Disrespect, substandard wages lead to Steelworkers strike at SNOLAB
08 Mayo 2024 - 2:15PM
Members of the United Steelworkers union (USW) are on strike at the
world-renowned SNOLAB research laboratory.
Members of USW Local 2020-59 began their strike this morning,
following repeated attempts to negotiate fair wages and greater
respect from SNOLAB management.
The workers had voted unanimously in April to reject a
substandard “final” offer from SNOLAB. Rather than make a
meaningful attempt to reach a fair deal, SNOLAB management
responded with another unacceptable offer that was overwhelmingly
rejected by the workers and resulted in strike action at 12:01 a.m.
today.
“Our members are passionate about their jobs and are extremely
proud of the work they do. Their expectations of how they should be
compensated by SNOLAB are very reasonable and fair,” said Pascal
Boucher, USW Area Co-ordinator.
“These workers have made SNOLAB a world-class research facility,
but they’re struggling. They’re not looking to get rich – they just
want respect and to be able to afford to live," said Boucher.
SNOLAB’s disrespect towards its employees was further exposed as
the workers were voting on the latest, substandard contract offer
they received. It was announced that the McDonald Institute – the
research network of which SNOLAB is a partner – had received
another $45.5 million in federal government funding. This new
funding is in addition to $14 million received from the provincial
government.
“There is a lot of resentment among workers who are being told
they can’t have fair wages while they see tens of millions of
taxpayers’ dollars going to this organization,” said Boucher.
“During negotiations, SNOLAB has consistently cried poor and
argued it can’t provide a realistic compensation package. What
workers have observed at SNOLAB in the last two years is simply
irresponsible spending and questionable decision-making on how its
funding – taxpayers’ money – is actually being spent,” he said.
USW Local 2020-59 members have set up a picket line at Creighton
Mine #9, 1039 Regional Road 24, Lively, Ont., P3Y 1N2. Members of
the community are welcome to join the workers on the picket line to
lend their solidarity and support.
Media Contact
Pascal Boucher, USW Area Co-ordinator, 705-675-2461, ext. 226,
pboucher@usw.ca Tracy Nguyen, USW Staff Representative,
705-675-2461, tnguyen@usw.caLorei Leigh De Los Reyes, USW
Communications, 416-544-6009, ldelosreyes@usw.ca