Nearly a dozen replacement workers have effectively arrived at Hudbay, argues IAM Local 1848, but the company says the contractors are part of its business.
Blair Sapergia, vice-president of the striking IAM, said the union believes workers filling existing contract positions related to IAM duties count as replacement workers.
Appearing before Creighton town council on Wednesday, Sapergia said there were 10 replacement workers in Flin Flon and Snow Lake. The next day, he said the number was up to 11.
“Some of those people were already working at Hudbay,” Sapergia told council. “Some of them said, ‘No, I’m not crossing the picket line’ and left and [the contracting companies] sent different ones in. So…the companies were still under contract for those positions, but they sent somebody else to fill them.”
Sapergia said the matter is complex because some of the contractors in question perform audits on equipment that IAM agrees are important.
But he said the union has a problem with contractors who do things beyond audits, such as fixing or working on equipment, or changing out hammers and drills.
Listing three contracting companies in particular, Sapergia said its workers “are just there doing our work.”
Rob Winton, head of Hudbay’s Manitoba division, said legislation and all of the company’s collective agreements allow for contract services in specific circumstances.
“Contractors are part of our business and part of our communities,” Winton said. “Contractors do not prevent Hudbay from hiring and training employees. Since the start of 2015 we have hired 100-plus new full-time employees and currently have 60 employees in our apprenticeship programs.
“The [IAM] executive chose to let their current collective agreement expire, chose not to have a vote on the company’s final offer of settlement and chose to go on strike. These were their decisions and we must respect these and move on. We have a business to run and another 1,200 employees to keep working. This is our focus right now and we will continue to do so safely, and productively.”
Sapergia said the union plans to challenge the use of the 11 workers, but he admitted it’s a “crapshoot” that won’t be quick and will go to the labour board.
He said it’s possible the number of what IAM calls replacement workers will grow.
Position
Sapergia appeared before town council to ask for a definitive position on replacement workers.
Deputy Mayor Shirley Owen read a statement from the absent Mayor Bruce Fidler explaining that council takes no stand on replacement workers.
But Ald. Don Aasen shared a personal view that questioned the value of replacement workers.
“As a citizen of the town and a citizen of this region, I understand that IAM is in a legal strike position and of course your wish is the same [as] the whole wishes of the town [and that’s to] come up with a collective bargaining agreement that is suitable and works for both the employees and the company,” Aasen said. “Now with having said that, the idea of bringing replacement workers in – now I understand these [workers mentioned by Sapergia had] already been in position prior to the strike and they’ve been contractors – but as far as replacement workers, I don’t see how that is going to benefit getting a successful collective agreement, having replacement workers.”
Sapergia called that “a pretty strong statement” that “doesn’t really go with Mayor Fidler’s.”
Ald. Darren Grant told Sapergia that replacement workers wouldn’t “help the community, like you say, [as] the money doesn’t stay in town and help the businesses and everything like that.”
Owen added that how council members feel personally on the subject “is probably different as a municipal council.”
Fidler’s statement, as presented by Owen, expanded on comments the mayor made when IAM previously asked council for a position on replacement workers.
“We are very aware of the seriousness of the labour dispute between Hudbay and the IAM union workers,” read the statement. “As a community, we hope that the situation can be resolved as soon as possible and to the satisfaction of both parties. With the issue of replacement workers, as a municipal council we cannot and do not have a stand on this issue. Our focus and duty as this council is with the continued operation of our town and services. And once again we hope that this situation can be resolved as soon as possible.”
