Union may file complaint against PotashCorp

15 October 2008 20:30  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--The union that represents striking PotashCorp workers plans to file a complaint against the company for alleged unfair labour practices and interfering with the internal business of a trade group, a spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Late last week, Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (PotashCorp) sent individual, personalised letters to some 500 members of the United Steelworkers union (USW) to urge the workers to reconsider the company’s offer and to vote to accept PotashCorp’s conditions, said Roger Falconer, head of strategic campaigns for USW.

The workers have been on strike at three sites in Saskatchewan since 7 August.

Falconer said the union intends to file a complaint with the Saskatchewan Labour Board, alleging the letters represent “bargaining in bad faith”, and “an unfair labour practice”.

“The company has a right to communicate, but they’re supposed to discuss these issues and brief the union bargaining committee before they do that,” Falconer said.

PotashCorp spokesperson Tom Pasztor did not immediately comment on the union’s allegations.

Workers at PotashCorp’s 800,000 tonne/year plant in Cory, 2m tonne/year plant in Allan and 300,000 tonne/year plant in Patience Lake have been on strike for more than two months. All three sites manufacture potash fertilizer.

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