Hudbay machinists returned to 12-hour shifts over the weekend after making progress with the company on outstanding concerns.
Members of the machinists’ union, IAM Local 1848, had spent a week on eight-hour shifts in hopes of gaining leverage with their employer.
In a notice to members, IAM reported that its executive and Hudbay met with a federal mediator last week to deal with over 100 union grievances.
“As a result of the progress made in resolving these disputes[,] the union has advised the company to reinstate all extended shift agreements,” read the notice, signed by the IAM bargaining committee.
Extended shifts were back in effect as of this past Sunday, Sept. 14.
No impact
Rob Winton, head of Hudbay’s Manitoba operations, said the week of eight-hour shifts did not impact company operations – “it only increased the work for our support staff.”
Winton called last week’s discussions between IAM and Hudbay “positive,” adding that they “addressed a few outstanding items.”
Some Hudbay employees worried how the shorter shifts would impact operations in Snow Lake, which are heavily dependent on commuting workers accustomed to a “days in, days out” schedule.
But Scott Brubacher, director of corporate communications for Hudbay, said shift schedules were devised to “ensure safe and steady operation of our operating areas.”
IAM had initially planned to revert to eight-hour shifts on June 1 but delayed the move until Sept. 7 so members could maintain their usual schedule throughout summer.
IAM was the only union at the company to shorten its members’ shifts. It has roughly 180 members at Hudbay operations in Flin Flon and Snow Lake.
