Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Public Service Alliance of Canada and BHP Billiton to resume negotiations for first contract at strike-bound Ekati diamond mine May 25-26 in Edmonton; PSAC picket lines will stay up until ratified agreement reached

YELLOWKNIFE, May 23 /CNW/ - The Public Service Alliance of Canada, the union representing striking Ekati diamond mine workers, and mine owner BHP Billiton have agreed to resume negotiations for a first collective agreement, with talks scheduled for May 25-26 in Edmonton.

The strike by nearly 400 Ekati workers began April 7 and outstanding issues include wages, vacation time, job security and seniority, said Jean-François Des Lauriers, PSAC Executive Vice-President-North.

“We are pleased at the opportunity to resume talks to end this strike and put in place the first union contract at Canada’s first diamond mine,” Des Lauriers said. “Our negotiating team will be pressing BHP Billiton to meet the needs of our members at Ekati and those members will be the ones who make the decision.”

Todd Parsons, President of the Union of Northern Workers component of PSAC, which represents Diamond Workers UNW Local X3050, said the strike will continue until such time as an agreement is ratified by the members.

“Ekati diamond mine workers joined our union and went on strike to improve their wages and working conditions through a collective agreement and we will stay on strike until a contract is reached and the members ratify it,” Parson said.

Ekati produces 6 per cent of the world’s diamond supply by value or 4 per cent by weight and yields 3 to 5 million carats annually. It is located 300 km northeast of Yellowknife and 200 km south of the Arctic Circle.