Diamonds can be your best friend …but not when they’re dirty!
Published by Patrick May 8th, 2006 in National Issues Tags: action, ekati, northwest-territories, strike.
Diamonds produced in the North West Territories at the BHP Billiton Ekati Diamond Mine are “dirtyâ€. BHP Billiton has been promoting its signature “Aurias†diamond as “conflict free†rather than “blood diamonds†produced in war-torn countries like Sierra Leone and the Congo. But Ekati is now the site of a major labour conflict.
Why should this concern you?
As one of the largest multi-national corporations doing business in Canada, BHP has chosen to force its employees into a strike by failing to negotiate a fair and reasonable first collective agreement.
Canadians appreciate employers who respect our tradition of bargaining in good faith…especially when the employer’s profits were $7.5 billion in 2005!
Diamonds are strong symbols of beauty and prestige. Their extraction is anything but. The open-pit mines, the extraction process, and the daily operations of the mine can wreak havoc on the environment. Workers who produce the diamonds work 12 or more hour shifts for 2 weeks straight under 24 hour surveillance. Environmental assessments were undertaken before the mine was allowed to operate. No such assessment is undertaken to determine how a mining company will treat its employees.
Wealth generation from natural resources shouldn’t be limited to shareholders
The lucrative diamond mining industry, of which Ekati produces 6% of the world’s supply, is one where workers deserve a fair share. Exploitation of diamond workers in developing countries is real. Workers at Ekati have said “no†to this exploitation. Workers and the communities where they live should benefit in real ways from the diamond mining industry.
Getting back to the bargaining table
PSAC members are eager to get back to work and to resume their normal working lives. The employer’s offensive wage increase offer of 1% (plus selective/subjective bonuses!), its refusal to move on an extension of vacation time beyond 2 weeks regardless of length of service, and its refusal to negotiate job seniority left PSAC members with little option but to strike.
We strongly believe that public support is be necessary to get both parties back to the bargaining table.
We love our Canadian diamonds, so what should we do?
Take action!
- Get informed. Visit www.unwtoday.ca and www.psacnorth.com to find out more.
- Contact BHP Billiton and encourage them to end the labour dispute. Demand that they uphold Canada’s tradition of negotiating fair first collective agreements.
- EKATI Diamond Mine - Phone: 1-867-880-2200 Fax: 1-867-880-4602
- BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. - # 1102, 4920-52nd Street,Yellowknife, NT, X1A 3T1 Phone: 1-867-669-6100 Fax: 1-867-669-9293
Join us in standing up for these workers’ right to fair and reasonable treatment!