Demand for skilled miners continuing

While firmer metal prices have been stimulating Ontario’s mining industry recently, demand for skilled underground miners has also been continuing strong.

According to a representative for the United Steelworkers of America in Timmins, Ont., there has been a demand for between 200 to 500 skilled miners during the last six months in the Timmins camp. He predicted demand could grow even higher in the 1990s.

A human resources spokesman for Placer Dome (TSE) confirmed there have been some shortages of skilled miners at its operations near Timmins. A shaft rehabilitation program at the Dome mine took some of the pressure off, but shortages could develop again in the future if present trends continue.

The Kidd Creek mine stepped up its miner training program during the last 12 months to deal with high turnover rates. It reports having some success in meeting demand for miners through such programs.

Labor demand is being stimulated by a growing number of new mines and flourishing mine contractors, which have drawn away skilled miners from larger established operations.

When the market was tight for miners earlier in the year, the Timmins Industrial Training Advisory Council (TITAC) went to the government to get more support for miner training. The federal government loosened up $1.2 million in funds for miner training programs.

But at the same time, there seemed to be an excess of mining labor from the Sudbury camp already in the system. With base metal prices improving though, that surplus is being reabsorbed to some extent. Despite the apparent shortage of skilled miners in the Timmins camp, Sudbury is one area that is bucking the trend. When Inco Ltd. (TSE) did some hiring of miners and tradesmen earlier this year, there were some 1,200 applicants for about 160 positions, a union spokesman in Sudbury said.

In June, about 6,300 hourly paid Inco workers voted to accept a new 3-year contract containing some of the most generous provisions ever offered by a Canadian mining company. This, in part, might explain why skilled miner shortages are not much of a problem there.

The Ministry of Northern Development and Mines has an ad hoc committee currently studying the question of underground miner shortages in Ontario. Representatives of the Ontario Mining Association and the Ministry of Skills Development are involved in the committee, which has met several times this year.