Miners reject ArcelorMittal agreement

Majority local votes 54 per cent against, minority 80 per cent for

Three of the four United Steelworker locals who reached a tentative agreement with ArcelorMittal Mines for the Fermont/Port-Cartier, Quebec operations have voted in favour but a fourth, local 5778, rejected it in a ballot counted on March 30.

The lone bargaining unit represents the 1,100 iron miners at Fermont. The three who accepted represent workers at the pelletizing plant (Local 8664) and support workers in Fermont and in Part-Cartier (Local 7401).

According to Radio-Canada, the contract would have included a $1,500 signing bonus and a long-service retention bonus in a six-year agreement.

Talks with the employer to decide how to proceed are taking place. A media blackout is in place.

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