Production at
Teck’s Elkview mine outside of Sparwood resumed last Friday, April 8th, after 59 per cent of the United Steelworkers union workforce voted in favour of a settlement between the union and company.
“We’re very happy that people are back to work,” said Marcia Smith, Teck’s Vice President of Corporate Affairs of approximately 70 per cent of the mine’s workforce resuming production. “It’s very good news.”
The settlement was reached during talks between the United Steelworkers Local 9346 union bargaining committee and Teck, officiated by Vince Ready, at the company’s headquarters in Vancouver on Saturday, April 2nd.
The agreement was subject to a ratification vote by union members, which took place from Tuesday, April 5th to Thursday, April 7th.
Information meetings regarding the settlement agreement were held on Tuesday and Wednesday, for union members who had any questions or concerns regarding the agreement, and ballots were counted on Thursday after 4 p.m.
Of the 689 eligible voters, 612 cast their votes, with 359 (58.7%) in favour of settling, 252(41.1%) opposed, and one spoiled.
