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Human Resources, Labour and Employment
January 7, 2011

Provincial Government Releases First Report from
Voisey’s Bay Industrial Inquiry Commission

The Honourable Joan Burke, Acting Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and Minister Responsible for the Labour Relations Agency, released the first report of the Voisey’s Bay Industrial Inquiry Commission today. The report contains findings and observations pertaining to sections one and six of the inquiry’s Terms of Reference.

The first report was received from Commission Chair John F. Roil, QC, on December 23, 2010, and subsequently shared the same day with the United Steelworkers, Local 9508 and Vale Newfoundland and Labrador Limited, in accordance with Section 140 of the Labour Relations Act. The Provincial Government set January 7, 2011 as the deadline for the report to be released publicly allowing sufficient time for the parties to review its content and hold further discussions.

“Our government has gone to great lengths to work with the parties and help them bring an end to the Voisey’s Bay labour dispute,” said Minister Burke. “Despite conciliation support from the Labour Relations Agency and the assistance of an independent mediator, the parties are still unable to conclude a collective agreement.”

The commission’s first report deals with the positions of the parties in relation to the outstanding collective bargaining issues and options to resolve the dispute, including a proposed terms of settlement. The report also contains information resulting from the consultations with Aboriginal governments and groups to date.

“It is important to recognize that the Terms of Reference of the Industrial Inquiry Commission were developed to provide a comprehensive analysis of the ongoing labour dispute at Voisey’s Bay,” noted Minister Burke. “The Provincial Government will not comment on this first report and I encourage the parties to return to the negotiating table and try once again to solve their dispute. We look forward to receiving the final report by no later than February 25, 2011.”

The Voisey’s Bay Industrial Inquiry Commission report can be viewed at www.gov.nl.ca/LRA/voisey_bay.html

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Media contact:

Bradley Power
Director of Communications
Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment
709-729-0753, 699-5707
bradleypower@gov.nl.ca 

2011 01 07                                                                         11:00 a.m.
 

 
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