Striking Labrador steelworkers on picket line thankful for community support

The members ofUnited Steelworkers Union Local 5795 may not be on the job, but they still have plenty of work to do to keep more than 1,000 striking workers in Labrador City fed, clothed and warm on the picket lines.

Steelworkers in Labradorare grateful for the support of the community, and from each other, as they continue to picketat three entrances to Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) mines after voting overwhelmingly early Monday in favour of strike action.

• Strike at IOC in Labrador City as Steelworkers reject company's offer

Several committees have since organized to manage the needs of the striking workers as they rotate between three eight-hour shifts on the picket line.Asteady stream of donations arecoming in from the wider Labrador community.

"We've been installing strike trailers and putting power to them, andportapotties," said strike committee member Bill Broderick. "We built the shacks yesterday and our barriers today, but it takes a lot of gear to keep 1,300 people warm and fed."

"We use the term around here, 'You're busy as abaymanwith twowoodstoves,' and I just delivered three."

'We're fighting againstIOC, and everybody appreciates it'

Most residents of this northern town are connected to someone who works in the mine, and the support has not gone unnoticed by the striking employees.

Steelworker Kenny Temple came to his shift on the picket linewith a truckload of wood to keep him and fellow steelworkers warm through the evening.

"Everybody's got to do their part," Temple said. "We're fighting againstIOC, and everybody appreciates it."

Shift captains are keeping log books of the deliveries, to track and later thank the people, contractorsand companies who havedonationed.

"There's been lots of contractors dropping offcoffee,donuts, tea. Alot of people have been by with wood. People have been bringing up chili, soup, and stuff like that definitely goes a long way," Temple said.

TanyaBenoitsaid the donated treats aregood for morale, especially in the cold weather. She dropped off cookies for her coworkers on the line, and hoped others would do the same when it was time for her own shift.

"I hear there's lots of donations, two pages of donations already,"Benoitsaid.

And Rev. Dean Sellars of Carol United Church brought a pot of turkey soup for folks at the main gate.

"We were preparing soup for the sick, and shut ins we had some soup left so we wanted to show our support for the strikers," Sellarssaid.

If the strike continues, the church congregation is planning tohelp out further. Volunteers with the church are already making plans in case long-term support is needed,but Sellars hopes acontingency planwon't be necessary.

"We just pray that the strike will be a short one because we know that many families are going to be affected."