Lockout at Glencore's Smelter
in Belledune, New Brunswick
Struggle Continues Against Glencore's Anti-Worker Concessionary Demands
May 8 marked the end of the second week of the Glencore
Brunswick Smelter workers' job action in Belledune. The 281 production
and maintenance workers, members of USW Local 7085, are united in
action to defend their rights against the mining and metallurgy
Glencore's demand for anti-worker concessions.
As is now becoming routine for global oligopolies such
as Glencore to show their arrogance and refusal to negotiate, it locked
out the workers before their announced strike was to begin in the
evening, under the hoax of protecting the safety of the plant. With the
sudden and unannounced lockout, Glencore revealed that it had been long
preparing to attack the workers. On April 24, the day it locked out the
workers, the global monopoly sought a court order from the Court of
Queen's Bench of New Brunswick, which it obtained on April 26, limiting
the number of picketers to six at the entrances or exits of the smelter
and at any other geographical location in New Brunswick where it
conducts business. The court also ordered the workers not to obstruct
in any way any movement of employees, customers, suppliers and others
to and from the plant or to "harass" them, including a prohibition of
taking photographs. Glencore soon followed up this court order
obtaining a second one making it "illegal" for picketers to conceal
their identity, including by covering their faces.
The global monopoly further revealed its intention to
refuse to negotiate and provoke a strike or lockout by having already
organized "strike security teams" that are reported to be housed in
fancy hotels and provided with vehicles for the duration of the
strike/lockout. The monopoly had also hired scab labour from Quebec to
drive the trucks
bringing mined concentrate into the smelter.
These conscious preparations are not the activity of a
company with intentions of negotiating a contract that workers can find
acceptable. The global oligopoly with the backing of the state and
using its vast social wealth and power is showing its fangs and
anti-worker hatred with this attempt to impose its dictate and drive
down the working
and living conditions of workers.
This article was published in
Number 17 - May 9, 2019
Article Link:
Lockout at Glencore's Smelter
in Belledune, New Brunswick: Struggle Continues Against Glencore's Anti-Worker Concessionary Demands
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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