UpdateUnion to complain against PotashCorp

15 October 2008 22:50  [Source: ICIS news]

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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 union 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.

Company spokesperson Tom Pasztor said he was aware of the union’s intent to file a complaint, but insisted PotashCorp had done nothing wrong.

“The company does not believe there has been any violation of the trade union act,” Pasztor said.

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.

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.

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By: David Rosen
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