Raglan Mine makes new offer to striking employees

Raglan Mine has presented a new offer to its unionized employees, days after the United Steelworkers withdrew from negotiations.

The new offer was put forward July 10, according to a news release from Glencore Group, Raglan Mine’s parent company.

The release does not say what is in the offer, but says it “allows Raglan Mine employees to obtain the best working conditions in the industry.”

“We sincerely hope that this offer can put an end to the labour dispute as quickly as possible,” said Pierre Barrette, vice-president of Raglan Mine, in the release.

Cimon Guy, a union representative, said the union is looking at the offer.

“Our negotiations committee will meet tomorrow to go over it in detail and decide our course of action following that,” Guy said in an email.

Raglan Mine produces mostly nickel, as well as small amounts of copper and cobalt. Its 630 unionized workers have been on strike since the end of May after the company and the union failed to reach a new collective agreement.

A mediator was appointed by the Quebec government to meet with both sides and broker a deal, but those meetings have not been successful.

Guy has said the union’s main demands involve better working and living conditions on site. Raglan has responded by saying it maintains some of the industry’s highest safety standards and salaries, while promoting a positive work culture at the mine.

Production at Raglan Mine, which is Nunavik’s largest employer, was halted after the strike was called, and all union employees were flown back to their home communities. Some production has since resumed.