Negotiations to resume July 19 in hopes of ending Vale strike in Sudbury
After 44 days on strike, Vale and the United Steelworkers Local 6500 confirm they will resume negotiations July 19 with the assistance of a facilitator who was mutually agreed on by both sides.
CTV News has learned talks will resume Monday morning at 9 a.m. with the facilitator who has assisted both sides with bargaining to reach previous agreements.
The last company offer that was rejected by 87 per cent by the union membership included a wage increase of one per cent plus cost of living allowance per year for five years.
"I am encouraged that we have agreed to go back to the table on Monday, July 19, and I am cautiously optimistic that we will be able to come to a resolution to this impasse," said Nick Larochelle, president of USW Local 6500.
"We remain hopeful that this is a positive step towards securing a collective agreement," Vale said in a statement.
One Steelworker said they were looking for a contract that would at least keep pace with inflation.
"I think that personally two per cent would be what we are looking for and what around the world inflation goes up two per cent every year on everything," said Luc St Martin, a member of USW Local 6500.
A woman who has only worked at Vale for six months said she is hopeful a fair deal can be reached.
"It's very dangerous to work down underground and it might be a little hard to understand if you haven't been there, but we are ready to go back to work with a fair deal," said Jade Poitras, a member of USW Local 6500.
"So hopefully they come back with something that works for everybody."
The offer that was rejected by the membership also included a $1,000 healthcare spending account post-retirement for new hires.
"When you are done working, that's is when you are going to need the benefits," said Sean Kelly, a member of USW Local 6500.
"It can't be accepted, not in the industry that we are in."
The union said it's fighting for future generations.
"What we are hearing is that they are 100 per cent behind us," said Larochelle.
"We don't want our post-retiree benefits, we need our post-retiree benefits and that message is loud and clear out on the picket line."
Correction
This story has been updated to correct an earlier version that incorrectly attributed comments to Vale.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.