The global mining and metal giant Rio Tinto anticipates restarting full operations for production at its Kitimat aluminium smelter and the Kemano hydropower facility, in British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province following the attainment of a new labour agreement with workers.
Anglo-Australian multinational miner in September 2021 declared that it has drawn up an in-principle agreement on a new collective labour agreement for BC Works with labour union Unifor Local 2310.
The members of the largest private-sector union in Canada have now voted in favour of the agreement.
Furthermore, in the collective labour agreement, the parties have also given consent on a memorandum of understanding for a new way of working together and on a comeback to work protocol. The agreements outline a shared vision for a safe, engaged, strong and competitive business that will benefit employees, communities, the environment, and stakeholders.
Affonso Bizon, General Manager, BC Works - Rio Tinto, said: “We welcome this vote from employees in support of the new agreement and our shared vision of a strong, sustainable future for BC Works. Our focus will now be on ensuring the return of workers and that the ramp-up of production at the smelter is managed in a safe and controlled manner over coming months, to deliver lasting benefits for our employees, the broader community and our customers.”
The management of Rio Tinto in the next few days will begin the procedure of the return to work for employees, after the continuous resumption of the smelter’s production cells.
In July 2021, Rio Tinto slashed production at its BC works to around 35% of the smelter’s 432,000 tonnes per year capacity, so that it could safely be functionalized by staff and employees that are required under an essential services order granted by the BC Labour Relations Board.
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