Nearly 700 unionized Glencore workers in Sudbury are poised to take strike action at the beginning of February — just over a week from now.
Eric Boulay, president of Sudbury's Unifor Local 598 of the Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers’ Union, said the union is currently in talks with Glencore to reach a new contract agreement for production and maintenance workers at the Sudbury Integrated Nickel Operations (INO).
"We are continuing to meet with the employer to reach a fair and equitable deal before our contract expiry of February 1st," Boulay said. There are currently 679 workers in the bargaining unit, he added.
"And, yes, if no deal is reached by deadline we would begin strike action. Strike mandate was held with a result of 97 per cent in favour," Boulay added.
In an email message, Boulay said the length of a new contract has not been determined.
It was four years ago, Feb. 1, 2021, that Local 598 and the company reached a new collective agreement.
At that time, the company and union recommended acceptance of the new contract.
The company was quoted as saying the new agreement was fair, competitive and represented a balance of interests in securing a deep mining future for Sudbury INO.
Local 598 has been representing workers at Glencore (previously Falconbridge) for 83 years, since 1942.
