The tactics were evolving but as the partial strike at Hudbay entered its fourth day Tuesday morning, the goals on both sides remained the same.
For the 180 striking tradespeople, with their picket points in Flin Flon and Snow Lake, the aim was to compel Hudbay into presenting a more generous offer.
For Hudbay, the objective was to keep the mines and plants running at capacity, relying on the 1,280 employees still required to show up for work.
But the big question everyone had was this: Just how long will this strike last?
“Until Hudbay comes to their senses and realizes that we’ve got to be treated with dignity and respect, and quit steamrolling us and pay us what we’re worth,” answered Rene Beauchamp, president of the striking union, IAM Local 1848.
Speaking on Monday afternoon, Beauchamp said there was zero to report in terms of bargaining updates.
“There’s no calls, no nothing – nothing whatsoever,” Beauchamp said.
Final offer
Rob Winton, head of Hudbay’s Manitoba operations, said the company gave IAM a final offer last Thursday morning, April 30, after the union gave notice of strike action.
“We are proud of our final offer and think it is significantly more generous than recent settlements in the hard-rock mining industry,” Winton said. “We presented this final offer of settlement in a formal negotiation meeting that was called by the conciliation officer and are disappointed that the IAM executive did not afford its members the courtesy of voting on the offer.”
Winton said the offer included a 10.9 per cent wage increase, a 10 per cent increase in pensions, two extra pay increments for apprentices and a return to status quo on contract language involving the health plan.
Asked where IAM and Hudbay remain furthest apart, Beauchamp replied, “All our issues.”
“Contracting out, grievances, wages, pension – everything,” added Beauchamp. “I mean, they might as well have thrown this contract in front of us in September and said, ‘Final offer.’”
The strike began at noon last Saturday, May 2, with Beauchamp calling for the attention of dozens of company employees and supporters gathered near the Hudbay staffhouse.
“I’d like to declare IAM 1848 on legal strike,” Beauchamp announced to a round of applause.
Moments later, a Hudbay security worker briefly entered the crowd to present information to Beauchamp.
As a union supporter recorded the encounter with a cell phone camera, Beauchamp was heard demanding the security worker get a camera out of his face.
Nearby, IAM set up a row of picnic tables and a large camper. An open-to-the-public barbecue accompanied the strike launch, attracting guests such as Flin Flon MLA Clarence Pettersen and Tom Davie, head of United Steelworkers Local 7106, Hudbay’s largest union.
Around-the-clock picket lines also formed along the Perimeter Highway turnoff onto Hudbay property as well as near Lalor mine outside Snow Lake. The union was taking a day-to-day approach toward picketing at Reed mine, located between Snow Lake and Flin Flon.
Long lineups
Monday and Tuesday morning in Flin Flon brought long lineups of vehicles stretching from the established entry point near the Hudbay main gate.
Motorists were backed up far down the Perimeter Highway as picketers delayed each vehicle’s entry onto company property. Some drivers, employees and contractors among them, reported waiting more than four or five hours in line.
Drivers not entering Hudbay property were allowed to proceed uninterrupted.
“For the most part most people are supportive but we have a few in there that just don’t understand and we’re trying to educate them,” Beauchamp said of the reaction from employees driving to work.
Beauchamp said this tactic would continue.
“We’re going to keep educating the workers as they come into the plant,” said Beauchamp.
While IAM initially presumed Hudbay had hired replacement workers in Snow Lake and possibly Flin Flon, Beauchamp and other sources said Monday afternoon there were no signs of any.
“It was all just rumours but we’ve got our eyes open, that’s for sure,” said Beauchamp.
Workers told The Reminder that Hudbay was relying on staffers to keep operations alive in IAM’s absence, but Beauchamp doubted that could go on for long.
“I’m hearing the plant is exploding from the inside out,” Beauchamp said.
Contingency plan
But Winton gave no indication of such catastrophe.
“Our contingency plan has been triggered into action and is focused on the safe operation of our business and the protection of our assets,” Winton said Monday afternoon. “Over the next few days, we will be tweaking our contingency protocols and modifying our procedures as necessary. We thank our employees for the patience that they have shown while crossing the picket line and the extra efforts that they are making to keep the plants and mines operating at full capacity.”
Earlier, in a news release, Hudbay reiterated that a “comprehensive contingency plan” had been established with the company anticipating operations to continue and production targets to be met.
“The striking workers represent about 12 per cent of Hudbay’s 1,460-person Manitoba workforce,” the company said.
Added the release: “Hudbay sought a mutually negotiated agreement over several months and does not believe the strike action is necessary. Hudbay remains committed to the bargaining process and hopes the union leadership will engage in good faith negotiations.”
Prior to the strike, announced 72 hours before it began as per law, Hudbay set up concrete vehicle barricades around its Flin Flon operations. Security guards from a private firm were seen maintaining a watchful eye over entry points.
Line formed
In Snow Lake, Reminder contributor Marc Jackson said picketers formed a line on Highway 395 at the Anderson Lake corner, where vehicles gain access to the Lalor mine.
“They are holding everyone coming and going for five minutes before letting them proceed,” said Jackson.
Jackson visited with the Lalor picketers last Saturday and said they seemed very upbeat. Snow Lake, he said, is sympathetic to IAM.
“The atmosphere in the community is very supportive – like Flin Flon, Snow Lake is a labour town,” Jackson said.
In Flin Flon, picketers said they enjoyed substantial community support as businesses, groups and individuals donated food and refreshments.
“Flin Flon’s been awesome,” Beauchamp said.
This marks the first mine strike in Flin Flon since 1971, and only the third mine strike since the community was established.
None of the other Hudbay unions have held strike votes. Hudbay has expressed optimism that it can reach deals with those unions.
Lines of communication
Northern Manitobans weren’t the only ones keeping an eye on the partial strike at Hudbay.
John Roozendaal, head of Vancouver-based VMS Ventures, which co-owns Hudbay’s Reed mine, told shareholders Monday that VMS is in communication with Hudbay about the situation.
Roozendaal emphasized Hudbay’s intention to maintain operations and production targets.
He also directed shareholders to an interpretation of the dispute by Jackie Prybylowski, who follows Hudbay for Desjardins Capital Markets.
“We expect the strike will be short lived,” wrote Prybylowski. “Hudbay has a long track record of positive relationships with its unions – this is the first strike at the company’s operations since 1971. At this time, we maintain our production and sales estimates [for the company].”
