Williams calls in Vale, union to settle strike

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams called in mining giant Vale and the union representing about 200 striking workers to settle a long-running dispute at the Voisey's Bay nickel mine.

"These talks should lead to an agreement," Williams told reporters late Friday afternoon, after negotiators for Vale and the United Steelworkers union arrived at Confederation Building in St. John's.

The meetings are a last-ditch attempt to end a strike that has lasted almost 15 months.

"But my gut is telling me that based on the behaviour of the parties in the past that it's not likely. But I don't want to go through the day … and find that if we had one more attempt, we could've pulled this off and got it done."

The meeting began precisely at the deadline Williams had set two weeks ago for a resolution to the strike. Williams had promised to impose an industrial inquiry to investigate why workers have been on picket lines since Aug. 1, 2009.

Later, Williams told reporters that both sides had committed to him that they would attempt to find a deal. Before he left the meeting, he suggested both sides would have to "hold their noses to get a deal." Williams said he wanted "to try to be the voice of reason with them" and encourage a negotiated settlement.

If Friday evening's talks collapse, an industrial inquiry will immediately start its work.

Earlier this week, the Newfoundland and Labrador government named three lawyers to that inquiry, which cannot force a settlement to the strike, but which could lead to — among other things — embarrassing revelations about what both sides have brought to the bargaining table.

The inquiry's recommendations might also lead to legislative changes. Vale has accused the USW of wanting an industrial inquiry for that very reason. The union has forcefully complained about Vale's use of replacement workers to keep Voisey's Bay — one of the world's richest nickel discoveries — in production.

Vale and the USW have had little success at the bargaining table. On Wednesday, talks between the two sides lasted only an hour with each accusing the other of being the obstacle to resolving the strike.