Today United Steelworker (USW) Local Unions that represent workers at five separate Teck Resources smelter and mining operations in BC met together virtually with USW District 3 Director Stephen Hunt to discuss how we build solidarity to support each other and deliver for our members. Together Locals 480 and 9705 at the Trail smelter, Local 7619 at Highland Valley Copper, Local 7884 at Fording River and Local 9346 at Coal Mountain and Elkview, represent approximately 5,000 workers in BC’s mining and industrial sectors.
The union leadership discussed the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, our response-to-date and how we share best practices across our Locals. They also recognized the important and invaluable work of our Health and Safety Committees to ensure appropriate measures are continued to be taken to protect our members’ health. While the Local Unions, all in BC’s Interior, recognized the province’s success at reducing cases in the region, they stressed the importance of employers and workers remaining vigilant about physical distancing as we all learn more about this virus impact and spread.
Local union leaders also discussed the provincial government’s ongoing Health and Safety, Code Review, the risks of self-regulation in autonomous hauling, and how we identify, investigate and limit dangerous occurrences at all of our operations.
Steelworkers also discussed the next bargaining cycle, which begins this fall for members at Local 9346 at Elkview. While the near future of commodity prices is uncertain, Steelworkers know the long-term importance of the resources they mine and refine to BC’s export economy and the value of maintaining good-paying jobs. In the last bargaining cycle, Steelworkers secured gains at each site without a labour disruption.
Locals as well talked about the importance of mining and resource jobs to the province of BC and their members’ families. They committed to working together to support the extension of current mine life and ensure safe, sustainable jobs for the future of their region.
| Chris Walker, President Local 0480 |
Ron McKenzie, President Local 9705 |
Kyle Wolff, President Local 7619 |
| Scott Liddle, President Local 9346 |
Adam Connell, President Local 7884 |
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