Ekati issue remains unsolved

BHP Billiton, will present the last and final counter-offer to the union early next week. The two sides have set a third day of talks on May 30, 2006. Reacting to the failed talks with the Public Service Alliance of Canadas (PSAC) bargaining team on May 25th, 2006 the Ekati Mine issue has been dragged on.

�After reviewing the PSAC offer, I dont believe that the union executive understands how a northern mining business operates or how private industry labour can effectively function in a competitive marketplace,� said Roy Lenardon, Ekati vice-president of Human Resources. �The PSAC offer did not permit us to promote or retain people, based on merit and performance, which is a serious restriction on our ability to attract and retain the people best suited to a successful business,� he noted. Lenardon added that the introduction of the concept of �work ownership� by the union would prevent the company from building a strong, lasting business and that it was not a sustainable model for Ekati.

However, the PSAC issued a warning to BHP Billiton saying that the provocative statements would only serve to make reaching a first collective agreement more difficult. Jean-Fran�ois Des Lauriers, PSAC executive vice-president (north), said the union was still hopeful of a mutually agreeable settlement but is concerned that BHP Billiton has been disrespectful of union members just as new talks are planned. �We need to hold a real negotiating session, not have one side fail to participate and then issue orders from on high of take it or leave it,� he added.