Membership Meetings and Ratification Votes Scheduled, Following Agreement on
Terms of Bad Faith Bargaining Complaint

TORONTO, July 4 /CNW/ - The United Steelworkers union is pleased to announce it has come to an agreement with Vale on the terms of a bad faith bargaining complaint to be heard by the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

The agreement removes the remaining obstacle in the long struggle with Vale and enables the union to hold membership meetings and ratification votes on tentative settlements. The meetings are scheduled for July 7 and 8 in Sudbury and July 8 in Port Colborne, with locations and times to be announced as soon as venues are finalized.

According to a Letter of Agreement signed today and to be approved by the Vice-Chair of the OLRB panel hearing this matter, the issue of the procedure for the reinstatement to employment of nine discharged striking employees will be heard by the OLRB beginning July 9, 2010.

The USW is confident the OLRB will agree that leaving the issue of possible reinstatement of the discharged employees at an impasse and refusing to agree to arbitrate this issue amounts to a violation of the duty to bargain under the Labour Relations Act and is not lawful. Any other result fundamentally undermines freedom of association and the right to strike and destabilizes the sensitive balance required for effective labour relations and collective bargaining in Ontario.

The USW expresses its appreciation to Labour Minister Peter Fonseca, Deputy Minister Cynthia Morton and ministry Conciliation and Mediation Director Reg Pearson. The USW also thanks mediator Kevin Burkett for his tireless efforts that made it possible for tentative settlements to be considered by USW members.

For further information: Wayne Fraser, USW District 6 Director, 416-577-4045; John Fera, Local 6500 President: 705-561-3093; Wayne Rae, Local 6200 President: 905-941-6200