July 05, 2010

LOCAL MPS APPLAUD BOTH SIDES AS TENTATIVE DEAL IS REACHED

"Relief felt across the entire community”


SUDBURY – It’s the news Sudbury has been waiting to hear for almost a year. United Steelworkers local 6500 and Vale have come to terms on a tentative five-year deal that will hopefully end a long and bitter strike.

“It has been a painful 12 months for these workers and their families” said Sudbury MP Glenn Thibeault.  “The whole community has suffered and I want to commend both the union and company for working out an agreement.”

Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle has nothing but praise for all the workers who have endured hardship since last summer.  “I know what it’s like to walk a picket line and wonder if you will ever return to your job” said Gravelle.  “These employees deserve a ton of credit for hanging in there and standing firm.”

The tentative deal was struck despite inaction from the Federal government. 

“We pressured the Harper Conservatives and more specifically Minister Clement’s office on numerous occasions to get involved” added Thibeault.  “But no help ever came from Ottawa.”

“We couldn’t even get details of the agreement signed by Vale and the government under the Investment Canada Act” said Gravelle.  “But I remain committed to changing the Investment Canada Act to protect workers and their communities in the future”.

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For further information, please contact:

Brian Band, Communications Director/Outreach Coordinator (Glenn Thibeault)  705-673-7107 or thibeg1a@parl.gc.ca

Anthony Salloum , Legislative Assistant (Claude Gravelle), 613-995-9108(office) or 613-290-3246 (cell) gravec0@parl.gc.ca
AT YOUR SERVICE:
40 Elm Street, Suite 103a
Rainbow Centre
Sudbury, ON P3C 1S8
Tel: 705.673.7107
Fax: 705.673.0944
Toll Free: 1.866.787.9127

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