The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor Hudbay is offering older employees generous buyouts ahead of the closure of Trout Lake Mine in less than three months. In a notice issued to workers last week, the company announced that the fast-depleting mine will effectively close on June 30 after 30 years in operation. 'I would like to thank and congratulate all the employees that were involved in the successful operation of Trout Lake Mine,' wrote Richard Trudeau, manager of Flin Flon and Snow Lake mines. To lessen the impact on its workforce, Hudbay is offering a $25,000 retirement incentive to the more experienced hourly rated employees. To be eligible, a worker must meet certain criteria and belong to either the United Steelworkers Local 7106, International Union of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 1848 (heavy duty and industrial mechanics) or the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1405 (hoistmen). Steelworkers and mechanics must be at least 57 years old and have 30 years of service or at least 60 with 20 years of service. Hoistmen must be at least 57 and have 30 years of service. Unreduced pension The incentive comes with an unreduced pension but will be paid minus statutory reductions at the time of retirement. While Trout Lake is finished as of July 1, age and service eligibility requirements will be determined as of Dec. 31, 2012. Hudbay maintains the right to establish the actual retirement date and retain individual employees required by operations until the end of 2012. Qualified employees have until April 15 to submit an application, at which time they will be provided with information related to their eligibility for pension benefits under the retirement incentive. Employees who apply then have until May 15 to confirm their acceptance. In doing so, they will have a deadline to submit their irrevocable agreement to retire. For all of July, Trout Lake employees will be granted vacation time. Alternate arrangements will be made at 777 Mine for workers who decline this opportunity. Salvage operations and final production clean-up at Trout Lake _ a process expected to last six weeks _ will begin August 1. 'This temporary assignment for Trout employees will be determined by the normal guidelines of the CBA (collective bargaining agreement),' wrote Trudeau. As of last month Trout Lake had 132 Hudbay employees. It employed another three contractors, down drastically from about 36 at the start of 2011. 'Trout Lake Mine will always be a bright spot in our mining history in Flin Flon and an accomplishment we should all be proud of,' wrote Trudeau.
