IOC playing hardball over small mistakes, union leader says
The president of the union that represents workers at the Iron Ore Co. of Canada mine in Labrador City is accusing the employer of using tough and excessive measures to deal with small problems.
Ron Thomas, the president of the Steelworkers Union at IOC, said the company appears to have instituted a zero tolerance policy for dealing with employees who break the company's rules.
Thomas said six people have been fired and 30 others have in recent months been put on final notice.
Thomas said the new approach to discipline has meant that workers are getting grief for small missteps.
"You [have] to have a certain type of discipline system out there. I agree with that," Thomas told Labrador Morning.
"But when it comes to people getting discharged for absolutely no — for something that would never have been disciplined in the past, I mean, I totally disagree with that."
Thomas says some workers are a step away from being fired for exceeding the worksite speed limit by five kilometres an hour.
Tensions between IOC and the union have been strained for some time, with grievances filed by union members piling up.
Thomas said more than 2,500 grievances are headed for arbitration.
Thomas says the top manager for the mine has refused to meet with the union.
A spokesperson for IOC refused to comment, saying worker issues are an internal process.