Originally expected to last about a month, the shutdown of Vale's Coleman Mine will now continue until the end of January, said the union representing production workers at the company.
“We have been informed that, unfortunately, this production interruption will now continue until the end of January,” said a press release issued Dec. 1 by Steelworkers Local 6500.
On Nov. 9, operations at the mine were suspended for what Vale calls “necessary repairs.”
"As part of an ongoing maintenance review, a decision has been made to expedite some necessary repairs to the shaft’s ventilation compartment at Coleman Mine, which has resulted in operations at Coleman Mine being suspended," said Vale spokesperson Angie Robson in the November statement.
Local 6500 said it's been working with Vale to lessen the effects on those impacted by the temporary shutdown.
“100 of our members have been temporarily transferred to other mine sites, while 90 continue to work at Coleman to perform the required maintenance,” said the statement from the union.
“This means that approximately 300 members are now on a temporary layoff. We have been meeting with the company to discuss the interpretation of our Collective Agreement regarding the temporary layoff.
“As a result of this, we are pleased that our members will receive a Supplemental Unemployment Benefit wage top-up to 95 per cent of their full earnings. We will continue to work with company representatives and to support our members during this time.”
