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(CP) Workers at one of Canada's two diamond mines walked off the job early Friday in a dispute over seniority and contracting out.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is seeking a first contract for 375 unionized workers at the Ekati mine in the Northwest Territories. Union spokesman Jean-Francois Des Lauriers said about 150 workers were flown out of the remote mine to Yellowknife after they finished their shift Friday morning.

"That's almost everybody," said Des Lauriers. "They're showing massive support."

About 20 union members remained on the job, he said.

Pickets were set up in Yellowknife, where the mine's owners have offices.

About 60 workers were also picketing a private Yellowknife air terminal that BHP uses to transport workers to the mine.

The mine remains operating, said BHP spokeswoman Deana Twissell.

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The main issues in the current strike include seniority and contracting out. The union has also alleged that aboriginal employees suffer discrimination from southern managers that prevents them from advancing to better-paying jobs.

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Build those allies and isolate the boss. That's the stuff. Mind you, anti-scab legislation would help the public good in this case. Too bad more jurisdictions, like, say, the Province of Manitoba's NDP Government, didn't have this sort of legislation on the books, eh?