Meanwhile, Local 40 of the Norwegian Chemical Workers Union (NKIF) voted by a 90 percent margin to declare a five-day sympathy strike in solidarity with CAW Local 598 starting November 15. More than 500 union members work at the Falconbridge refinery in Norway, one of the world’s largest.

Falconbridge hired additional security from a special agency based in Toronto to escort the trucks delivering ore to the smelter for the round trips and to escort the buses carrying in the scabs. Workers pointed to the cameras attached to the Accu-fax trailers near the picket lines.

The use of scabs and management personnel to maintain production is relatively new. Workers on the picket line underlined the antilabor attitude of the provincial government headed by Premier Michael Harris. "Basically, we’re not just fighting the company, we’re fighting Mike Harris and his laws," stated Mike Chertow. "Harris is giving them the legal right to do things like this but they’ll never have the moral right to put guys on the street like this," added Dave Hebert.

The company claims the smelter is running at 60 percent capacity. Most workers interviewed believed it was more like 30 percent.

Commenting on the company’s hard-line stance, Hebert stated, "Actually it’s backfiring; it’s creating solidarity. Each guy’s getting to know about what’s going on in the other place. They thought it would divide us but it’s bringing us together."

Rolly Gauthier, president of Mine Mill/Canadian Auto Workers Local 598, said the union is prepared to accept binding arbitration "if all else fails" to resume talks and a negotiated settlement.

The union membership meeting voted to "authorize the bargaining committee to move halfway to the company’s position on the question of union time, as a gesture of good faith." One of the concessions demanded by the company is to cut union representation on the job.

Workers described the solidarity they have received. Besides support from workers in Norway, unionized workers at a Falconbridge plant in Timmins, Ontario, contributed $5,000. United Steelworkers of America Local 6500, which represents 3,000 nickel miners at Inco here, is donating $1,000 a month for the duration of the strike, and Steelworkers have joined the picket line.

The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union stocks a special store for the miners on strike. "The stakes are much higher than just us. We’re fighting for the teachers, Inco workers, the community," said Darin Nicksy.  
 
 
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