Falconbridge Ltd. announced that its employees, members of the Sudbury Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers Union in Sudbury, Ontario, voted 93.5% in favor of ratifying a new three-year collective agreement.
The strike carried on for close to three weeks. Falconbridge produces about 5 percent of the world’s nickel supply.
The new collective agreement expires on January 31, 2007.
"We are pleased with the results of the ratification vote and look forward to having our employees back to work as soon as possible," stated Allen Hayward, vice president Mining, Falconbridge. "We believe the new agreement reached a good balance between the company's need to maintain costs and flexibility in a global marketplace, while providing our employees with a very competitive settlement."
Falconbridge estimates that it will take about three to four weeks to return mine production to normal operating levels. Smelter production will resume normal operating levels almost immediately.
Falconbridge Sudbury operations are part of the company's Integrated Nickel Operations.