No strike: Highland Valley Copper workers vote in favour of five-year contract

KAMLOOPS – More than 1,000 union workers will remain on the job at the Highland Valley Copper (HVC) mine west of Logan Lake for the next five years.

Nine days after issuing a strike notice to Teck Resources Limited, the United Steelworkers – Local 7619 announced that more than 80 per cent of participating members voted in favour of a new five-year contract.

In a bargaining update posted by the union Friday (Jan. 21), United Steelworkers says 81.2 per cent (706 of 869 employees who got informed and voted) of its members voted in favour of the non-binding recommendations developed by the mediators.

“One of the things we spoke about at the meetings was that no matter what, we are in this together,” United Steelworkers – Local 7619 states. “Just like any vote, what ever the group consensus lands is where we all go. Be frustrated with the company, but there is no reason to be frustrated with each other. The majority has spoken, time to move on. Be proud of the significant language which will improve the lives of workers at HVC.”

The union says back pay is expected to come in the next few paychecks for employees. The last contract expired Sep. 30, 2021.

The United Steelworkers Local 7619 represents 1,048 workers at the Teck Resources owned mine.