PotashCorp, union at stalemate over bonuses

10 October 2008 02:48  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--The United Steelworkers union will not heed demands from PotashCorp to back off from its proposed commodity-based bonus scheme, a union spokesperson said on Thursday.

Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (PotashCorp) spokesperson Rhonda Speiss reiterated claims made in a letter to the union on Wednesday, and said the company will not return to the bargaining process unless USW agrees not to push for commodity-based bonuses.

“We need to protect the long term interests of our company,” Speiss said.

But Roger Falconer, head of USW’s strategic campaigns department, said it didn’t make sense for the company to be making demands before talks resume.

“We’re not going to tell the company what they can talk about, and they certainly can’t tell us what we can talk about,” Falconer said.

Falconer said if PotashCorp limits the discussion before negotiations begin, the union won’t be receiving “free and fair collective bargaining”.

Some 500 members of USW have been on strike since mediation broke down between the union and PotashCorp on 7 August. Since then, the company’s 800,000 tonne/year plant in Cory and 300,000 tonne/year plant in Patience Lake have been closed because of the strike, and management workers from three sites have been pooled together to operate a 2m tonne/year plant in Allan at half capacity.

For more on PotashCorp’s plants, visit ICIS plants and projects
To discuss issues facing the chemical industry go to ICIS connect

By: David Rosen
713-525-2653

< previous article(VIDEO - ICIS news Europe Lunchtime Bulletin 27 October 2009)

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly