STRIKE: Vale Inco to restart production with non-union staff

Sudbury and Port Colbourne facilities using staff employees and some outsourced staff. The company said it began training its staff in production jobs several weeks ago, but it declined to say when production would resume or what the target production rate is. The company has 1,200 staff employees at the two facilities.

The announcement was made by John Pollesel, general manager of Vale Inco's Ontario Operations, on Aug. 25. He noted that the decision was based on a need to supply and keep the company's customers in light of what looks to be a long, drawn-out strike. No negotiations between the company and Steelworkers Local 6500 are underway.

Local MP Claude Gravelle (Nickel Belt) said in a news release, "This is a big mistake by Vale. I worked at Inco for 34 years, and I can tell you that a few days of training for replacement workers is not enough to keep people safe underground."

The company's position on its 2009 labour negotiations are posted at http://ValeIncoNegotiations.com/.