Mining giant Vale plans to suspended operations at Sudbury, Canada nickel mine followed by the rejection of a five-year contract proposal laid by the workers’ union.
The five-year contract included a pay raise of 4pc over the next four years and $2,500 for working through the pandemic period and a $3,500 signing bonus, rejected by 70pc of those who voted against Vale.
The United Steelworks Local 6500 consists of 2,600 production and maintenance employees of the Sudbury mine. This is the first time since 2010 that the union has protested.
The Sudbury mine has delivered 12,000mt of nickel in the March quarter which is 50pc of Vale’s nickel production in Canada. The mining unit consists of five mines, a refinery, a smelter and has been operational for over 100 years.