Full calendar for labour negotiations across Newfoundland and Labrador

Joan Burke, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and Minister Responsible for the Labour Relations Agency, announced today that 2004 promises to be an extremely active year for labour negotiations in the province. "The number of collective agreements expiring in 2004 is up by approximately 25 to 30 per cent compared to previous years," said the minister, "making 2004 a busy time for the province�s Labour Relations Agency."

The reason for the high number of contracts expiring in 2004 is a result of the terms that were negotiated in previous years. "It happens that many of those contracts, in particular those affecting a number of the province�s larger employers, such as Abitibi Consolidated, Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOCC) and Wabush Mines, expired or are expiring this year" said the minister.

Despite the large number of labour contracts expiring, many agreements have been successfully negotiated with the assistance of mediators from the Labour Relations Agency. To date, the agency has assisted in the successful resolution of over 45 collective agreements. One of the most significant of these is the tentative agreement reached between Abitibi Consolidated and the Canadian Energy and Paperworkers Union. This agreement, which is currently undergoing a ratification vote, is for a five-year term. If ratified, the contract with the two large paper mills in Grand Falls-Windsor and Stephenville will enhance labour stability to the central and western regions of the province until 2009.

Minister Burke is pleased with the trend toward negotiating longer term collective agreements. "This shift toward three, four and even five year labour contracts, as we have just seen in our paper industry, helps maintain labour stability which, in turn, supports economic stability in the province," said the minister.

The minister also noted that she is monitoring the current situation in Labrador very closely. The full services of the Labour Relations Agency are being provided to all parties involved in the strike at Wabush Mines. In addition, the agency facilitated a return to the table this week for both parties at IOCC. "Mediators from the agency have been at the table in both rounds of bargaining. A senior mediator from the agency called representatives from the Steelworkers Union and IOCC back to the bargaining table this week in a final effort to help both sides resolve the outstanding issues and avert a labour dispute," said Minister Burke. "I understand the discussions are very challenging. However regardless of the outcome, I will continue to make the full services of the agency available to the parties toward stabilizing the labour climate in Labrador West."

The minister encourages all parties to labour contracts to utilize the many services of the Labour Relations Agency not only during negotiations for a new labour contract, but throughout the life of that contract. The agencies trained mediation staff have available a wide range of services to the workplace parties to assist them to resolve issues that arise during a collective agreement and that foster good communication between the parties. "These services have proven in the past to be cost efficient for the parties and lead to improved morale and productivity in our province�s workplaces," said the minister.

Media contact: Jacquelyn Howard, Communications, (709) 729-4062

2004 07 15                                         3:25 p.m.