ESG

"Not a single scab is getting past"

More legal action looms as salt miners' strike in 11th week

Staff reporter

This article is 6 years old. Images might not display.

About 350 members of the Unifor Local 16-0 union have been on strike since April 27 at Compass Minerals' (NYSE: CMP) Goderich mine over a pay deal.

Compass brought in contractors to keep filling long-term orders, saying it had "little choice but to continue with operations" given the competitive market and its commitment to customers.

Unifor blockaded the mine and Compass took legal action, with the Superior Court of Ontario ordering the union to remove the blockade on Saturday.

Local media reported the union blockade had been removed but then replaced by farmers' tractors.

Earlier today, Compass said a barricade remained in place at the site as of Sunday which was "in clear violation" of two court orders.

"We are in the process of undertaking enforcement measures and all legal measures to address the situation," the company said.

In a statement yesterday, Unifor national president Jerry Dias said the union was gaining support.

"The members and hundreds of supporters now bolstering the picket line have made it crystal clear that not a single scab is getting past," he said.

His executive assistant Scott Doherty had told a rally in Goderich on Saturday that Unifor wanted to get to the bargaining table.

The company had said Doherty had called to request starting negotiations on July 4, something Compass said it had been inquiring about since June 1.

Compass shares last traded at US$66, in the middle of a 52-week range of $56.50-$76.65.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Journal Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Journal Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence World Risk Report 2024 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 117 jurisdictions globally, assessed across six risk categories and an industrywide survey.

editions

ESG Mining Company Index: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The ESG Mining Company Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies. Using a robust framework, it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Global Leadership Report 2024: Net Zero

Gain insights into decarbonisation trends and strategies from interviews with 20+ top mining executives and experts plus an industrywide survey.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Project Pipeline Handbook 2024

View our 50 top mining projects, handpicked using a unique, objective selection process from a database of 450+ global assets.