Judge restricts Local 6500 picketers to eight per picket line

The number of striking Steelworkers Local 6500 members picketing at Vale Inco plants is now limited to eight after a March 24 ruling by Superior Court Justice Robbie Gordon.

The decision was made because of numerous breaches of the picket line protocol previously set down by the courts, according to Vale Inco spokesperson Steve Ball.

Beyond limiting the number of picketers on picket lines, the ruling also prohibits picketers from hiding or concealing their identity and that the Sheriff of the judicial district of Sudbury attempt to prevent further breaches of picket line protocol.

The decision states that the Steelworkers are allowed to continue secondary picketing at businesses who are acting as Vale Inco contractors. Ball said this is because the judge ruled that “the contractors will probably still work for us despite the secondary picketing.”

“We’re satisfied that the judge has sent a clear message that people have a legal right to report to work and that we have a right to access our plants,” Ball said.

“The ruling also balances the union members’ legal right to picket. We’ve always been fine with that, as long as it’s been done in a law-abiding manner.”

Check back to NorthernLife.ca for the union’s response to the ruling as it becomes available.