KITIMAT, B.C. -- Thousands of people marched through the streets of Kitimat yesterday and rallied at Centennial Park, as they called for Rio Tinto and its striking union members to resume bargaining and end the dispute that has shut down the smelter.
The strike began 12 days ago, with the two sides at loggerheads over a number of issues, including retiree benefits and the use of contractors -- and no new negotiations are scheduled.
The "Save the Northwest" rally heard from several speakers, including Unifor Local 2301 member Jeremy Morden, who said the rally was not about choosing sides -- but about the ramifications of a protracted strike on the entire region.
"What is happening right now is unnecessary but unfortunately is our reality! Everyone needs to realize that this is much larger than the 900 Rio Tinto workers that are unemployed -- this is about our entire community; there are hundreds of other people who are also out of work due to this strike, there are layoffs and cutbacks of hours already happening! This is not just about our jobs and the businesses that we worked so hard to build, this is about our houses, our families, our mental and financial well-being," he told the crowd.
Speakers also called on the provincial government to urge the two sides to get back to the bargaining table.
On Thursday, the Haisla Nation, the District of Kitimat and the City of Terrace issued a joint statement, calling on both parties to "meet and work together to come to an amicable agreement that benefits all parties and the larger community".
