WILLIAMS LAKE — Unifor Local 3018 will begin legal strike action against Taseko at its Gibraltar Mine if a settlement cannot be reached before Friday, May 31 at midnight.
“With the rising cost of living it’s crucial that our members at Gibraltar receive fair wages, strong safety protocols, and equitable treatment on the job,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne, in a news release.
Taseko owns and operates the Gibraltar copper-molybdenum mine. It is the second largest open-pit copper mine in Canada and the largest employer in the Cariboo region. The current collective agreement expires on May 31.
Unifor’s negotiators say that, despite several weeks of meetings, the company has failed to make meaningful proposals at the bargaining table.
“Unifor has negotiated in good faith to avoid work stoppage at Taseko’s only functioning copper mine,” said Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle. “We need Taseko to get serious about resolving basic issues if we’re to avoid job action.”
Members of Local 3018 have voted 98 per cent in favour of a strike if a contract could not be achieved before the deadline. Unifor represents 550 workers at the copper mine north of Williams Lake in British Columbia.