PotashCorp calls off strike talks - union

09 October 2008 00:00  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--A new round of negotiations between PotashCorp and striking members of the United Steelworkers (USW) union has apparently been called off, according to a letter obtained by ICIS news late on Wednesday.

The USW union – whose members have been striking at three Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (PotashCorp) facilities since 7 August – approached the company on Monday to formally request a new round of bargaining, both union spokesperson Roger Falconer and company spokesperson Rhonda Speiss said.

However, when the union made it clear that it was unwilling to heed PotashCorp’s requests to back off on a proposed commodity-based bonus scheme, the company sent USW a letter calling off the talks.

“You are correct that we had an interest in bargaining however, our interest was subject to the union’s bonus proposal being withdrawn. As your letter has clearly stated this is not the case, we do not see any rationale for returning to the table,” read the letter, signed by Aaron Fornwald, the company’s lead negotiator.

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By: David Rosen
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