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Human Resources, Labour and Employment
February 24, 2011

Tabling of the Final Report of Voisey’s Bay Industrial
Inquiry Commission Extended to April 29, 2011

The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and Minister Responsible for the Labour Relations Agency, has announced that the date for tabling of the final report of the Voisey’s Bay Industrial Inquiry Commission has been extended to April 29.

The extension was granted at the request of the Chair of the Industrial Inquiry Commission, John F. Roil, Q.C. The commission’s final report was due February 25, but the commission has advised this additional time is necessary due in part to the recent conclusion of the collective agreement between the United Steelworkers, Local 9508 and Vale Newfoundland and Labrador Limited and the subsequent ratification requirements which have delayed the inquiry’s scheduling processes.

“The conclusion of the long-standing labour dispute between the United Steelworkers and Vale was a positive development,” said Minister King. “While the resolution of this strike at Voisey’s Bay was a key priority, our government remains committed to having the commission conclude its work as laid out in the terms of reference.”

The commission provided government with the first phase of the Voisey’s Bay Industrial Inquiry report on December 23, 2010. The final report will consider broader matters and implications related to the recent strike at Voisey’s Bay. The report will cover the factors which have led to the existing labour-management relations climate at the Voisey’s Bay project site in Labrador and options to improve these relations; the identification of local, provincial, national or international matters that may be contributing factors in this dispute; a discussion of any impacts this dispute may be having on other labour-management relationships; a discussion of the ramifications of this dispute, and its costs to the province and the parties involved; and, other matters the commission may deem appropriate.

“Each of the remaining sections of the commission’s terms of reference are important to Newfoundland and Labrador and we recognize a thorough and comprehensive report is in the best interest of all parties,” said Minister King.

A copy of the Industrial Inquiry’s Terms of Reference 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 02 24             9:55 a.m.

 
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