PotashCorp, union back at bargaining table

A strike at a Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan mine turned out to be a brief one Monday, with negotiations between management and the union representing 500 workers resuming in the afternoon.

The strike that began in the morning halted production at the Cory potash mine, about six kilometres west of Saskatoon, but it was back to the mine for workers several hours later.

The labour dispute was far from over, however. Workers represented by the United Steelworkers of Canada say they aren't getting their fair share of profits at a time when the Saskatoon-based company is booming and top PCS officials are raking in huge salaries.

"You can only let somebody steamroll along for so long before you start asking where your share is," said Dion Brick, an industrial mechanic who has worked at the Cory mine for 11 years.

Some workers held up signs depicting PCS president and CEO William Doyle, who took home $17 million last year, as a greedy executive.

In its most recent report, Potash announced a profit of $905 million on revenue of $2.6 billion for the second quarter. Earnings were more than three times what they were in the same quarter of 2007.

Company spokesman Bill Johnson said PCS is sharing the wealth with its employees, who have been without a contract since April. The main issues outstanding are wages, pensions and contracting out provisions.

"What I would tell you is that our offer would make them the highest paid potash miners in the industry," he said. "We think it's a very fair and reasonable settlement."

Negotiations resumed at 4 p.m. CST. The USW has been threatening to hold rotating strikes at three major potash facilities in Saskatchewan, including Cory, Allan and Patience Lake.

Last week, employees voted 96 per cent in favour of strike action.

The union said it will not picket a PCS mine as long as the two sides are  bargaining.