Tim Bettger and Al Shearing have been charged with seven acts of violence related to the ongoing labor dispute at the Giant gold mine in Yellowknife, N.W.T.
The former mine employees are members of Local 4 of the Canadian Smelter and Allied Workers (CASAW), which went on strike last May after rejecting a tentative agreement with mine owner Royal Oak Mines (TSE).
The latest arrests follow the earlier arrest of Roger Wallace Warren, a union member charged with nine counts of first-degree murder in connection with an explosion which killed nine miners at Giant more than a year ago (T.N.M., Oct. 25/93).
The charges against Bettger and Shearing include breaking and entering, setting an explosive device, possession of explosives dangerous to public peace, possession of explosives with intent to endanger life, possession of a prohibited weapon (a sawed-off shotgun) and uttering threats to cause death. The new charges follow earlier charges against all three Yellowknife residents for other civil and criminal acts, including participating in a riot on June 14, 1992. All three men were long-term mine employees. Shearing was actively involved with the CASAW executive since at least 1980 when he served as a shop steward. In 1989, he was elected to serve as a trustee on the union’s executive committee. Several other members and past members of the union executive, as well as shop stewards, have been charged, either civilly or criminally, for their activities during the labor dispute. Royal Oak says it will not discuss its position on collective bargaining with the union until the police can confirm that all charges have been laid. The company also intends to call upon the federal minister of labor to investigate the local union “and its illegal activities” during the strike.
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