Ekati Union Files Complain against BHP Billiton

Diamond Workers Local X3050, representing 400 workers at the Ekati diamond mine in Canada, filed a complaint for unfair labor practice against mine owner and operator BHP Billiton for  refusing to allow union officials to access the mine site.

“The company has no right to prevent us from meeting with the members of the union,” says Todd Parsons, president of the Union of Northern Workers and one of the officials refused access.

“As part of Canadian fundamental rights, workers have a right to be represented by a union and they must be able to exercise that right effectively by having meetings when necessary,” he added.

Parsons explained that the workers come from many regions of the country and the only opportunity to meet with them is at their arrival or their departure from the mine site, 300 north-east of Yellowknife. The company, he said, must understand that these are very exceptional circumstances and they should make every effort to ensure their workers have full access to union representatives.

According to Jean-Francois Des Lauriers, the PSAC (Public Service Alliance of Canada) executive regional vice president-north, refusal of access to the mine site comes at an especially bad time. PSAC members have been negotiating for 14 months in order to reach a first collective agreement with the company.

“The company's final offer fell short and they now must address the worker's main priorities of wages, seniority, vacations and job security," Des Lauriers said.

BHP Billiton has not responded publicly to the complaint filling.