Mine Mill union merges with CAW

The battle for Local 598 of the Canadian Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers in Sudbury, Ont., has been won by the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union.

Local 598, which represents workers at Falconbridge, voted recently to merge with the CAW rather than the United Steelworkers of America. Of the 1,200 votes cast, 785 were in favor and 415 against.

The Steelworkers is the main union in the northern Ontario city, home to major nickel producers Falconbridge and Inco (TSE).

The merger will strengthen the CAW’s mining section, which is composed mainly of mines in western Canada, and some southern Ontario operations.