Workers never went on strike: Fording

I am writing to clarify information that appeared in your Oct. 8-14 issue. The story appeared under the headline “Fording, workers settle strike.”

This headline is erroneous, as is the sentence in the second paragraph, which states “mine workers had been without a contract since April 2001 and have been on strike since July.”

During the week ending July 13, 2001, the union at the Fording River metallurgical coal mine held a strike vote in which employees voted in favour of a strike mandate. However, they did not exercise this mandate. Negotiations continued and it was announced on Sept. 30 that Fording River employees had agreed to a new 5-year agreement.

Jerry Burdenie

Administrator, Public Affairs

Fording Coal

Calgary, Alta.