Canada: Glencore workers strike
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- Parent Category: Worldwide struggles
- Created: Tuesday, 07 June 2022 10:05
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In Canada, 630 members of the Syndicat des Métallos/United Steelworkers union are on strike at the Raglan mine. The mine is owned by one of the largest international mining groups, the Swiss company Glencore. Union members are demanding real respect from Glencore. At the nickel mining operation in Nunavik, miners often work 21 consecutive days in eleven-hour shifts.
"Glencore has pushed the boundaries further and further. It even refuses to give workers who work 11-hour days for 21 consecutive days a proper lunch break. Living conditions in the mining camp have deteriorated over the years. The employer does not care at all about the living and working conditions of the workers, who are separated from their families for a long time. It is time for this company to show more respect for the workers who generate tens of millions of dollars in profits every year," reports Eric Savard, President of Steelworkers Local 9449 . Another issue for the striking miners is the increasing use of subcontractors working in substandard conditions at the Raglan mine. "It has gotten to the point where there are often many more subcontractors than unionized workers at the mine. ... while this multinational corporation is making huge profits by exploiting our natural resources," reports Eric Savard. Furthermore, the miners want to negotiate vacations, working conditions and wages with Glencore. The union members decided last week with an overwhelming majority of 97.5 percent to go on strike.