The Venezuelan government has taken over the Brisas gold project belonging to Gold Reserve. In light of this action, what is your opinion of political risk in South America?
Go to the CMJ website, www.CanadianMiningJournal.com, and click on the Hot Topic box on the right hand side of the page to vote.
If you have a comment on this topic or a suggestion for a future question, please send it to the Net News editor, Marilyn Scales, MScales@CanadianMiningJournal.com.
Last week: A large number of readers had an opinion on the Ontario Labour Relations Board ruling that gave Vale Inco the okay to use non-striking employers to restart production in Sudbury, ON. When the votes were counted, 44% of the respondents agreed with the ruling, and 56% did not.
Professional geologist Carmen Storey had this to say: "I disagree with this ruling on several grounds. First I will state that I am a union member so if that is deemed to colour my view so be it. The use of replacement workers whether reassigned staff or outside contractors prolongs a strike. It opens the door for picket line confrontation and potential violence. I watched a multi-year strike that lasted so long because of the use of replacement workers.
"On a health and safety note how many of these office workers have actually done the jobs of the striking workers? Even if they have migrated from the mine or mill to an office position, are they current with operating and safety procedures? The only thing supervisors and non-union workers should be doing during a strike is ensuring that the facilities are secure and will be in an operable condition when the strike is settled. There should be no production," Storey concluded.
Comments