Mar 26, 2021   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Sudbury Steelworkers Laud New Investments, Seek a New Deal from Vale in Bargaining

Sudbury Steelworkers are looking to Vale to “walk the talk” at the bargaining table.

“Steelworkers are pleased to hear Vale’s positive tone and praise of its employees during its Chamber of Commerce presentation on March 23. This is great news for the region of Sudbury,” said Nick Larochelle, President of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 6500.

Vale’s North American chief operating officer Dino Otranto said he wants to ‘shed the know-it-all attitude and start engaging, listening, and caring for its employees,’ during the Chamber of Commerce presentation.

Otranto also commented extensively on how the outlook for nickel prices is positive, with increased demand worldwide for the metal’s use in electric vehicle batteries.

“We welcome seeing Vale’s positivity and we look forward to this openness being carried through to the bargaining table,” said Larochelle.

USW Local 6500, representing over 2,500 production and maintenance workers in mining, milling, smelting and refining at Vale’s Sudbury operations, will be bargaining for a new collective agreement. The unprecedented one-year agreement is set to expire May 31, 2021.

“Our members are working hard and have a solid track record in safety and productivity. Injury frequency in Sudbury was reduced significantly last year, in some places by up to 70%,” said Larochelle.

USW Local 6500 welcomes Vale’s Copper Cliff South Mine expansion and looks forward to continuing to contribute the skills of its members long into the future. The union will continue working with Vale to unlock the region’s undeveloped rich ore reserves including Victor mine.

“When the company says: ‘Let’s start the dialogue,’ workers hear that, too. We are seeking a new deal that recognizes the long, rich and proud history of the Steelworkers as partners in Vale’s success – now and into the future,” said Larochelle.