Ten months into a strike against Vale-Inco, Steelworkers in Labrador have received a $25,000 boost from their sister union, the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
“Delegates to our convention this week in Corner Brook dug deep into their pockets and their locals pledged $12,855 for the strikers as a show of solidarity and support for this difficult labour dispute,” said CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador President Wayne Lucas.
CUPE National President Paul Moist told the crowd that the funds raised would be doubled by CUPE National.
“There was a great show of solidarity today in Newfoundland,” said Moist. “We raised over $25,000 for the strikers, plus we adopted a unanimous resolution calling on the provincial government to bring in anti-scab legislation.”
Delegates listened to a presentation by Morgan Michelin, vice-president of United Steelworkers Local 9508 at Voisey’s Bay, who talked about the hardship this lengthy and bitter strike has caused the more than 200 strikers and their families.The strike commenced August 1, 2009.
“Vale-Inco should be ashamed of themselves for the way they have treated these workers and two other groups on strike in Ontario. They appear to have no respect for Canadian labour laws and seem intent on driving down Canadian wages and working conditions,” said Lucas.
“We need to be asking ourselves as Newfoundlanders and Labradorians if these are the kinds of companies we want coming into our province and exploiting our resources on the backs of workers. The Vale-Incos of the world seem more than happy to be leading the race to the bottom,” said Lucas.
