After more than three weeks without any discussion, the bargaining committee for Local 6500 of the United Steelworkers and negotiating team for Inco Ltd. are back talking.
Inco spokesperson Cory McPhee says ?exploratory talks? have resumed at the Ramada Inn.
However, no one should assume this means an official return to the bargaining table is imminent or that the strike is about to end, said McPhee.
It is hoped that these exploratory talks can lead to ?common ground? to continue meaningful bargaining in the near future, said McPhee.
Any talks are better than not talking at all, said McPhee.
?At least exploratory talks are a sign of some progress,? he said.
More than 3,300 members of Local 6500 have been on the picket lines for almost three months.
John Fera, president of Local 6500, was at the Ramada Inn Thursday, but he could not be contacted by Northern Life before Thursday?s press deadline.
The key stumbling blocks in the dispute continue to be over seniority and transfer rights and the union insisting it will not accept any concessions on the benefits package offered to retirees, widows and the current workforce.
If the company is willing to address seniority rights and the benefits issue, Fera is on record as stating he believes monetary issues like wages and pensions could be dealt with quickly.
Last month, Inco chair and CEO Scott Hand told an international audience the company will not be offering any more money toward the union?s pension plan, which gives workers $3,000 a month if they have completed 30 years of service.
The union is battling to have more money directed towards the basic pension workers can obtain before Canada
Pension kicks in at age 65.
