21 October 2009
Workers Uniting, the world’s first international union, has
criticised Vale’s recent decision to cancel planned investor events
in New York and London as more evidence of a company in
disarray.
The global union represents three million workers in North
America, the UK & Ireland. Workers Uniting, is a partnership
between Unite from the United Kingdom and the United Steelworkers
(USW) from the United States and Canada.
USW members in Vale a mining company, have been on strike
since 13th July in a bitter dispute over pay, terms and conditions.
The dispute is at Vale operations in Sudbury and Port Colborne,
Ontario and Voisey’s Bay, Labrador
Vale was scheduled to meet with key investors in New York on
21st October during “Vale Day on Wall Street” and in London on the
23rd October.
Ken Neumann, USW Canadian National Director said: “Vale has been
trying to avoid our shining a light on their managerial misconduct.
Now it appears to be trying to hide from hard questions that might
be raised by investors and the media. We will go to wherever Vale
has operations and tell customers and investors how this company is
unfairly treating its workers in Canada, Brazil and elsewhere.
“
Despite the cancelation of its own day on Wall Street, striking
miners in Sudbury, Canada will still hold its Vale Day today
(Wednesday). Since Vale was planning to host a breakfast for
investors, USW will host a breakfast on the picket line where some
3,500 miners are on strike.
In New York, a delegation of USW activists will join strikers
from Sudbury and Port Colborne across the street from the New York
Stock Exchange at Federal Hall where they’ll inform investors that
the company is hiding from them, too. The USW wants the company to
return to the bargaining table in Canada and calls on its top
management to rekindle negotiations.
Strikers and other supporters will also conduct a demonstration
at Vale offices in Toronto and in Rio.
The workers will reach out to the financial community in London
in November. Unite represents Vale workers in London and Wales.
Derek Simpson, Unite joint general secretary said: “Through
Workers Uniting we are supporting the Vale miners in Canada.
Investors must be told about the Canadian struggle to reach fair
labour agreements. We stand in support of the USW in their Vale
campaign for a fair deal now.”
- Ends –
For more information, contact:
Saba Mozakka (UK) at 07768 693 953; saba.mozakka@unitetheunion.com
Bob Gallagher (Canada) at 416-434-2221; bgallagher@usw.ca
Wayne Ranick (U.S.) at 412-562-2444; wranick@usw.org
You can also visit: www.fairdealnow.ca