IAM Local 1848 is challenging a court injunction filed by Hudbay, claiming the company is also violating a picket protocol agreement the two sides signed in May.
Blair Sapergia, vice-president of the striking union, said IAM has filed 18 formal complaints against the company for protocol violations.
He said the union has also responded to 33 allegations of protocol breaches on its part by referencing that Hudbay has used more than six entrance gates in Flin Flon, the limit permitted under the agreement.
“They aren’t honouring the picket line protocol agreement, either, and that’s why it’s not being followed by us,” Sapergia said Saturday.
“I’m quite surprised that they speak to the fact that we’re not honouring [the agreement], that we signed it in good faith and now we’re not honouring it, when they too signed it in good faith. And the whole issue centered around the fact that they’re leaving more than six gates open.”
Sapergia said IAM is in the process of challenging a court injunction sought by Hudbay that would compel the union to follow the protocol agreement.
“We’re looking at it and deciding what way we’re going,” he said, adding that the union hoped to have the court location changed from Winnipeg to Flin Flon.
Hudbay announced Friday afternoon it was seeking the injunction in the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench.
Rob Winton, head of Hudbay’s Manitoba operations, said picketers have breached the terms of the protocol at least three dozen times. He gave examples such as delaying vehicles for more than the five-minute limit, the use of homophobic slurs and profanity, telling contractors they know where they live, and throwing rocks.
Sapergia said some derogatory statements have been made in the heat of the moment.
“We have spoken to each and every one of our guys that has been involved in any of those discussions,” he said. “Most of that stuff was early on in this game when everybody was learning, and there’s not nearly so many anymore."
As for the rock-throwing allegation, Sapergia said the police investigated the matter and determined it was hearsay. It was never proven and no video exists of the alleged incident, he said.
As for evidence of Hudbay using more than six entrance gates, Sapergia said there is video available.
Earlier this week, IAM directed the public to a YouTube video titled “Hudbay smuggling in replacement workers.” The video depicts several men boarding white security trucks on bumpy, grassy land that appears to be near 777 mine.
As of Saturday afternoon, the video, which lasts three minutes and two seconds, had more than 4,400 views. A user calling himself or herself “Flin Flon” posted the clip.
In addition to entrance-gate violations, Sapergia said IAM has complaints about abusive language from some guards working for Hudbay, and of aggression from motorists who weren’t respecting a picket line.
The Reminder will have more on this story in our print edition this Wednesday, August 19.
