Ekati Mine Strike Deadline Postponed Until April 7

Unionized workers at the Ekati diamond mine in the Northwest Territories have agreed to postpone their strike deadline. The postponement follows the decision by BHP Billiton to attend federal mediation talks in Edmonton on April 5 to 6. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), which represents almost 400 diamond workers, had threatened to strike from March 29 if the company did not return to negotiations.

PSAC said on March 23 that BHP sent a letter to all employees stating that they "intend to continue to operate during any labor disruption," raising fears of a bitter dispute using replacement workers.

"Union members and people in the North do not accept the use of replacement workers, or scabs, in labor disputes and we warn BHP Billiton that these tactics will not intimidate workers but will make things much worse," said Jean-François Des Lauriers, PSAC Executive Vice-President-North.

Five diamond workers from the Ekati mine have flown to Toronto to rally with supporters outside a Top 100 Employers event on Monday March 27 to demand a fair first contract from BHP Billiton.

PSAC says that by failing to reach a collective agreement with its employers, BHP Billiton is not behaving in the way a Top 100 Employer should. "Inside a Toronto hotel BHP Billiton will be honored as allegedly one of Canada's Top 100 Employers despite its refusal to date to negotiate a first contract with the workers who actually mine the diamonds," Des Lauriers said.

The Ekati mine produces 4 million to 5 million carats of rough diamonds per year.