[R-G] Copper smelter strike heads toward its eighth month

[Hunter Gray]

Note by Hunterbear:
I've posted regularly on this hard-fought copper struggle at old Mine-Mill
country in Quebec which features the usual recalcitrance by the metal mining
bosses: cops, injunction, scabs -- and either no negotiations or a phony
pretense.  The workers and their families are standing firm and tall --
total solidarity.  Sudbury Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers Local 598 -- now a
CAW affiliate -- is one of the many Canadian unions providing financial and
moral support to the Noranda Horne Smelter workers at  Rouyn, Que.

No Talks Seen at Noranda's Horne--Union
      Mon Jan 20, 9:35 AM ET


MONTREAL (Reuters) - Striking workers at Noranda's Horne copper smelter in
Quebec said on Monday no talks were scheduled to end the seven-month strike,
and said the company was considering transferring production to its Timmins,
Ontario, smelter.



"We have obtained a top-level document from Noranda that gives a scenario
for transferring production to Timmins, Ontario," union spokeswoman Michelle
Filteau told Reuters.


Filteau, who represents Quebec's Confederation of National Trade Unions,
said the company was also contemplating transferring production to other
sites in Montreal and New Brunswick.


She said the union urged Quebec Premier Bernard Landry to intervene in the
labor dispute. A news conference by the union was scheduled for 10 a.m.
(1500 GMT) in Montreal on Monday.


The 510 production and maintenance workers rejected an offer of settlement
from the Canadian base metals and mining group on Nov. 21, saying they
wanted more discussions on seniority and job security issues.