Aluminerie de Bécancour (ABI) notified the Ministry of Labour that the smelter’s management is prepared to begin new labor negotiations with the goal of reaching a multi-year, collective bargaining agreement.
ABI’s salaried employees have been operating the smelter at reduced capacity since January 11, after United Steelworkers Local 9700 rejected the company’s last offer.
Negotiations will be monitored by Lucien Bouchard and Jean Nolin, two mediators appointed by the Ministry of Labour., who will also schedule the date for negotiations. ABI management in a press release states that is eager to reinitiate discussions to make the facility more globally competitive for the benefit of numerous stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers and community members.
Over the last few months, ABI’s management undertook an extensive operational analysis in order to develop potential solutions to improve the smelter’s productivity and overall competitiveness.
ABI management says it is lookingforward to hearing the union’s proposals to advance a long-term, sustainable and successful future for ABI.
The Aluminerie de Becancour Inc. is held at 74.95 percent by Alcoa and 25.05 percent by Rio Tinto.
(Aluminerie de Bécancour)
Print this page
