Hudbay has confirmed it will maintain operations in Flin Flon and Snow Lake as nearly 200 tradespeople prepare to walk off the job on Saturday.
IAM Local 1848, which represents mainly mechanics, machinists and pipefitters, served Hudbay with a strike notice Wednesday morning.
“[Hudbay] left us with only one option, taking strike action with the direction our membership has indicated,” the union said on its website.
IAM had expected the strike would temporarily close Hudbay’s Flin Flon and Snow Lake operations, but the company said that’s not the case.
Rob Winton, vice-president, Manitoba Business Unit for Hudbay, said the company’s contingency plans are ready and will be enacted once IAM members walk off the job.
To shut down operations, Winton said, “would be irresponsible and against the interests of the company, the employees, the towns and even the striking employees.”
Winton said no further talks are scheduled with IAM.
IAM has information meetings with members scheduled for Thursday in Flin Flon and Friday in Snow Lake.
IAM members are scheduled to begin striking at 11:59 am on Saturday.
See The Reminder’s print edition on Friday for much more on this story.
