With workers hitting the picket lines at the Horne copper smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Noranda has declared force majeure on receipt of copper concentrate from other companies, reports Reuters.
On June 18, about 510 employees represented by Le Syndicat des travailleurs de la Mine Noranda, walked off the job to force action on contract demands concerning subcontracting.
The company says it is waiting to hear from the union, while the union told Reuters, “They will wait for a while,” adding it was up to the company to come up with a new offer.
The employees contract at Horne expired in February.
The operations last suffered a three-month-long strike in 1986.
The smelter is currently being run by about 130 employees at well below half of its normal capacity.
In 2001, the smelter produced 188,000 tonnes of copper.
Noranda’s shares were off 31 at $19.39 in mid-afternoon trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Friday.
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