Vale strike in Labrador hits one-year mark

Striking miners in Labrador marked a full year on the picket line Sunday, as a long-running strike at Voisey's Bay showed no sign of ending soon.

"For most people, you know, it's just disbelief," union member Byron Rumbolt said of the 200 workers who have been on strike at Vale's nickel mine on Labrador's northern coast.

"We've been out on the picket line for a year and there's nothing resolved. I guess [there is] concern that maybe this strike is going to go on for another year if is keeps up this way."

Striking workers held a rally in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, in central Labrador, to mark the strike anniversary.

Vale, which until recently was known as Vale Inco., settled another — but separate — long-running strike in Sudbury and Port Colbourne, Ont., last month, with 3,000 workers now returned to work.

However, the Brazilian-based company and the United Steelworkers broke off talks aimed at resolving the strike at Voisey's Bay more than a week ago. They've been verbally sparring since.

Bob Carter, Vale's manager of corporate affairs in Newfoundland and Labrador, said the union's demands, even at the most recent talks, have been excessive.

"We were quite taken aback by it," Carter told CBC News late last week. It contained monetary demands that totalled 45 per cent increases in our labour costs."

The union has disputed Vale's claims and has been getting renewed support from other unions.

Lana Payne, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, said Vale has been able to maintain some operations at Voisey's Bay because of replacement workers so doesn't feel much pressure to make a deal.

"We reiterated the need for the provincial government to intervene here and look at sending the matter to binding arbitration and, in addition, implementing anti-scab legislation," Payne said, describing the outcome of an emergency labour meeting held Thursday that focused solely on the strike.