This year’s partial strike revealed more economical ways for Hudbay to operate in Flin Flon and Snow Lake, says the head of the company’s Manitoba division.
“One of my key mandates when taking this job was efficiency improvements in every aspect of our business,” Rob Winton, vice-president, Manitoba Business Unit, told The Reminder in an email interview this week. “Safety, cost and operational continual improvement is how Manitoba will be successful. During the work stoppage many long-standing operational and maintenance practices were challenged, which highlighted efficiencies in all of our departments. As an organization we must address opportunities that improve our business results to ensure we can survive tough times and can excel during prosperous times in the market.”
Winton said Hudbay remains on track to reach production guidance targets in 2015.
“This will require solid performance from all of our mines, and they are on target,” he added.
IAM Local 1848, which represents machinists, mechanics and pipefitters, among other workers, was on strike for nearly four months from May 2 to Aug. 28. Members started to return to work on Sept. 8.
Representing about 12 per cent of Hudbay’s Flin Flon-Snow Lake workforce, IAM was the only union to reject the company’s initial offer as presented at the bargaining table.
IAM rejected a second offer in June before agreeing to go back to work by a margin of 71 per cent. As Ian Morland, a representative with IAM’s national office, put it, that offer required “five long days of intense bargaining” to secure.
Meanwhile, some residents have been wondering about ground vibrations occurring at times outside of Hudbay’s usual blasting schedule.
Winton said Hudbay’s blasting schedule has not changed and that the vibrations are likely related to ongoing provincial work to revamp Highway 10.
