USW District 3 welcomes the BC Federation of Labour’s declaration of a hot edict on mineral products and by-products from Teck’s Highland Valley Copper operation.
This is a powerful show of solidarity with more than 1,200 members of USW Local 7619 who have been on strike since October 24, fighting for fair wages, pensions, adequate staffing and safer working conditions. Teck cannot be allowed to undermine workers’ rights or wait out its workforce while continuing to profit from their labour.
We thank the BCFED and affiliated unions for standing with our members and standing united until a fair agreement is reached.
Read the BCFED’s full release below:
BURNABY, B.C. – The BC Federation of Labour today declared a hot edict on mineral products and by-products from the Highland Valley Copper Operation near Logan Lake. (See declaration below for details.)
The edict is aimed at directing economic pressure on Teck Highland Valley Copper Partnership to reach a fair deal with the more than 1,200 members of United Steelworkers Local 7619 who have been striking since October 24. Issues in the strike include wages, pensions, staffing shortages and worker retention, which have become urgent enough to threaten safety.
“A hot edict is an exceptional step to take. But it’s become clear this employer believes they can wait out their workers and operate around this strike and BC’s anti-scab law,” said BCFED President Sussanne Skidmore. “And it’s up to all of us to show them how wrong they are.”
“Teck Resources is pulling in record profits. Yet they aren’t just failing to pay workers enough to retain them — they’re even asking for concessions,” said USW Western Canada Director Scott Lunny. “No company this profitable should be falling so far short of the wages and pensions they can afford to pay.”
The workers’ unanimous strike vote is a clear indication of their determination, Lunny added.
A hot edict calls on affiliated unions and their members not to handle particular products from an employer until a labour dispute is resolved.
Declaration
The BC Federation of Labour declares HOT all copper concentrate, molybdenum concentrate and other mineral products and by-products produced by, or originating from, Teck Highland Valley Copper Partnership’s Highland Valley Copper operation near Logan Lake, BC, wherever located, including product in storage or in transit.
This declaration is made in support of the lawful strike by United Steelworkers Local 7619 against Teck Highland Valley Copper Partnership, which began on October 24, 2026, to bring economic pressure on the employer to reach a fair collective agreement.
All affiliated unions and their members are asked to refrain from handling, loading, unloading, storing, transporting, shipping, processing or otherwise dealing with HOT product, in accordance with their collective agreements and Federation policy on HOT declarations. Affiliates are asked to identify HOT product by reference to notices from the Federation and not by attending at or marking product at any premises other than the struck operation.
This declaration is effective November 6, 2026 and remains in effect until the strike or any lockout ends and the Federation gives written notice of withdrawal to affiliates
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