Embattled steelworkers' union rally against layoffs in Lab West
Some 150 workers facing layoffs next month
Hundreds of people showed their support at a steelworkers' union rally in Labrador City on Monday evening.
In early April, the Iron ore Company of Canada announced that 150 workers would be laid off in June, causing anxiety for an already economically troubled Labrador West.
On Monday evening, the union hall for Local 5795 of the United Steelworkers was bustling with hundreds who carried signs that read things such as "Stand With Lab West," "Stop the Union Busting" and "Solidarity is a Weapon."
Haul truck driver Chris Hill, from St. John's, is still dealing with news that both he and his wife will be losing their jobs.
Add to that a young daughter and a $300,000 mortgage on a home in Labrador West, and the situation can be a source of anxiety.
He thinks the company is not tuned in to the plight of those being laid off.
"These guys are coming here, they're taking our ore out and they're contracting out jobs to other provinces while good hard working Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are losing their jobs," he said.
"That's just not right."
Despite the doom and gloom, Hill did feel the turnout at Monday's rally was very encouraging.
"I see a lot of old retired steelworkers here. I see a lot of workers at local businesses here. I see a lot of workers," he said. "The guys who are not being affected by it show up here. It gives us a bit of a boost, to keep this fight going."
A message of solidarity
Wanda Head, another worker at the protest, has been a janitor for 24 years at IOC.
While she does worry about her future, she thinks the community and union is stronger than the company thinks.
"This is awesome, this is incredible. The community support, I think shows a good message," she said.
"I think it shows a message of solidarity and it shows a message that we're not [going] to sit back."
Premier's lack of presence noticed by union leaders
Union president Ron Thomas says he invited Premier Paul Davis to the rally, but he was a no-show.
Thomas said with so many other political and union leaders there, he was disappointed not to see the premier.
"He should have been here," he said.
Thomas said the union and the workers at IOC have not been treated with dignity and respect.
"We have 2,400 grievances referred to arbitration, we're just getting totally disrespected on the floor," he said.
"We've got a lot of contractors out there working our jobs day-to-day, and that's got to stop."
Thomas thinks the company needs to come to the realization that there is still a way to keep all the workers on at IOC.
"A lot of the staff people out there, the joke of the day is, 'well, my (security pass) card worked today.' They're under extreme stress," he said.
"There's absolutely no need to have 150 people laid off right now. The price of ore has rebounded over 30 per cent since we starting talking."
With files from John Gaudi