CONTRACT TALKS BETWEEN VALE AND USW AT VOISEY'S BAY END QUICKLY WITH NO DEAL

TORONTO, Oct. 20 /CNW/ - Vale expressed disappointment today that contract talks with United Steelworkers (USW) Local 9508, representing some 130 striking mine and mill employees at the company's operations in Voisey's Bay, ended quickly without a settlement.  "Once again our efforts to advance negotiations were rejected by USW," said Tom Paddon, General Manager of Vale's operations in Newfoundland and Labrador. "Our talks today lasted just one hour and absolutely no progress was made. The Union showed no desire to negotiate in a constructive manner. This kind of behaviour is nothing new. We have been trying to bridge the gap with USW for more than 20 months and every time we believe we've made some progress, the Union adds more items to their list of demands."

"USW continues to bargain in bad faith. For more than a year USW sat on the sidelines and refused to engage in meaningful negotiations on behalf of our employees in Labrador until the Ontario strike was settled. Now that the Ontario strike has been settled, we have seen USW bring forward one new demand after another that appear consciously aimed at frustrating negotiations," said Paddon. 

Vale entered these negotiations with the objective of reaching a deal that meets the needs of our employees and our operations in Labrador. Yet today USW spent more time talking about Sudbury than ever before in our negotiations even though Vale has tabled proposals that contain monetary improvements which exceed other company settlements. The truth is USW wants to cherry-pick benefits from other agreements that they view as favorable. USW's behavior and ever-changing demands point to a union that isn't interested in a deal. Rather the Union wants the provincial government to do what they have been unwilling to do for over 20 months - successfully conclude a settlement.

Paddon noted that "this strike is not about the money. It's about USW's national agenda and unfortunately our employees in Labrador are being used as pawns in the process. The USW appeared more interested in a public inquiry to advocate for change to provincial legislation rather than settling a deal for their striking members."

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