KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – The United Steelworkers (USW) today denounced a prolonged anti-union campaign by Kirkland Lake Gold that thwarted workers’ attempts to join the union.
“KL Gold workers had been organizing to create a union for three years because they realized they needed a real, collective voice to secure better working conditions, safety and fairness on the job,” said USW Ontario Director Marty Warren.
“During this time, the union had to deal with reports that workers saw their union-supporting colleagues targeted with harassment, discipline, even dismissals. They saw police called to their workplace to try to prevent union organizing activities,” Warren said.
“In our view, the company repeatedly dragged out the process with unreasonable tactics which caused delay and frustration of the democratic rights of workers to choose a union. The cumulative effect of these tactics over such a prolonged period had an impact on the outcome of the process,” he said.
“Unfortunately, labour laws in Ontario and the enforcement of those laws are inadequate to prevent employers from interfering in the fundamental rights of workers to organize a union and benefit from collective bargaining,” Warren added.
“The United Steelworkers will continue to advocate for greater rights and protections for all workers, including KL Gold miners who work in dangerous jobs and who are at their employer’s mercy when it comes to health and safety, working conditions, discipline – even their wages and bonuses,” he said.
Marty Warren, USW Ontario Director, 416-243-8792, mwarren@usw.ca
Denis St. Pierre, USW Communications, 416-544-5990, 647-522-1630, dstpierre@usw.ca
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