Fredrick Hurchell gettin' tight, but that's alright,
There's happy German Fritzy there with Frenchy getting tipsy,
And even Joe the Gypsy knows it's Saturday tonight.

***
Now when Mary Ann and Mabel come to join us at the table,
And tell us how the Bingo went tonight, we'll look a fright.
But if they won the money, we'll be lappin' up the honey, boys,
'Cause everything is funny, for it's Saturday tonight

***
The girls are out to Bingo and the boys are gettin' stinko,
And we think no more of Inco on a Sudbury Saturday night.
The glasses they will tinkle when our eyes begin to twinkle,
And we'll think no more of Inco on a Sudbury Saturday night.

***
We'll drink the loot we borrowed and recuperate tomorrow,
'Cause everything is wonderful tonight, we had a good fight,
We ate the Dilly Pickle and we forgot about the Nickel,
And everybody's tickled, for it's Saturday tonight

***
The songs that we'll be singing, they might be wrong but they'll be ringing,
When the lights of town are shining bright, and we're all tight,
We'll get to work on Monday, but tomorrow's only Sunday,
And we're out to have a fun day for it's Saturday tonight. Yeah

***
The girls are out to Bingo and the boys are gettin' stinko,
And we think no more of Inco on a Sudbury Saturday night.
The glasses they will tinkle when our eyes begin to twinkle,
And we'll think no more of Inco on a Sudbury Saturday night.

***
We'll think no more of Inco on a Sudbury Saturday night.

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Too bad I never got this off last night, so I might as well add a few reports abour how the rally went. Here's one from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

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Labour stands together in Sudbury:
Nearly 3,000 supporters from across the international labour community gathered in Sudbury Saturday to pledge their ongoing support to Vale Inco Strikers.

Vale Inco, which is 100% owned by Brazilian interests, is attempting to gut workers’ collective agreements by demanding they accept inferior pension plans and seniority agreements. Thousands of United Steelworkers members have been on strike since mid-July in Sudbury and Port Colborne, Ontario, and in Voisey’s Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.

“We are out in force today to show support for the Steelworkers: CUPE is here, the community is here, people from all over the world are here,” said Wyman MacKinnon, CUPE Regional Vice-President for Northern Ontario.

Among the international guests were representatives from international federations such as ITUC, ICEM, IMF, and leaders of the AFL-CIO from the United States, Unite from the UK, CUT and Sindimina from Brazil, and the National Union of Mine workers from Mexico. Together, they represent over 168 million workers from around the world.

Federal NDP leader Jack Layton, Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath, CLC President Ken Georgetti and CUPE National Paul Moist were also on hand to extend their support. (See Paul Moist extend CUPE's support to the striking workers.)

The rally came on the heels of a resolution of support from the CUPE National Executive board promising a $10,000 contribution to the United Steelworkers’ strike fund, encouraging CUPE locals to provide support, and pledging to lobby all governments to introduce anti-scab legislation.

“Vale Inco has taken over 4 billion dollars out of Canada in profit in the last three years, and yet it is looking for multiple concessions. We will support the Steelworkers and the Sudbury community until they get the fair agreement they deserve,” said Paul Moist.

“Vale Inco is massively profitable, currently has huge cash assets, and increased its executive compensation by 121% in the last two years,” added John Fera, President of USW Local 6500.

Later on Saturday, Academy Award winning filmmaker Michael Moore also demonstrated his support for the strikers and the community by holding a special Sudbury screening of his new film, “Capitalism: A Love Story”, to be released in theatres in October.

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Here's another report from the pages of Northern Life. Seems that at least part of the rally turned out to be a love-in for the moustache that walks ie Jack Layton, but a lot of other things were happening.

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Vale 'picked the wrong town' to fight with: Layton:
By: Heidi Ulrichsen - Sudbury Northern Life

Federal NDP leader Jack Layton had some encouraging words for several thousand people attending a Sept. 19 rally at the Sudbury Community Arena in support of striking Steelworkers Local 6500 members.

About 3,100 members of Local 6500 have been on strike since July 13. Steelworkers members are also on strike against Vale Inco in Port Colborne, Ont. and Voisey's Bay, Nfld.

Vale Inco “picked the wrong town” if it thought that it could “take away what working people have built over generations in this country and this town,” he said.

“You're going to win this battle, my friends,” Layton said. He assured the crowd that the NDP would fight for the strikers, and would “make sure there are federal anti-scab laws.”

Besides Layton, those who spoke at the event included provincial NDP leader Andrea Horwath, Mayor John Rodriguez, international United Steelworkers president Leo Gerard and unionists from across Canada and around the world.

About half of the arena was filled during the rally. Among those in attendance were many families with small children. The participants stood up and cheered often during the event, waving union flags.

Several times throughout the event, union leaders asked the crowd if they were “ready to fight,” and they answered “Yes!” Retired union members led the crowd in singing songs such as “Solidarity Forever.”

One of the foreign union leaders attending the event, Artu Henrique da Silva Santos of CUT (Central Unica dos Trabalhadores) Brazil, told the crowd that Brazilian workers would mobilize to ensure that “strike breaking” workers from their country would not be sent to Sudbury.

He said Brazilian Vale Inco workers face much the same battles in trying to get a contract as those in Sudbury.

Gerard said the strike “is a fight like you've never had before.” It will determine “what kind of future we'll have, and what kind of future our kids and grandkids will have.”

In the old days, people used to complain that the profits from the mines went to Toronto or Ottawa, said Gerard. Now the profits go “to bankers in Japan,” he said.

He said that Vale Inco workers in Brazil “get treated like junk...They have a right to fire them at will,” he said.

Gerard said that “this fight isn't just about members of Local 6500,” it's about the entire Sudbury community.

Who attended?

-Jack Layton, federal NDP leader

-Andrea Horwath, Ontario NDP leader

-John Rodriguez, Sudbury mayor

-Glenn Thibeault, Sudbury MP

-Claude Gravelle, Nickel Belt MP

-France Gelinas, Nickel Belt MPP

-Sharan Burrow, president of the International Trade Union Confederation and the Australian Council of Trade Unions

-Manfred Warra, general secretary of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions

-Jyrki Raina, general secretary of the International Metalworkers' Federation

-Ken Georgetti, president of the Canadian Labour Congress

-John Sweeney, past-president of the American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organizations

-Artur Henrique da Silva Santos, president of CUT (Central Unica dos Trabalhadores) Brazil

-Eduardo Pinto, president of STEFEM, the union of railroad workers in four states in Brazil

-Paul Talbot, assistant general secretary, Unite the Union

-Jorge Campos, general secretary of SINDIMINA, a union of mine workers in Brazil

-Napoleon Gomez Urutia, general secretary, National Union of Mineworkers

-Leo Gerard, international president, United Steelworkers

-Ken Neumann, national director, United Steelworkers

-Wayne Fraser, United Steelworkers district director for Ontario and Atlantic Canada

-John Fera, president of United Steelworkers Local 6500

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Finally, things haven't been quiet out on the picket lines in the last few days either. Here from the Sudbury Star (courtesy of the strike support blog Fair Deal Now ) is what happened on Friday as Vale Inco tried to move materials as part of their planned restart of production using scab labour.

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Picketers blocking transports:
Posted By LARA BRADLEY, THE SUDBURY STAR
Four trucks carrying ore and their drivers sat idle outside Vale Inco's Clarabelle Mill on Friday, as strikers stepped up picket line activity for a second straight day.

The trucks, belonging to the Day Group and, according to strikers, carrying ore from the company's Frood-Stobie mine, were stopped Thursday afternoon. They will not be allowed to cross the line, picketers with Local 6500 of the United Steelworkers said.

"As much as we can, we're going to stop them from moving the ore," said Bob Hickey, a union member for 12 years. "Something has to give. They're not talking, they don't want to talk. This stalemate is driving the guys crazy."

At the entrance to the Clarabelle Mine Road, a group of Steelworkers waved a massive Canadian flag to the constant honking of motorists passing by on the highway.

"(Moving ore) is against the injunction," said Pat Veinot, a former vice-president of Steelworkers Local 6500, who was visiting the line.

"When we read the injunction, it speaks to care and maintenance, but this has to do with production -- moving ore -- it's something that never has happened in the history of Inco in Sudbury."

Adding fuel to the fire, Veinot said, the union found out that the company used a train to bring ore to the Clarabelle Mill Friday from Frood-Stobie.

"And we know this is against the injunction," he said.

Asked if the union had any plans to picket the train track, Veinot said:

"I would imagine if they're going to move a train, then, yeah, we're going to stop them. Peacefully. "

It can be done without violence, he added.

"We spoke to the police officers ... They've said they're pleased with our conduct here," Veinot said. "You don't have to burn down building and you don't have to roll cars. You just have to stop them."

Company spokesperson Steve Ball, in an e-mail to The Sudbury Star, denied the company was using the railroad to ship ore across the picket line.

"No ore is being moved by rail at this time," he wrote.

However, several picketers said they saw the train go through onto the property.

The company said it is continuing to monitor the situation at Frood-Stobie and Clarabelle Mill. It considers the halted trucks as "disrespecting the terms of the injunction protocol," Ball said.

"As these actions continue to affect our right to protect our business, we will be reviewing future options, which may include legal options, that are available to us to prevent these blockades from occurring," Ball p>The union, however, insisted ore is being moved. "We counted 48 cars," said John Landry, a union member. "I think this is a diversion so that the trains can go through."

Guards patrolled the perimetre outside the trucks. One driver, who would only give his first name Brian, said they can't leave their cabs for fear of union members. He said picketers have called him a scab using a megaphone.

"They've threatened to pull me out of the truck and kick the sh-t out of me," he said. "I was born here. I have as much right haul this ore ... I don't know how long I will be here."

Today, a rally at the Sudbury Community Arena will start at 11 a. m. in support of the Steelworkers. Michael Moore has also sent his film,Capitalism: A Love Story to Sudbury so that strikers and visiting dignitaries can enjoy a private screening at 5 p. m. at Silver City.

"He knew a lot about our issue," said Veinot about meeting Moore and accompanying him along with other Steelworkers to the screening of his new documentary at the Toronto Film Festival last weekend.

The Sudbury screening will be only the third time the film has been shown.

"We are proud and thankful to Michael Moore for providing such meaningful support for our members here in Sudbury," said Leo Gerard, international president of United Steelworkers, in a release. "Throughout his career, Michael has consistently called for social justice and fair treatment for working people."

John Fera, president of USW Local 6500, said this promises to be a great weekend for the union in Sudbury.

"We have our wonderful Sudbury community coming out to a rally to show us support. We have international leaders coming to show us that communities around the world support Sudbury. And, now we see that famous people who care about justice will lend their support," said Fera.

More than 3,000 members of Steelworkers Local 6500 have been on strike since July 13, after they rejected a Vale Inco contract offer that included demands for historic concessions from the unionized workers.

The ore shipments from Frood-Stobie to the Clarabelle Mill are part of Vale Inco's plan to resume partial production at some Sudbury operations.

The company said it is delivering ore to the mill so it can be used for testing and training purposes for staff and other employees working during the strike. Vale Inco also has said it intends to produce ore at its Garson Ramp and its Coleman Mine in Levack, with that ore to be processed at Clarabelle Mill.

Following last week's incident at the Frood-Stobie picket line, the Day Group issued a news release insisting it was not taking sides in the labour dispute. The company said it was simply fulfilling the obligations of a contract with Vale Inco, which include hauling ore for the mining company.

"Day Construction is not supplying any personnel or taking any work from any unionized Vale worker," the Day Group's news release stated.

CANADIAN LABOUR-SUDBURY:

SOLIDARITY RALLY IN SUDBURY:

The following article from the Sudbury Star came to Molly's attention via the strike support site Fair Deal Now for members of the United Steel Workers who have been on strike against Vale Inco for some time now. There is a solidarity rally planned in Sudbury for the 19th of September.

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Steelworkers plan globally, think locally for rally:

Posted By CAROL MULLIGAN, THE SUDBURY STAR
United Steelworkers is looking to pack Sudbury Community Arena to the rafters Sept. 19 with an international labour rally to bolster the fight of three of its locals in Ontario against Vale Inco Ltd. and Vale Inco in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Striking members of USW Local 6500 in Sudbury, Local 6200 in Port Colborne and Local 9508 in Voisey's Bay, NL, will be joined by union colleagues from Vale Inco's Thompson, Man., operations -- as well as workers from around the world.

The theme of the rally will be Building Solidarity, said USW staff representative Myles Sullivan.

The movement to build worldwide unity against the Brazilian-headquartered Vale SA, parent company of Vale Inco, began in Brazil and is becoming international, said Sullivan, who travelled to the South American country to talk about his union's battle with the giant miner.

The second largest mining company in the world is making profits "on the backs of workers" by "oppressing" them, said Sullivan, and USW is determined to spread that message far and wide.

Several local, national and international trade unionists will speak at the 11 a. m. rally, which union and non-union members alike are invited to attend.

USW Locals 6500 and 6200 went on strike against Vale Inco on July 13, and Voisey's Bay Steelworkers walked off the job Aug. 1.

United Steelworkers has been stressing the labour disputes are not just the business of the union, but of the communities in which they work.

Anyone who doubts the impact Steelworkers and their employers have on communities need look no further than the recent boom in housing prices in Sudbury two years ago, fuelled by record high prices for nickel.

Local 6500 is also the largest single supporter of United Way in Sudbury. "If that's not helping the community, what is?" asked Sullivan.

Mining jobs create thousands of spinoff positions in the community as well.

CANADIAN LABOUR/CANADIAN POLITICS:

A CONTRAST IN SUDBURY:

As the strike of the United Steelworkers against the Vale Inco Company continues on, with no foreseeable conclusions, the politicos are moving in to cash in on the events. Here's a story from the Sudbury Star (via the strike support site Fair Deal Now) about the recent visit of 'The Ig' to Sudbury and how strikers and their supporters are treating his kind words with caution. The contrast couldn't be starker, the Liberals with their $550 a plate dinner and the strike support dinner at $5.50. Now if Ignatieff had been willing to put up even a small amount of his take to strike support his assertions of sympathy might have been a bit more believable.

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A tale of duelling dinners:
Posted By Denis St. Pierre/The Sudbury Star

As he contemplated the onset of his eighth week on the picket line, Vale Inco striker Ron Savage said it was troubling to behold hundreds of city residents spending $550 on a political fundraiser.

"It's hard to watch," said Savage, one of nearly 100 demonstrators who gathered Monday evening outside the Caruso Club, site of the $550- per-plate dinner featuring federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and his national caucus of MPs and senators.

"It's hard to watch that kind of money going through the door to support a party that doesn't guarantee anything will happen to stop what is going on right now," Savage said, referring to the strike at Vale Inco and the hundreds of other job losses in Sudbury in recent months.

Savage's spirits were buoyed somewhat following Monday's demonstration, as he and about 150 others enjoyed a $5.50 spaghetti dinner at the Navy League Hall. The low-cost meal was organized by local labour groups and their supporters as a deliberately stark contrast to the Liberal fundraiser.

"This is the blue-collar dinner and that's the white-collar dinner at the Caruso Club," Savage said.

"It shows that in tough times people can still pull together and do what has to be done to make sure we pull through, as opposed to putting all this money into a party that we're not sure will be supporting us in the long run."

Earlier in the day, Ignatieff and other Liberal officials met for more than an hour with leaders of the United Steelworkers, which represents the more than 3,000 workers on strike at Vale Inco.

Savage said he is skeptical of the Liberals' supportive words for the strikers, noting a federal election this fall is a distinct possibility.

"Election talk is election talk," he said. "It's like what our company did to us before they put us on the street. You can talk a lot of talk, but it's the actions that matter."

Other strikers were more hopeful that a Liberal government would be more supportive and helpful than the existing Conservative minority government. (Hope springs eternal I guess-Molly )

As a result of Monday's meeting between Ignatieff and Steelworkers' officials, "I think the Liberals are very well-informed of what's going on here and I believe they're supportive of our cause," said striker Joe Guido, a machinist at Vale Inco.

At the same time, Guido added, "I think this meal, at $5.50, sends a message to them that there are struggling families in the Sudbury area and we just hope that they recognize the difficulties that we're all going through."

Monday's meeting with Ignatieff was "positive," said John Fera, president of United Steelworkers Local 6500.

"He heard us and he understood what's going on in the community and he understood about culture changes and he understood our concerns with the Canada Investment Review Act," Fera said during the spaghetti dinner.

Ignatieff said Monday the public should be privy to the details of an agreement reached between Vale and the federal government when the Brazilian company bought Inco Ltd. in 2006.

The Conservative government has maintained it cannot legally make the agreement public, while the Steelworkers and other critics question whether the government has allowed Vale to break commitments made in the deal.

Ignatieff "understood the points we were trying to make, such as the problems with not being able to see what's in that document," Fera said.

However, the Liberal leader did not categorically assure the Steelworkers that a Liberal government would make the agreement public or take action against Vale if the company broke any of its commitments, he added.

"He said he would certainly consider working with the NDP and the Bloc (Quebecois) to make that happen. He also wanted some time to look into the legalities and the details around such an agreement."

Fera said a minority government, led either by the NDP or Liberals, would offer the best odds for making such agreements public.

"I don't know that (the Liberals) would do it on their own if they had a majority government. But I would hope that if it's a minority government that they would do it, in a co-operative effort with the other parties." (Maybe, maybe, maybe-Molly )

Monday's demonstration outside the Liberal fundraiser was relatively calm, with Steelworkers handing out union pamphlets to dinner-goers but not attempting to hold up traffic.

"I think the people who paid $550 for that dinner aren't our guys(I can imagine-Molly ), but people are free to do whatever they want and to support whoever they want and I respect that," Fera said. "It's their decision." (It would be interesting to see the guest list-Molly )

Sudbury NDP MP Glenn Thibeault criticized the Liberal dinner's cost as unseemly during a period of widespread economic trouble in the city.

"When you come in and try to take a quarter-million dollars out of our community to put it into an election war chest, when our community is reeling, we need to do something about that," Thibeault said.

"It's fine to fundraise. But you've got to look at your audience and look at what you're doing and understand the community that you're in."

Thibeault also chided that Ignatieff appeared to suddenly discover Sudbury's plight.

"We've been talking about Vale Inco, we've been talking about Xstrata in the House of Commons for six months, minimum," he said. "We've been talking about job losses for 10 months. So, when you come into Sudbury and finally realize this community is reeling, I guess that's a good thing, because they didn't know where we were for decades. But now, when we speak up in the House, maybe they'll start to understand that Northern Ontario made a change for good reasons."

It was not clear if any local politicians attended the Liberal fundraiser, but the cut-rate union dinner drew the support of city councillor Claude Berthiaume.

The nature of the Vale Inco dispute, namely the demand for major concessions, compels him to openly support the strikers, said Berthiaume, a longtime labour activist.

"When you attack pensions, when you attack the nickel bonus -- and the company is still making money -- I have a hard time understanding that," he said.

"So, I support the men and women there. I support the men and women who work in this community."

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).”

CANADIAN LABOUR-SUDBURY:

CAN SCAB LABOUR BE SAFE LABOUR ?:

As the strike against Vale Inco facilities in Sudbury, Port Colborne and Voisey's bay continues, with no foreseeable resolution, management has begun to "train" supervisory personnel in production skills, with the obvious goal of having a contingent of people able to "instruct" future scab labour. To say the least this is likely to result in some potentially unsafe situations. Here's a story about what is happening with this from the Sudbury Star. The following came to Molly's attention via the strike support site Fair Deal Now.

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Steelworkers fear for safety if production restarts during labour dispute
Posted By CAROL MULLIGAN,

THE SUDBURY STAR
About a dozen non-union employees with Vale Inco Ltd. are taking part in train-the-trainer sessions at the company's nickel refinery this week to become qualified to train others in mining skills, says a Vale Inco spokesman.

Steve Ball said the company is running the sessions as part of Vale Inco's contingency plans related to the current strike.

More than 3,050 production and maintenance workers in Sudbury and about 130 in Port Colborne, members of United Steelworkers Locals 6500 and 6200, went on strike July 13 after three months of negotiations failed to produce a new collective agreement.

Ball confirmed Tuesday that "a variety of people" are being trained to conduct future instruction in "a variety of skills." Some of those nonunion employees may be called upon later to do the job of striking Steelworkers.

Vale Inco "is not ruling out that possibility," Ball said.

"We are continuing to explore all of our options and we're not closing the door on anything -- including resuming some degree of operations," said Ball.

The former South Mine manager said he wasn't certain who was attending the training sessions or if more sessions would be held as required by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

The ministry requires that "people get qualified in work, in mining plants, by qualified instructors," said Ball.

He said Vale Inco would look at "what we think the business needs. Right now, we've started one train-the-trainer session."

Vale Inco, previously Inco Ltd., has never before operated its plants during labour disputes. Ball said in previous strikes, operations basically stopped overnight and staff ran them for care and maintenance only.

"So we have run them in some fashion before. And as I said, we're just reviewing all options right now."

Running its operations for production "has not been ruled out," Ball said.

USW Local 6500 president John Fera said his union was trying to get to the truth behind speculation that managers and staff were being trained to do strikers' jobs.

"There's always a possibility," said Fera, adding: "These are highly skilled jobs. It takes a lot of training not only to run a production unit, but to safely run a production unit.

"Anybody can push a button," said the union chief, "but it takes trained personnel to make sure a machine runs safely."

Fera said Vale Inco officials would be concerned about the quality of the product the company was turning out if they had people who weren't skilled controlling production.

But Fera said the current labour dispute "doesn't seem to be about production or the price of nickel for Vale. So you really never know what they're going to try. But I think they would certainly know what the response of the community would be."

Getting nickel ore from underground operations through crushes and mills, smelters and refineries, is a complicated process, said Fera.

"If you have people that are unfamiliar, it becomes a very dangerous practice. These are not candy factories that we work in ... you know how hard the Steelworkers work at making better workplaces, safer workplaces.

"I think it would say something about Vale if they disregarded all that work that's been done and tried to put people in there who really didn't have the qualifications," said Fera.

Ball said there is plenty of "speculation and rumour about what limited operations means to different people. And in what order operations might resume. So, as I said, we're considering all options and what would be in the best interests of our business. So at this time, all options are under review."

Members of Locals 6500 and 6200, which bargain together with Vale Inco, said they rejected the company's settlement offer because it contained concessions, such as a less desirable pension plan for new hires, reduced nickel bonuses and limits on seniority transfers to different workplaces.

Vale Inco official have maintained the aim of their proposal was to preserve the company's financial viability and remain cash positive in all business cycles.

For more about both sides in the dispute, visit the USW website www.fairdealnow.caor Vale Inco's www.valenegotiations.com.

CANADIAN LABOUR-SUDBURY:

VALE INCO SHOWS CONTEMPT FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY:

The following article from the Sudbury Star comes to Molly's attention via the strike support site Fair Deal Now. Despite the call of Sudbury City Council to meet with the management of Vale Inco about the ongoing strike the company has given a categorical refusal to put their case to account. Here's the story.

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Vale Inco boss won't meet with city council until strike is over: company:
It wouldn't be, I think, something that we would entertain at this point in time when we're in a strike and there's a labour dispute and there's lots of emotion in the community. - Vale Inco spokesman Cory McPhee.

Greater Sudbury city council wants Vale Inco's top executive to publicly answer "the hard questions" about the company's plans for the community.

Council unanimously passed a motion Wednesday calling on Vale Inco chief executive officer Tito Martins to appear before council. Martins will be asked to meet with council within "the foreseeable future," Mayor John Rodriguez said.

However, minutes after the motion was passed, a Vale Inco official responded Martins likely will not accede to city council's request until the strike is resolved at the company's Sudbury operations.

"It wouldn't be, I think, something that we would entertain at this point in time when we're in a strike and there's a labour dispute and there's lots of emotion in the community," said company spokesman Cory McPhee.

"It's just not an appropriate time to go up and be addressing council," McPhee said. "We need to look after the business right now and that includes dealing with the labour issues in front of us."

McPhee acknowledged Martins told Rodriguez last month that he would come to Sudbury to meet with city council. But that pledge was made on the presumption that such a meeting should not be held during a labour dispute, he added.

"I was in the meeting when Tito met with Mayor Rodriguez, and it was very clear that Tito would be happy to go to Sudbury and talk to council once things are back to normal," McPhee said.

CANADIAN LABOUR-SUDBURY:

STRIKERS AND COMMUNITY:

The following letter was recently published in the Sudbury Star. It comes Molly's way via the strike support website Fair Deal Now set up by the Steelworkers to support the strike against Vale Inco.

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Steelworkers fight important to all:
Sudbury was built on mining and there is no doubt it is a valuable asset to our community. The economic spinoff for the city has been tremendous; Sudbury has prospered.

There have been difficult times for sure, but Sudbury and mining survived. The strike today between Vale Inco and the Steelworkers is about a different survival. I respect the "hard fight" of the union and am mindful of the tremendous gains and efforts made.

Mining is a dangerous profession and the workers earn every dollar they make.

The proposed Vale Inco pension, transfer rights and nickel bonus changes were reasonable business initiatives and open for discussion between both sides; bargaining in good faith and a deal would be made. There is a sense there was no bargaining of any kind, no real discussion of the issues. Then there is the 200-plus staff/management cuts of highly skilled mining employees, which is suspect.

This fight is much bigger than your typical labour dispute, it is about the survival of our community (mining contractors, service and supply companies), our resources, our people.
When the strike is over, the fear is, who will run and work the mines when all the skilled workers have been let go, what will this company look like and how many workers will die? Make no mistake, that will happen.

We cannot sit by and watch them dismantle our mining assets and what belongs to this city. I do not blame Vale Inco, I blame the government for letting them in. It's about respect.
C. Venturi Azilda