The Canada Labour Relations Board has found that both Royal Oak Mines (TSE) and Local 4 of the Canadian Association of Smelter and Allied Workers (CASAW) bargained in bad faith during labor negotiations at the Giant mine near Yellowknife, N.W.T.
The Board ordered that the two groups have 30 days to come to an agreement based on the deal that failed in April last year.
Royal Oak has complied by making a formal offer to the union for a ratification vote which was passed Nov. 16.
The offer includes four items which are subject to the negotiation within the 30-day period, after which time, if no agreement has been reached, the board will impose a decision.
Royal Oak believes a number of items in the Board’s order were outside its jurisdiction and the company has instructed its lawyers to prepare an application for judicial review before the Federal Court of Appeal. William Heath, manager of human resources for Royal Oak, says the company believes the Board overstepped its jurisdiction in five or six areas but did not elaborate.
With the recent acceptance of the company’s offer by the CASAW, those wishing to return to work will likely be able to do so within three to four weeks, Health says.
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