Highland Valley Copper workers vote to strike

A Kamloops BC TV station reports workers at Teck Resources Highland Valley Copper mine have voted 99.5% in favour of striking if necessary to back wage and benefit demands. The 1,100 unionized workers voted Sunday, less than a week before their contract is due to expire.

The Highland Valley Copper mine is the largest copper mine in Canada and one of the largest copper mining and concentrating operations in the world. Teck announced last week a $475 million upgrade of its 40-year-old Highland Valley mill to bring it in line with the mine’s 2025 end of life, and a separate $210 million investment at a BC lead and zinc operation.

CFJC TV reports union spokesman Richard Boyce says there was an excellent turnout of members at Sunday’s strike vote. He says while the union doesn’t want to have a strike, it’s important to have the backing of the members if matters go that far.

The nearest community to the Highland Valley Mine is Logan Lake, 60km south of Kamloops and 320km east of Vancouver, BC.

Teck last week also okayed a two-year construction project at its zinc and lead smelting and refining complex at Trail, BC, to increase capacity to recycle electronic waste at a cost of $210 million.

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