IOC union boss tempers comments on Labrador West suicides

The head of the union representing employees at the Iron Ore Company of Canada tempered his previous comments that the work environment at the site "definitely contributed" to five suicides in eight months in Labrador West Friday, but is hopeful that changes will be made at the mine.

• Labrador West work environment 'definitely contributed' to suicides, says union boss
• IOC connected to recent Labrador West suicides: health minister

Ron Thomas, union local president with the United Steelworkers, said he often gets reports from workers of very stressful working conditions, and that stress could have played a role recent deaths.

"There is a lot of stress on site, I don't know if that was the main reason or not … I knew every one of them quite well, and they were all good people, and we did not expect this, I can guarantee you that," he said.  

"Out of the five of them, three of them were current workers. Right now, we've had a sour relationship with the company, but we're optimistic that change is coming." 

Over 3,000 grievances

Thomas is hopeful grievances between workers and IOC can be addressed and an employee assistance program reinstated.

"We have well over 3,000 grievances referred to arbitration, and that's the only repercussion that our members have when they feel that they've been wronged by the company."

He said that arbitration cases can take months or even longer to settle.

"We have one member that's been discharged since August, and right now, his case might get set up sometime in April," said Thomas.

"That's almost a year, and by the time you get an answer back the financial hardship and everything like that is extremely hard."

New CEO, new hope

He said that since a new CEO has stepped in at IOC in November, Thomas is willing to work with the company to improve the situation.

"There's been a lot of discipline, and that needs to change as well, so the only thing we can do right now is hope that change is coming. With the new CEO, he's saying that he wants to make change and we're going to embrace it." 

Health Minister John Haggie acknowledged a connection between IOC and the increase in suicides in November and pledged more mental health resources for the affected communities.

Thomas said he will meet with the minister on Thursday, Dec. 8 to discuss those resources.

"We're hoping we can get a psychiatrist back here for Labrador alone or even for the area just to help out what's happening around here," said Thomas.