Workers At Uranium Mines Prepared To Strike

Workers At Uranium Mines Prepared To Strike

Tuesday, October 05, 2010 at 15:13

 

 

A labour showdown is brewing between the United Steelworkers union and Cameco.

 

Ninety-seven per cent of union members recently voted in favour of strike action at the Key Lake and McArthur River mines to help spur negotiations toward a new contact.

 

Union spokesman Randy Gatzka says the move was made after four attempts at conciliation between the workers and Cameco failed to produce an agreement.

 

Gatzka notes 84 per cent of union members at the two mines voted against the company’s latest offer in mid-September.

 

He says the key issues in the dispute revolve around retirement benefits — specifically, young workers want to be able to retire by age 55.

 

Cameco says it is hopeful of resolving the impasse.

 

Company spokesman Rob Gereghty says, at the same time, Cameco officials are disappointed by the union’s decision to hold a strike vote.

 

Gereghty is declining to get into the specifics of the negotiations themselves.

 

The union will be in a legal strike position on October 22nd.