'We're living in fear': IOC workers say labour-management relations at all time low

Currentand former workers of the Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) mine in Labrador City say labour-management relations are at an all time low.

They say IOC,which used to be seen as a good corporate citizen in the town, now uses fear as a means to get work done.

"If you went up and stood at the gate and you started asking people, 'What's your biggest emotion going through the gate here this morning?' you would probably get fear and anxiety as your top twoanswers," a long-timeworker toldCBC News on a condition of anonymity.

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Health Minister John Haggie revealed last week there have been five suicides in the past eight months in Labrador West. All five were connected to IOC while three of themwere employeesat the time.

Climate of fear

Numerous workers who spoke with CBC saidthey have a friend or a family member who is showing signs of stress and anxiety under the current working conditions at the mine.

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"I can't say IOC is 100 per cent responsible for these suicides, I don't think anyone would, but it's definitely a contributor," one worker toldCBC.

"The only thing management is acting on now is saving face. They created this issue with their management style and their total lack of respect for employees and collective bargaining they're ruthless. We're living in fear."

The man asked for anonymitybecause he is afraidspeaking out could be used against him at the workplace.

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"At work we're looking over our shoulder to see if there's anyone from staff or HR that is going to use this against youeither next week, next month or next year. It will be used against you if the right person hears."

'Last chance infractions'

The worker said"last chance"infractions and "forced overtime"are used to intimidate workers.

"It'sthe company's way of saying, 'I'm the boss, I'm in control. You're stepping out of line a little bit. [If] you're going to grieve it, it's going to go on the pile with the other 3,000 infractions that are at the union centre that are never going to be heard,'" he said.

"That gives [the company] 12 months control over you. You step out of line once more in the next 12 months and you're getting time off."

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The workersaid he is OK with working the seven, 12-hour shifts which should be followed byseven days off, but many are not.

He saidthenight shifts can be especially hard and the company is also forcing people to work on their days off and, if they choose not to work that day, even if they call in, they could be cited with an infraction.

"We're being penalized now if we take a day off at a certain time of year, we're being penalized for it and the company has even issued a letter saying that," he said.

Letter from executive team

"Employees [who] miss shifts will be subject to disciplinary measures which, more likely than not, will result in 3 days suspension," reads a 2015 memo sent to employees fromIOC executives.

"For employees who have already progressed through some steps with the progressive discipline system, the consequences may be much more severe."

IOC has declined to comment when contacted by CBC.

Retiree speaks out

"That's got to be extremely hard on families," said BrianCorcoran, president of the mine's retirees' association.

"The answer is to hire more workers. That's the simple answer to forcing guys to work. It's obvious you need more workers."

Corcoran worked at the mine from 1971 to 1995. He says relations at the mine today are "at an all time low."

He saidin the past the company worked out its differences with workers through its grievance process, but today that isn't happening.

"Now the workers have no way of settling. There's over 3,000 grievances and if you have a problem, [at] some points you feel pretty desperate you can't get it settled. It's just referred to arbitration knowing your problem will never be dealt with," Corcoran said.

"My advice is for the company to sit down with the union and work out their differences."

No longer part of the community

Corcoran saidIOC used to be a good community contributor, but these days it's virtually impossible to get the company to donate and sponsor anything in the community.

"There's no sense of community within management of IOC," he said. "All the years that I worked [there], senior management of IOC lived within the town year round.Senior management now, don't live in Labrador City, they live outside."

"They simply want to maximize their profits regardless of what it does to the workers."