Coming talks crucial for Canada potash strike

24 September 2008 20:04  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--The next chapter in the struggle between PotashCorp and striking workers in Canada may play out in negotiations at two other facilities set to take place as early as November, a United Steelworkers union spokesperson said on Wednesday.

 

Negotiations between some 500 striking potash miners and Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (PotashCorp) at a 800,000 tonne/year plant in Cory, a 2m tonne/year plant in Allan and a 300,000 tonne/year plant have come to a standstill.

 

Neither side has spoken to each other since mediation broke down on 7 August, company spokesperson Tom Pasztor and USW spokesperson Roger Falconer said.

 

Workers at the three plants have been on strike since then, though management employees at the three facilities have been pooled together to operate Allan at half capacity. Cory remains shut down as a direct result of the strike, and Patience Lake is scheduled to reopen on 4 October.

 

The deadlock may be broken – or the work stoppage could widen – during USW’s annual contract negotiations with the company at its 2.3m tonne/year Lanigan and 1.4m tonne/year Rocanville plants.

 

Bargaining there is set to begin in late November or early December, Falconer said.

 

USW could use those meetings to bolster their position at Allan, Cory and Patience Lake, where negotiations have effectively halted.

 

Workers at Lanigan are eligible to strike as early as January, Falconer said, and Rocanville miners could strike as early as April.

 

Meanwhile, the labour dispute has already taken a toll on PotashCorp’s production.

 

Earlier this month, multiple retailers said they received letters from the company declaring force majeure (FM) on its soluble and granular white potash products.

 

The overwhelming majority of PotashCorp’s white potash is made at its facility in Cory, Pasztor said.

 

For more on PotashCorp’s plants, visit ICIS plants and projects

 

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By: David Rosen
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