Media Advisory - Vale Strikers Hold 'Virtual Media Scrum' from Brazil

Striking Canadian Miners, Union Leaders Address Brazilian Senate Hearing

ONLY Journalists from Canadian or International Accredited Media Outlets are Invited.

    
    WHAT:    Phone media scrum from Brazil following Brazilian Senate hearing

    WHO:     United Steelworkers strikers and Canadian director,
             MPP France Gelinas, and Brazilian union leaders

    WHEN:    Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009
             11:00 a.m. EST (Ontario time)

    HOW:     To get the codes to join the virtual scrum by phone:
             Call 416-544-5990; 416-544-5991; or 416-544-5966.
    

BRASILIA , Dec. 9 /CNW/ - A United Steelworkers (USW) delegation has been invited to an extraordinary hearing with the Brazilian Senate Thursday to discuss the five-month Vale Inco strike by 3,500 Canadian miners.

Immediately following Thursday's hearing with senators, members of the USW delegation will participate in a virtual media scrum, beginning at 11 a.m. EST . (instructions included below).

Vale workers in Sudbury, Port Colborne, Ont., and Voisey's Bay, NL, have been on strike since July, after the massively profitable company demanded deep concessions in contracts talks.

Thursday's hearing with Brazilian senators was organized after senators publicly rebuked Brazil-based Vale for its treatment of Canadian workers and voiced support for the strikers.

"We are honoured to be invited by Brazil's senators to discuss our struggle against Vale," said Ken Neumann , USW Canadian National Director.

"The support of Brazilian politicians underscores the fact that our strike represents a battle for rights and living standards for working people in all countries where Vale operates," Neumann said.

The Canadian delegation includes Darren Cove , USW Local 9508 President in Voisey's Bay, Rick Bertrand , USW Local 6500 Vice-President in Sudbury, and France Gelinas , New Democratic Party MPP from the Sudbury area.

Journalists can participate in Thursday's scrum toll-free. They need to contact USW for number and entry codes.

For further information: CANADA: Bob Gallagher, [phone], [phone], [email protected]; U.S.A.: Doug Niehouse, [phone], [email protected]; BRAZIL: Carolyn Kazdin, 011- 55-11- 3032- 2480, [email protected]