“World-class” SNOLAB institute doles out substandard final offer to workers
19 Abril 2024 - 10:16AM
Members of the United Steelworkers union (USW) working at the
SNOLAB research laboratory have voted unanimously to reject a
substandard, “final” contract offer from their employer.
Thursday’s unanimous vote by the workers, members of USW Local
2020-59 in Sudbury, exposes the refusal to date by SNOLAB to
negotiate a fair collective agreement that recognizes
cost-of-living realities.
Steelworkers who work at SNOLAB facilities, including an
underground laboratory deep inside Vale’s Creighton Mine in Greater
Sudbury, conduct world class testing, research and experiments that
has achieved recognition globally including a Nobel prize.
“SNOLAB bills itself as a ‘world-class science facility,’ but
its actions at the bargaining table show that it isn’t too
concerned about the retention of world-class employees,” said Tracy
Nguyen, a USW staff representative involved in the contract
negotiations.
“SNOLAB has had the opportunity to show our members that their
unique knowledge and experience is valued. Instead, not only have
they offered wages well-below today’s realities, they actually have
demanded concessions from workers,” Nguyen said.
In October 2023, SNOLAB received $2 million in public funding,
in addition to an initial $12 million in funding from the Ontario
Ministry of Colleges and Universities. At the time, SNOLAB’s
Executive Director, Dr. Jodi Cooley, stated: “This investment
provides opportunity and value to not only Sudbury, but all of
Ontario, and will allow SNOLAB to continue creating jobs and
attracting the best and brightest minds to Canada.”1
The USW says negotiations have now come to a pivotal moment,
when the employer can choose to return to the bargaining table and
offer a fair compensation package so workers don’t have to choose
between paying rent or buying groceries.
Media contacts:
Tracy Nguyen, USW Staff Representative, 705-675-2461,
tnguyen@usw.caPascal Boucher, USW Area Co-ordinator, 705-675-2461
ext. 226 pboucher@usw.ca Lorei Leigh De Los Reyes, USW
Communications, 416-544-6009, ldelosreyes@usw.ca
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1 https://www.snolab.ca/news/snolab-welcomes-funding-boost