By Michelle Stewart
Transcontinental Media-Wabush
Just two weeks after Consolidated Thompson's offer to buy Stelco and
Cleveland-Cliffs shares in Wabush Mines was accepted, Wabush Mines
announced it plans to cut the air transportation allowance to its employees
by one-third.
United Steelworkers currently receive $1,598 annually - the amount is also
given for each spouse and dependent child.
In a memo sent out to employees by resident manager Bob Behrendt Tuesday,
it explained Wabush Mines had worked out a deal with Provincial Airlines
that would see the roundtrip (Wabush to St. John's) airfare reduced to $575
for employees of Wabush Mines and eligible family members.
United Steelworkers Local 6285 president Jim Skinner was angered by the
unusual move, calling it a parting shot from a company that he says has
treated his membership with a lack of respect.
"You can be guaranteed this membership will not tolerate this," he said of
the change slated for implementation January 2008. "I can tell you if this
was to happen today, there'd be no ore produced in Wabush today. We went on
strike for six months in 1975, we stood fast to get this benefit and we are
not going to give it up."
The union executive called an emergency meeting of its 340 members
Wednesday morning to discuss the company memo and course of action.
A wildcat strike would have happened, according to Skinner, "at the drop of
a pin," but he says the membership agreed it would only play into the
managing company (Cleveland-Cliffs) hands.
"(Cleveland-Cliffs) had hoped we would be on a picket line right now
actually," Skinner surmised. "So our recommendation to the membership was,
'Let's ignore these people. They are going to be gone by January 2008. They
no longer have any jurisdiction, no credence or credibility with us.' There
was a general consensus that we would deal with the new people when the
time comes."
Skinner said he was in touch with Consolidated Thompson on the issue and
was assured the new owners were not involved in the decision to cut the
allowances.
The most significant issue, Skinner said, is the way Provincial Airlines
can make a deal such as it did for Wabush Mines employees and not for the
public of Labrador West, especially those who can least afford the $1,600
airline tickets.
"If Provincial can offer corporate rates that are one-third less, then I
think it's time our mayors (Graham Letto and Jim Farrell) and our MHA (Jim
Baker) step up to the plate for the lower income people of Labrador West,"
he said. "They need to contact Provincial and ask them why they are price
fixing and price gouging the people here."
 "There is no deal here for the people who can least afford it," he noted.
"I would like to see our MHA do something about that for the people who
voted for him, for his constituents."
The union leader is calling for a boycott of Provincial Airlines by
everyone travelling in and out of Labrador West.
"We need to hold Provincial accountable," he insisted.

The Aurora

Ken Simmons
Features Editor
The Telegram
Box 5970
1 Columbus Drive
St. John's, NF
A1C 5X7
709-364-2323 ex. 310