Upheaval over the meaning of a picket-free zone near Hudbay is the latest development in the nearly three-month partial strike at the company.
IAM Local 1848 says its members have been told they will be prosecuted for trespassing if they cross an orange line painted on Hart Avenue, near the Whitney Forum, and thus enter company property.
This came after the union said its members held a protest line along the north side of Hart Avenue in order to disseminate information to Hudbay employees on their way to work.
On its website Tuesday, IAM said it received no answer from Hudbay as to whether members are allowed to cross the line if they are taking their children to events at the Whitney Forum.
“If you look anywhere around the mine they have signs stating DANGER… MINING COMPLEX… NO TRESPASSING,” the web post read, “so has the entire community been trespassing on Hudbay’s property every time they go to the Whitney Forum?”
Rob Winton, vice-president, Manitoba Business Unit for Hudbay, said the company does not “intend to legitimize whatever thoughts and opinions the IAM chooses to post on their website.
“The facts are that Hudbay will continue to allow access for legal activity, and we have not changed the traffic or access patterns to the Whitney Forum or any public space.”
