Windsor Salt says negotiations have 'collapsed.' Union says there's 'unresolved issues'
A rally is planned for Windsor Salt workers on Thursday afternoon
The union representing striking Windsor Salt workers is condemning the company for "bargaining in public" following a company statement saying negotiations had broken down earlier this week.
After more than 130 days on strike, the company said Tuesday that Unifor Local 1959 had "collapsed" negotiations earlier this week.
"This past weekend, through intensive discussions, the Union and Windsor Salt appeared to have reached an agreement on nearly all outstanding proposals," the company's statement reads, saying the company offered "significant" pay increases.
"On Monday afternoon, abruptly and surprisingly, Unifor Local 1959 reversed course and reneged on its agreement to certain critical issues. As a result of these regressive events, negotiations have again stalled."
Representatives from Unifor Local 1959 did not return a request for comment Wednesday afternoon.
But Unifor Local 240, the other union representing Windsor Salt workers, said on social media the bargaining committee met with Unifor National president Lana Payne Wednesday.
In a statement, the union said it was disappointed the company had resorted to "bargaining in public."
"Windsor Salt has yet again made it more difficult to reach an agreement to end the 132-day strike with these kinds of actions," Payne said in a statement.
"The company clearly knows there are unresolved issues at table. They should work with us to resolve those issues instead of engaging in these tactics."
A rally in support of Windsor Salt workers is taking place at the green space near Windsor City Hall on Thursday beginning at noon. Payne and Unifor National secretary Len Poirier, are expected to be among the speakers.
Workers have been on strike since Feb. 17. While it's not the longest strike in the mine's history — a strike in the 1990s went on for about six months, one worker estimated — it has surpassed other lengthy strikes, including the 2009 CUPE strike involving City of Windsor workers.
The company and the union have been bargaining virtually, union president Jodi Nesbitt said last month, after an alleged assault of a worker at the Ojibway mine in April.