November 14, 2007

Ekati Diamond Mine Workers, BHP Billiton Inc. reach tentative agreement

YELLOWKNIFE – More than 300 members of the Ekati Diamond Workers, UNW Local X3050 and BHP Billiton Mines Inc. reached a four-year tentative agreement on November 7. The union bargaining team is recommending that the members vote in favour of the offer.

The Regional Executive Vice-President PSAC North, Jean-François Des Lauriers, says the proposed new contract contains significant improvements for the diamond workers, including annual indexed wage increases fixed at 1.25 per cent on top of annual increases to match the NWT rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) (COLA clause), an incentive pay plan, improved seniority and layoff protection, and an 11.5 per cent increase in Short-term Disability coverage.

Additional new elements in the proposed contract include the provision for Alternate Dispute Resolution as an alternative to the formal grievance and arbitration process and a new Northern Social Justice Fund. BHP Billiton will contribute $10,000 annually to the fund, which will be jointly administered by the Union and management and directed towards worthy social justice projects in the north.

Ekati is Canada’s first diamond mine. Located 300 kilometers northeast of Yellowknife, it produces six per cent of the world’s diamond supply.