It appears workers at the Kitimat smelter and Kemano are ready to hit the bricks.
Unifor local 2301 members took a strike vote this past Friday and Saturday and for the first time in the history of the union, workers voted 100 per cent in favour of a work stoppage.
Union reps say the vote went the way it did because the company isn’t interested in addressing issues the union raised. Union officials say threat of a strike is aimed at focusing the company’s attention on addressing those issues. The company says they are working to reach a mutually beneficial agreement without a strike.
Rio Tinto Alcan has applied to have the smelter declared an essential service, but no decision has been made yet.
While negotiations have been on-going since early June, the current contract expires this Friday.
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