Harper Government Empowering Vale's Contempt for Canadian Working Families

TORONTO, Oct. 4 /CNW/ - Stephen Harper's Conservative government is condoning attacks on Canadian working families by awarding $1 billion in financing to mining giant Vale, the United Steelworkers (USW) says.

"It is shocking that the Conservative government would reward a foreign corporation that has provoked two of the longest and most-bitter labour disputes in Canadian history," said Ken Neumann, the USW's National Director for Canada.

The financing announcement comes as Brazil-based Vale again refused to offer a fair deal to workers at Voisey's Bay who are in the 15^th month of a strike.

"It is an insult to the workers in Labrador and to Canadians who think the government should stand up for working families," Neumann said.

"For 12 months Vale attacked the workers and communities of Sudbury and Port Colborne. They continue to refuse to offer a fair deal to their Voisey's Bay workers.

"It is unacceptable that the federal government, after 15 months of sitting on the sidelines and making unhelpful comments while Canadian communities are ravaged by Vale, is now offering this massively profitable multinational a billion dollars in financing."

"Canadians should be outraged that the Harper government is financing a foreign corporation that has earned billions off our natural resources while wreaking havoc on our working families," said Wayne Fraser, the USW's Director for Ontario and the Atlantic provinces.

"Small wonder that Vale feels no need to offer a fair deal to its Voisey's Bay workers," Fraser said. "Vale is trying to starve out these workers and has recruited scabs - all of which appears to be condoned by Harper's government."  

The Conservatives' tacit support for Vale includes refusing to hold the company accountable for job and production cuts, despite commitments made when Vale was allowed to buy the former Inco Ltd.

As well, in the midst of the labour disputes Vale provoked with its Canadian workers, Conservative Industry Minister Tony Clement actually praised Vale for supposedly rescuing Inco - and the communities where it operated - from economic ruin. Clement had to backtrack when he discovered the Inco operations were extremely valuable, profitable and sought after by many corporations other than Vale.

For further information:

Ken Neumann, USW National Director for Canada, 416-544-5950;
Wayne Fraser, Director, USW District 6, 416-243-8792;
Bob Gallagher, USW Communications, 416-434-2221,416-544-5966, [email protected].