Mining Labour Issues and History – Sudbury and Global – Page 19

Closed [Vale shuts down Sudbury’s underground operations after latest fatality]- by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – January 31, 2012)

January 31, 2012

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

Vale Ltd. has temporarily suspended operations at its five Sudbury mines as the company steps back, pauses and focuses on a plan to make its operations safer after an experienced miner was killed Sunday at Coleman Mine.

Kelly Strong, vice-president of mining and milling for Vale, said 1,550 miners are off the job, with pay, while Vale managers meet with the joint health and safety committee to devise an action plan before the mines are reopened.

Until that plan is drafted, Strong couldn’t predict when the mines would reopen. It’s the first time in the 11 years he has been with Vale that it has suspended operations at all mines after a fatality at one of them, he said.

Vale employs 400 production and maintenance workers at its Coleman and Stobie mines, 350 at Creighton Mine, and 200 at each of Garson and Copper Cliff mines.

Steelworker president angry over [Sudbury Vale mining] deaths – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – January 31, 2012)

January 31, 2012

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

The president of the union representing the miner killed Sunday at Coleman Mine was as angry Monday as he was sad that a member of United Steelworkers Local 6500 had been killed on the job.

While his union was expressing its heartfelt condolences to the miner’s family, Rick Bertrand was feeling mixed emotions, as were many of his members. “A big part of it is anger, (I’m) very angry,” Bertrand said Monday at the new Steelworkers’ Hall at 66 Brady St.

“Four fatalities in seven months is unacceptable … this has got to stop,” said Bertrand. Two Local 6500 members, Jason Chenier, 35, and Jordan Fram, 26, were killed June 8 of last year at Stobie Mine.

Another Steelworker, a member of USW Local 6166 in Thompson, Man., died in October, 12 days after he fell down a mine shaft while operating a scoop tram. Greg Leason, 51, had 23 years with Inco and Vale.

Investigators combing mine [Sudbury Vale mining death] – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – January 31, 2012)

January 31, 2012

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

The Ministry of Labour has issued two requirements of Vale Ltd. after the death of a 16-year employee early Sunday afternoon at the 4,215-foot level at Coleman Mine in Levack.

The first requirement is “don’t disturb the scene,” said ministry spokesman Matt Blajer. The ministry has also asked for a number of documents, such as training records and equipment information. Two ministry inspectors responded Sunday after the fatality was reported. Monday, they called in a ministry ground control engineer to help.

Blajer said the ministry was told the miner was “loading the face of the rock with explosives from a man basket when the incident occurred.” Blajer identified the area as the 4215 Level West T1 Cut 5.

The ministry is also asking Vale for its plans for the development of the heading at 36 West T1 Cut 5, he said.

Vale miner killed at [Sudbury] Coleman Mine – by Laura Stricker (Sudbury Star – January 30, 2012)

January 31, 2012January 31, 2012

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

Vale has confirmed that an employee was killed by falling rock at Coleman Mine on Sunday.

“Vale regretfully announces that an employee was fatally injured this afternoon while working underground in the main ore body at the 4,215-foot level of the company’s Coleman Mine in Levack due to what appears to be some displacement of material from a development heading,” the company said in a release.

“The employee was found and brought to surface, where he was subsequently pronounced dead by medical authorities.” Vale said the immediate family has been notified, but the name of the employee is being withheld pending completion of the notification process.

The employee was 47 and had worked at the company for 16 years.

4 Vale mine deaths in 7 months anger union leader – CBC News (CBC.ca – January 30, 2012)

January 30, 2012

This article came from the CBC News website: http://www.cbc.ca/news/

Sudbury-area fatality the 4th this year at Vale mines

The president of the Steelworkers union local in Sudbury is calling Sunday’s mining fatality “unacceptable.” A 47-year-old man was killed Sunday afternoon while working at Vale’s Coleman Mine in Levack, Ont., northwest of Sudbury.

“It’s a really difficult … I’m very angry,” Rick Bertand said. “And the reason for that is … four fatalities in seven months is unacceptable — three in Sudbury, one in Thompson [Man.].” Ministry of Labour investigators are on the scene.

“All we know at this time is a worker was loading the face of the rock with explosives, from a man-basket, when the incident occurred,” said ministry spokesman Matt Blajer.

The ministry has issued two requirements to Vale: that it not disturb the area and any equipment until it’s released by one of the ministry inspectors and to release a number of documents related to training and equipment. Bertand said a plan needs to be forged when it comes to health and safety at Vale mines.

NEWS RELEASE: VALE MINE EMPLOYEE FATALLY INJURED

January 30, 2012

SUDBURY, January 29, 2012 – Vale regretfully announces that an employee was fatally injured this afternoon while working underground in the main ore body at the 4215-foot level of the company’s Coleman Mine in Levack due to what appears to be some displacement of material from a development heading. The employee was found and brought to surface, where he was subsequently pronounced dead by medical authorities.

The immediate family has been notified, however, the name of the employee is being withheld pending completion of the notification process.

The employee was 47 years old and had 16 years experience working with the Company.

“We are saddened and devastated by the loss of this employee,” said Kelly Strong, Vice President Mining & Milling (North Atlantic Operations) and General Manager, Ontario Operations.

Vale worker at Coleman Mine killed Sunday – UPDATED (Sudbury Star – January 30, 2012)

January 30, 2012

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

Vale has confirmed that an employee was killed Sunday by falling rock at Coleman Mine.

“Vale regretfully announces that an employee was fatally injured this afternoon while working underground in the main ore body at the 4215-foot level of the company’s Coleman Mine in Levack due to what appears to be some displacement of material from a development heading,” the company said in a release.

The employee was 47 and had 16 years with the company.

[Sudbury new union hall] A brand new home – by Carol Mulligan (January 28, 2012)

January 29, 2012

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

Like a play that is a well-acted opening night after a chaotic dress rehearsal, there was no sign Thursday of the behind-the-scenes scrambling that went on this week at the new Steelworkers’ Hall at 66 Brady St.

By the time the ribbon was cut to the new Leo W. Gerard Hall, the multi-purpose union hall was ready for visitors.

There was no sign of the rolls of wire, lumber, sawdust and workers evident Monday when United Steelworkers Local 6500 president Rick Bertrand led a brief tour of the new facility. By Thursday afternoon, the main hall was transformed into an elegant ballroom — with a

musical trio playing on the main stage, a buffet of finger foods and an atmosphere reminiscent of a wedding or tiny social event.

[Sudbury] Steel hall honours union boss – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – January 27, 2012)

January 27, 2012

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

It was almost a first for union boss Leo Gerard. Gerard was apparently blind-sided when it was announced Thursday that the executive and membership of United Steelworkers Local 6500 had named their new hall after the international president of their union.

That news came just before the ribbon was cut at the grand opening of the local’s new headquarters at 66 Brady St.

“I guess it’s almost a first. I’m almost speechless,” said a teary-eyed Gerard when a cloth cover was removed from the plaque reading “Leo W. Gerard Hall,” which hangs over the entrance to the main hall.

The day was a bittersweet one for Gerard, Local 6500 members and residents of the community. They were excited about the transformation of the former grocery store into a state-of-the-art hall and conference centre, but tears were also shed for the Steelworkers’ Hall at 92 Frood Rd. that burned to the ground in September 2008.

[Sudbury Local 6500] Union probe on Stobie deaths to be made public – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – January 26, 2012)

January 26, 2012

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

United Steelworkers Local 6500 is “dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s” on its report into its investigation into the deaths of two Stobie miners June 8, 2011, and will share its findings soon with members and the public.

Local 6500 president Rick Bertrand said the union is making sure its report is thorough so that “when we walk away, we can say we’re pleased with the investigation (and) we’ve done everything we can.”

Vale Ltd. released the findings of its investigation Tuesday at a news conference. That report didn’t pinpoint exactly how Jason Chenier, 35, and Jordan Fram, 26, were killed about 9:45 p.m., while working at the 3,000-foot level near the No. 7 ore pass at Stobie.

Kelly Strong, vice-president of mining and milling for Vale’s North Atlantic operations, said six factors contributed to the men’s deaths– water manage-m ent, ore mixing, ore pass management, operational controls, roles and responsibilities, and training and awareness.

Life matters the most [Vale Sudbury mining deaths recommendations] – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – January 25, 2012)

January 25, 2012

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

A team from Vale Ltd. investigating the June 8, 2011, deaths of Jason Chenier and Jordan Fram at Stobie Mine has made more than 30 recommendations to prevent similar tragedies from occurring again.

Kelly Strong, Vale’s vice-president of mining and milling operations, said several factors contributed to the deaths of the men.

Chenier, 35, and Fram, 26, were killed about 9:45 p.m. when they were overtaken by 350 tons of muck while working around the No. 7 ore pass at the 3,000-foot level of the mine. Strong offered two scenarios for how the accident might have occurred.

One is that there was a buildup of wet, fine sandy muck above the crash gate on the 3,000 level, which collapsed and drove its way down the ore pass, overtaking the two men. The other is that there was a hang-up of wet, fine sandy muck above coarser material, which unexpectedly let go.

‘Landmark decision’ — Veinot allowed back on property – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – December 24, 2011)

December 28, 2011

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

United Steelworkers was claiming a major victory and enjoying an early Christmas after Vale Ltd. was convicted of unfair labour practice in what the union calls a landmark decision by the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

Board chair Bernard Fishbein ruled Thursday that Vale unlawfully denied USW Local 6500 vice-president Patrick Veinot access to Vale workplaces after the company fired him during the union’s year-long strike against the company.

Vale said it had the authority to fire Veinot, and eight other Steelworkers, for bad conduct on picket lines and in the community, but USW challenged that at the labour board.

One Steelworker retired immediately after the strike ended July 8, 2010. An OLRB tribunal is currently reviewing evidence presented by the union and the company in a separate matter.

NEWS RELEASE: Vale Inco Convicted of Unfair Labour Practice in Landmark Decision of Ontario Labour Board

December 24, 2011

23 December 2011 media release

In Brief

United Steelworkers won a major victory at the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) against Vale mining company in a case stemming from their year-long strike. The OLRB has found that Vale’s conduct is unlawful regarding the banning of USW VP Patrick Veinot. The board has ordered that the company cease and desist.

TORONTO – United Steelworkers won a major victory at the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) against Vale mining company in a case stemming from their year-long strike. Sixteen months after the strike at Vale during which time Vale banned USW Local 6500 Vice-President Patrick Veinot from its property and thereby denied membership access to him on company property, in a stinging rebuke to the company, the OLRB has found that Vale’s conduct is unlawful. The board has ordered that the company cease and desist.

OLRB Chair Bernard Fishbein wrote: “I think the message Vale Inco has sought to communicate is cold and hard (regardless of its precise motivations) and I conclude that there has been a substantial interference both in the administration of the Union and its representation of employees (or in the words of the Canada Labour Relations Board that have “the effect of undercutting or weakening the union”).

Let arbitration decide their fate, union argues – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – December 9, 2011)

December 9, 2011

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

The lawyer for United Steelworkers has a remedy for how the Ontario Labour Relations Board can resolve the case of eight workers fired by Vale Ltd. during the union’s yearlong strike against the mining giant.

Brian Shell asked the panel to direct that the dismissals be dealt with by just-cause arbitration; that those arbitrations be scheduled and heard within three to four months; and that the eight firings be heard in six separate arbitrations so they don’t drag on for a decade.

Vale Ltd. offered a more simple fix during final arguments presented to the OLRB on Thursday in Sudbury. Don’t direct the firings to arbitration. Let them stand.

Shell spoke with reporters after six hours of closing arguments, saying Vale was essentially telling the labour board Vale “should be allowed to do what we want and exercise our superior strength, power and money freely without regulation by the labour relations board.”

Fate of fired 9 [Vale union members] rests with panel – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – December 9, 2011)

December 9, 2011

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

If Vale Ltd. is so confident it had good reason to dismiss eight Steelworkers during the union’s year-long strike, it shouldn’t be reluctant to let a provincial arbitrator determine if they were fired with just cause, says the union’s lawyer.

But Vale argues its confidence that the firings were justified demonstrates the care that company officials took to make those decisions. Those statements were presented during final arguments at an Ontario Labour Relations Board hearing into the union’s call for arbitration for its eight fired members.

More than a dozen days of testimony were held in Toronto into a bad-faith bargaining complaint filed by United Steelworkers at the six-month mark in their July 2009-July 2010 strike against the Brazil-based mining company.