Manitoba Hudbay workers go on strike in Flin Flon and Snow Lake – by Staff (Canadian Press/Global News – May 4, 2015)

http://globalnews.ca/

FLIN FLON, Man. — Hudbay workers in Flin Flon and Snow Lake, Man., went on strike Saturday.

The union representing the workers announced Friday negotiations with the mining company had failed and they would go on strike Saturday at noon.

Hudbay Minerals Inc. (TSX:HBM) confirmed in a news release that 180 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local No. 1848 began a strike at noon Saturday.

The striking workers represent about 12 per cent of Hudbay’s 1,460 person workforce in Manitoba, the company said.

The union has said members want changes in wages and pensions. It said 96 per cent of its members voted against an offer from the company last month. Hudbay said it has a contingency plan in place and expects its operations to continue.

“Hudbay sought a mutually negotiated agreement over several months and does not believe the strike action is necessary,” the company said in the release.

The union said on its website last month that one of its main objectives was to reduce the gap between apprentice and certified trade wage rates. It said it also wanted issues such as grievance procedures and contracting out addressed.

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