As striking Hudbay tradespeople picketed outside a mining equipment supplier Wednesday, union officials were optimistic they could soon be back at the negotiating table.
“We’re getting close to having a meeting, I think,” said Blair Sapergia, vice-president of the striking IAM Local 1848 union. “[It] sounds like soon, but [we] don’t have a date set yet.”
IAM president Rene Beauchamp said there has been dialogue between IAM and Hudbay and that this is a step in the right direction.
“Anything’s progress,” he said. “It’s better than no talk at all.”
Rob Winton, vice-president, Manitoba Business Unit for Hudbay, said the company has had “a couple of informal discussions” with an IAM international representative.
“These discussions have been proactive and may lead to further talks with the union,” said Winton.
Picket
Sapergia and Beauchamp were among 13 IAM members to picket outside Atlas Copco’s Creighton headquarters Wednesday morning, accusing the equipment provider of supplying replacement workers.
The picketers spent more than an hour waving placards and walking in front of vehicles, resulting in two visits from the RCMP.
Prior to the second police visit, the frustrated driver of an Atlas Copco truck trying to leave the property blared his horn for more than a minute.
Sapergia said that when asked, the picketers allowed the truck to leave.
Atlas Copco has long been a supplier of mining equipment to Hudbay. The company also performs audits on that equipment.
But IAM now claims Atlas Copco is performing work outside of its usual scope to help Hudbay continue to operate in IAM’s absence.
IAM accuses six companies of supplying a total of 13 “scabs” to Hudbay, though the union says that number fluctuates.
Sgt. Mark Svaren of the Creighton RCMP said after police attended the scene for a second time, both Atlas Copco and the picketers had agreed on acceptable picket practices.
“We’ve established a protocol so everybody is on same page going forward,” he said.
Svaren said protesters legally have a “reasonable amount of time” to make their point, but just what is “reasonable” is a grey area that is “situation dependent.”
IAM, which represents 180 workers, mostly mechanics, machinists and pipefitters, has been on strike since May 2.
The Reminder sent three emails to Atlas Copco’s media relations department seeking comment. None of the emails were returned.
The Reminder has also sought comment from three other companies IAM accuses of providing replacement workers. None of them has commented.
