It?s now one week into the first labour dispute at Inco Ltd.?s Sudbury operations in six years and it appears neither side is in any hurry to return to the bargaining table.
A total of 3,300 members of Local 6500 of the United Steelworkers of America hit the picket lines last Sunday morning at 12:01 am after 95 per cent of the membership turned down Inco?s final contract offer.
Local 6500 president John Fera said Friday that until the company is willing to make a fair and reasonable improvements on its final offer, there?s no use going back to the bargaining table.
Inco spokesperson, Cory McPhee said neither side has had any talks since the labour dispute began one week ago and no new talks are scheduled.
Picketers near Inco?s main smelter complex in Copper Cliff didn?t allow non-unionized employees to cross the picket line during the first few days of the dispute, but the union has decided to allow 50 or 60 office and clerical workers onto the site to conduct their duties.
Despite the labour dispute, nickel prices remained at about the same level as when the strike began
one week ago with nickel selling at about $4.25 per pound Friday afternoon.
The main stumbling block, both sides agree, is pensions. The union is demanding improved pensions, but the company says it can?t afford them.