This article is very pro-boss but folks can read between the lines.

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Workers Sieze Alcan Smelter in Quebec

Quebec's Labour Relations Board ruled late Friday that the workers' actions were illegal. On Saturday, thousands of people demonstrated against plans to close the plant 10 years earlier than expected.

Engen said the 60-year-old smelter, which had been slated to close in 2014 because its technology doesn't meet more stringent environmental standards, is being closed earlier because of the age of its workforce.

"We've been trying to find the right moment in time when, because of the natural evolution of the employment, that we'd have enough retirements to more than offset the job reductions so that people could be transferred and there would not be any layoffs," Engen said.

Alcan had been in discussions with union representatives before the company's announcement Jan. 22 that it plans to close the facility. But the workers' representatives have been unwilling to talk since then, he said.

"We remain open, interested, available. And would welcome whatever steps could be taken to open up a dialogue," Engen told reporters.

Alcan had started the closure process, which requires several weeks. But Rolland Poirier, the union local's general secretary, said in an interview the workers took over the plant last Tuesday "and stopped the closure process."

Poirier said Monday the mill's foremen are making inspections at the mill, which still runs 24 hours a day, "but the operating decisions are being made by the operators."

Read the full article...

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Here's a good indymedia article en francais

ALCAN : Contrôle ouvrier à Jonquière

[ 03 February 2004: Message edited by: Mick ]

I'm glad to see the major labour confederations joined in - the problem is that the union at Arvida was a breakaway from the CSN without links to parent bodies. Think the bosses are shutting down the smelters - I'm trying to get more info on this - I fear the action might well remain isolated. Alcan is the key employer in the Saguenay Lac-St-Jean region, along with forestry companies that have also shed a lot of jobs.

[ 03 February 2004: Message edited by: lagatta ]

Pour lire l'original en français

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When the top management of the ALCAN multinational announced, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the closing of Arvida aluminium smelters they undoubtedly did not suspect the Pandora's box they opened. Of course, everyone was expecting the workers to be angry, as testified by the presence of the provincial riot squad in Jonquière as soon as the news broke, but nobody was expecting "this".

Indeed, who could imagine that in 2004, in Quebec, a union local would ambitiously occupy an installation of a powerful multinational and, as a means of pressure, would restart the production at full capacity under workers' control? That is, however, exactly what the Syndicat national des employés de l'aluminium d'Arvida (SNEA, that's the union) just did.

Read the rest of the article

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[ 05 February 2004: Message edited by: Mick ]

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ast Updated Tue, 10 Feb 2004 16:04:50

ARVIDA, QUE. - Workers at Alcan's smelter in Arvida, Quebec, have rejected a tentative deal that would have ended a standoff with the company.

The union said the workers have voted "overwhelmingly" to turn down the weekend pact, which called for the workers to end their occupation of the smelter.

Under terms of the deal, Alcan promised not to discipline any of the workers who have been occupying the plant. The company also offered to put up $20 million over the next three years to try to attract another industrial plant to the Jonquiere area.

The Arvida facility employs 550 workers. Alcan announced last month that it would close the plant 10 years earlier than the expected closing date of 2015. The workers, members of the CAW, then began to occupy and operate the smelter themselves to protest the closure decision.

Alcan CEO Travis Engen said Monday the agreement with the union would not change the company's plans to close the smelter this spring.

Alcan said it's amazed the workers rejected the deal. An Alcan spokesperson told CBC News the company has no immediate moves planned but is determined to take back control of its factory.

The Quebec Labour Relations Board has ruled that the workers' occupation of the plant is illegal. It's ordered the smelter returned to Alcan's control.

The Quebec labour minister said it's still too early for the province to intervene in the dispute. Department officials are pinning their hopes on a mediator who was appointed last week. The union is asking the mediator to resume his work.

Alcan shares were up 68 at $58.88 on the TSX.

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[ 11 February 2004: Message edited by: Mick ]