Strike threat at B.C. copper mine
CBC News
Posted: Sep 26, 2011 2:34 PM PT
Last Updated: Sep 26, 2011 2:22 PM PT
The 1,100 workers at Teck's Highland Valley Copper mine near Kamloops, B.C., have voted 99.5 per cent in favour of striking, after talks broke down last week.
The strike vote follows news from Teck that it plans to expand its coal production in B.C. The company says it plans to invest $475 million to upgrade the Highland Valley mill to increase production and extend the life of the operation.
The company is making record profits, and workers want better wages, benefits and pensions, said United Steelworkers Union president Richard Boyce.
"We want to negotiate a better deal this time around simply because the company is making a third more when it comes to dollars and cents," said Boyce.
"Times are incredibly good when it comes to the copper industry... The profit that they are making at that operation, they'll make close billion dollars in profit at the end of the day, after this year."
The union has agreed to mediated talks, which begin on Thursday — the day before the current contract expires.
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