Several labour organizations are taking aim at what they call the "reprehensible labour practices" of Rio Tinto, which they say are tainting the upcoming Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival in Vancouver.
   The United Steelworkers, the Canadian Autoworkers and the B-C Federation of Labour have sent a letter to the festival organizing committee, accusing Rio Tinto of mean-spirited attacks against its employees in Alma, Quebec.   C-A-W area director Susan Spratt says Rio Tinto locked out its workers in Alma in a dispute over hiring subcontractors to replace retiring unionized workers, and she accuses the company of attempting the same attacks on the union in Kitimat.
   The current collective agreement in Kitimat expires July 23rd.  

   The unions say one team -- the Mavericks from Harrison BC -- has already withdrawn from the festival as a protest over Rio Tinto's actions.