Dozens of workers at SNOLAB in Sudbury go on strike
After talks broke down earlier this week, 52 unionized employees at SNOLAB are on the picket line outdoors Creighton Mine in Lively.
The United Steelworkers Union stated in a news launch that members of Local 2020-59 started their strike Wednesday morning.
“We’re hopeful, we’re energetic,” stated Lee Herechuck, a senior methods operator who has been with SNOLAB for nearly seven years.
“Our members are passionate about their jobs and are extremely proud of the work they do,” added Pascal Boucher, USW space co-ordinator.
“Their expectations of how they should be compensated by SNOLAB are very reasonable and fair.”
In a news launch, SNOLAB govt director Jodi Cooley stated the lab will stay working through the work stoppage.
“Following a day of mediation on Monday, SNOLAB presented what we believe is a fair offer,” Cooley stated within the launch.
“I remain optimistic that we can get back to the bargaining table and reach an agreement … SNOLAB is a world-class science lab, and we all take an immense amount of pride in the work we do. That will not change.”
SNOLAB stated they’ve 129 everlasting staff, 52 of whom are unionized. Their salaries vary from $43,440 to $81,000.
The unionized employees have a variety of roles and {qualifications}, SNOLAB stated. Cleaner/maintainers require a highschool diploma, whereas some scientific assist employees have PhDs.
Herechuck stated the job descriptions will be deceiving. For instance, cleansing the ground in a delicate scientific lab is a posh course of.
“We have to maintain a certain level of cleanliness and if these folks do not do their job, there’s be no more science being done,” Herechuck stated.
