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Sudbury - Local 6500 Chief Teller, Lyle Young, today announced the results of the Local 6500 ratification vote. Total ballots cast 2,600 and, of that, eighty-five per cent voted to reject Vale Inco's final offer. Local 6500 will now be in a legal strike position on Sunday, July 12 at midnight.
Local 6500 President, John Fera, said he is extremely pleased for the overwhelming support for the Union's Bargaining Committee and, at the same time, is very disappointed that our members were forced to take this action.
International Steelworkers President, Leo Gerard commented, "This is a fight about the dignity of workers and about the dignity of our community and I can assure all of our members that the International Executive of the Steelworkers is unanimously in support of your decision."
"We have spoken to all the unions that work in the global operations of Vale and we have their unanimous support as well," said Gerard. "This is a global fight and we are a global union and we will use our global power to fight these concessions."
Gerard also wanted to let the members know that he will be visiting picket lines on Friday, July 17.
Wayne Fraser, director of District 6 of the Steelworkers congratulated the members of Local 6500 on their resolve to get a fair contract. "We knew that when our Conservative Federal government began giving away our natural resources to foreign-owned companies that our struggle for decent contracts would increase. Our members have negotiated forward-looking and long-term contracts that have been positive for our members, the community, and the company. It's just wrong that Vale is now trying to eliminate all that."
Fraser urges Vale Inco to get back to the bargaining table to negotiate a Canadian solution.
For more information, go to www. local6500usw.ca or a new website being launched in coordination with the strike at midnight on July 12, 2009, www.FAIRdealNOW.ca
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Contact Wayne Fraser at 1-(416) 577-4045
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VALE INCO
