Locked-out Quebec workers file complaint against Rio Tinto with London 2012 Organizing Committee (LOCOG)

Former Canadian Olympian Bruce Kidd says the company's treatment of its workers is 'contrary to everything the Olympics stands for'

TORONTO, April 25, 2012 /CNW/ - Quebec workers locked out of the Rio Tinto Alcan smelter in Alma, Quebec, will hold a press conference at 1 p.m. at the Steelworker Hall on Thursday, April 26 to announce they are filing a formal complaint against the company with the organizers of the London Olympics (LOCOG).

WHAT:	Official Olympic Games Complaint Against Rio Tinto
WHO:	Locked-out workers from Alma, Quebec Steelworkers who mines gold for Olympic medals Former Olympian Bruce Kidd
WHEN:	Thursday, April 26 at 1 p.m. ET
WHERE:	Toronto Steelworkers Hall (25 Cecil Street - Spadina/College)

Last week, the United Steelworkers (USW) representing the workers launched a global campaign (www.offthepodium.org) calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the London 2012 Organizing Committee (LOCOG) to drop mining giant Rio Tinto as an official supplier of the 2012 London Games because of the lockout of workers in Alma.

The campaign has already generated thousands of letters of protest to the IOC and LOCOG and public events to get Rio Tinto 'Off The Podium' have attracted press coverage in the UK, France and Australia.

Thursday's press conference in Toronto is the first 'Off The Podium' event in Canada.  Workers and their legal advisors will discuss why Rio Tinto should be removed as an Olympic supplier and how the Games' rules of ethical procurement require LOCOG to do so.

The workers will be joined by former Olympian and honorary Canadian Olympic Committee member Bruce Kidd, who will speak about his view that Rio Tinto is not an appropriate representative of Olympic values and should not be permitted to benefit by its association with the world's top amateur athletics event.

A miner from Kennecott, Utah -- where the metal used to produce the Olympic medals was mined -- will also be at the press conference and available to media.

 

Joe Drexler, USW Strategic Campaigns, [email protected], 416-434-7907
Bob Gallagher, USW Communications, [email protected], 416-434-2221