From The Desk Xstrata Nickel's Unit Chair - February 2010

Now that we have signed a new collective agreement, the Union is in the process of meeting with the Company to make sure that the transfers from Nickel Rim South to Fraser Copper are done according to the language in the collective agreement.

From The Desk Xstrata Nickel's Unit Chair - November 2009

Your Bargaining Committee is finally starting the task of compiling all the information from the surveys. With this info, we will determine what is pertinent to the demands we present to the Company.

Xstrata Nickel Laid Off Employees Sub Plan Update - July 29th, 2009

The Sub Plan, per say, will be paid out in one lump sum on Aug. 4th

From The Desk Xstrata Nickel's Unit Chair - June 2009

This edition communicates to union members the different issues the Union is discussing with the Company.

Unit Chair Report - March 2009

After the review process and the VERI offers, we will have six employees permanently recalled (one from the review and five from the VERI offer).

News Release - February 9, 2009

Xstrata Nickel just announced that it will permanently reduce its Sudbury workforce by 680 employees effectively today

Unit Chair Report - December 2008

There has been a lot happening in the last two months.  Here is a brief overview of the issues.  I hope this answers some of the employees’ questions.

Personal Emergency Leave

We have been getting a lot of calls on personal emergency leave. He is what your rights and the Company’s rights are under the Employment Standard Act.

Unit Chair Report - September 2008

Life is always full of challenges and changes. This past summer was no exception, from the lack of hot weather and the amount of rainfall to the constant presence of mosquitoes and appearances of different bugs. You can tell that the planet is slowing changing. The same could be said about our society.

Unit Chair Report - October 2007

Hope everyone had a safe and happy summer. Things have been fairly quiet over the summer months.

Unit Chair Report - May 2007

It has been over a month since my last newsletter and we have some new faces on the bargaining committee. Jack McGrath has decided to remove himself from the Chief Steward’s position, therefore, Marcel Charron has been appointed to this post. Jack will remain as a Steward in the Mill. I would like to thank Jack for his hard work during his long term. We will miss his tenacious work getting the issues resolved. Also due to the prolonged absence of Gord Lamothe from Craig Mine, Scott Rogers has been appointed as the new Chief Steward for Craig Mine on an interim basis. Please assist these new individuals in their new positions.

Unit Chair Report - February 2007

This is a first for us, since 1994, a Collective agreement signed without a labour dispute.

Xstrata Nickel workers protest Industry Minister for letting Xstrata off the hook

7 Bus loads (over 300) workers, supporters and leadership, from Sudbury, along with NDP MP's Claude Gravelle, Glen Thibeault and Ken Lewenza, CAW president, and his assistant, Jerry Dias, descended upon Tony Clement's constituency office in Huntsville, last Friday (Feb 20, 2009), to protest our government's decision to rescind the Agreement with Investment Canada.

Xstrata Nickel Sudbury Operation employee update - January 2009

Xstrata Nickel Sudbury Operation employee update - January 2009. For more information, please call Richard Paquin - Xstrata Nickel Unit Chair at 673-3661 ext. 24

Xstrata Nickel Sudbury Operation employee update

Xstrata Nickel Sudbury Operation employee update. For more information, please call Richard Paquin - Xstrata Nickel Unit Chair at 673-3661 ext. 24

Xstrata Nickel employees optimization plan for Sudbury Operation

For more information, please call Richard Paquin - Xstrata Nickel Unit Chair at 673-3661 ext. 24

July 2009

Updates and Articles from Xstrata Nickel's Unit Chair Guy Desloges, The Smelter Report, and more...

May 26th, 2008

The Mill has been facing many issues lately, and the main one seems to be morale. Morale at the Mill is at an all-time low.

May 21st, 2008

The following is a letter from CAW Local 3019 concerning The Canadian Pension Charter to CAW National President Buzz Hargove.

April 17th, 2008

I was given the book “A New Earth” by Elkhart Tolle and use some of his information below in my article that reflects the changing mind culture in our society.

February 25th, 2008

There has been a lot of speculation of a possible merger or buyout of Xstrata with the VALE INCO Company. Only time will tell if the parties are to join together into one of the largest mining companies in the world.

December 14th, 2007 - Xstrata Nickel Rim Update

The posting process for the movement of our employees to Nickel Rim South (NRS) has been finalized.

December 5th, 2007

Here is a participant's view of our session on the Relationship Building Programme that we participated in early November.

October 12th, 2007

Well, things at T/L have much the same issues as usual. Workers working out of their job class for extended periods of time and no permanent or temporary jobs posted. So, if you see this going on, document the job, day and shift this is happening and grieve to get these jobs posted.

May 18th, 2007

The new trustee will be Terry McCormick. We would like to thank Grace Pommerstone for putting her name forward for the position. The Xstrata Nickel workers voted “yes” to the two motions to continue the 12-cent fund and to allow the interest of the $1.2 million to be used for Property and Trust, as it was used before the 2000 strike.

March 16th, 2007

It has been over one month since we signed a new deal. Many questions have been asked on some of the benefits. Here is a more explained view of some of our new additions to our C/A.

February 7th, 2007

The membership gave the Bargaining Committee the mandate to bargain the collective agreement and more important, they gave the committee the right to call a strike.

May 2008

I would like to take a few minutes to congratulate all of the workers for an award that has been given to the employees of Xstrata Nickel.

April 2008

Animals are common in the majority of households. Just so happens that bunnies and cats inhabit this particular abode. Pets can teach us a lot about life.

December 2007

Northern Ontario is one of the nicest places to live because of the four seasons that we get to experience every year, from the green beautiful summer days to the cool white days of winter. Like everything in life you can go through each season looking at the changes in temperature in a negative way or in a positive way – it’s your choice.

November 2007

The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) developed “Common Core for Basic Smelter Operations” back in 1999, but it didn’t become a legal requirement for Smelter employees until 2005.

October 15th, 2007 - Orthotics Update

As you are all aware there have been ongoing discussions taking place with regards to the issue of orthotics, specifically, benefit entitlement.

April 18th, 2007

Well, another contract settled this time without a strike. We did not get all we hoped for but we did get more than Inco. With that out of the way, we can now focus on the next three years.