Defamation suit filed against Voisey’s union boss
August 24th, 2010
A long-running labour dispute at the Voisey’s Bay nickel mine in northern Labrador has spilled over into the courts.
Darren Cove, president of the United Steelworkers local at Voisey’s Bay, said he was served Monday with documents in a civil lawsuit.
Cove said a statement of claim filed by Vale alleges that Cove defamed the company when he recently said it was treating its workers like second-class citizens.
About 200 Steelworkers members in Labrador have been off the job since early August in 2009, in a strike over wages and benefits.
Cove said lawyers for the Steelworkers have told him they have never before seen an employer use such a tactic in a labour dispute.
