ESG

Sudbury remains idle after workers reject second wage offer

Vale’s Sudbury nickel operations in Canada remain idle after United Steelworkers Local 6500 members voted to reject the company’s “unacceptable” second wage offer.

 Strike action continues at Vale’s Sudbury operation in Canada

Strike action continues at Vale’s Sudbury operation in Canada

About 2,500 workers had walked off the job on June 1 in response to the Brazil-based company's initial offer. 

Vale's North Atlantic COO Dino Otranto said the company was disappointed its "improved offer" was turned down.

"Our offer was a genuine and sincere attempt to address the issues brought forth by the union's bargaining committee in the most recent round of discussions," he said.

"Clearly, we remain apart on important issues."

USW Local 6500 president Nick Larochelle said members did not want to see health benefits eroded and called for good-faith negotiations.

The union said its members were also angered to learn Vale had taken C$67.7 million from Canadian taxpayers last year, in the form of pandemic-related subsidies, yet the company had revoked a pandemic bonus previously offered to its Sudbury employees.

"It's a slap in the face to workers who accepted an unprecedented one-year contract with zero increases last year, who endured COVID-19 outbreaks in their workplaces and who stayed on the job throughout the pandemic," Larochelle said.

Vale has said the subsidy had allowed it to continue to pay employees and contractors who were not working due to concerns about the virus being potentially transmitted to vulnerable communities.

The union's previous strike had lasted a year and ended in July 2010.

Sudbury had accounted for almost half of Vale's nickel production from Canada in the March quarter.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Investor Sentiment Report 2024

Survey revealing the plans, priorities, and preferences of 120+ mining investors and their expectations for the sector in 2024.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Mining Equities Report 2023

Access an exclusive, inside look on the quarterly mining IPOs and secondary raisings data and mining equities performance tables with an annual Stock Exchange Comparisons supplement.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence World Risk Report 2023 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 121 jurisdictions globally, built on 11 ‘hard risk’ metrics and an industrywide survey.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Global Leadership Report 2023: Social licence

Gain insights into social licence trends and best practices from interviews with 20+ top mining company executives and an industrywide survey.