IOC workers dig in as strike enters second week

Workers at the Iron OreCompany of Canada (IOC) are entering their second week on the picket line in Labrador City, althoughfrigid weather and looming financial burdens aren't dampening spirits.

"This is probably the worst day yet but as you can see, everybody still showed up. Solidarity all around," Peter Dunne told CBCNews.

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On Thursday, lows of 30 C and blowing snow kept strikers huddled around fire barrels as they stood in front of barricades near the front gate of the mine.

Workerswalked out March 27after more than90 per cent voted in favour of striking,saying the latest IOC offer wouldimplementa two-tier pension, increasethe retirement age and makeunwanted changes to sick leave.

Money is tight, but that's it, you'll survive.- Steve Baker

"I'd hate to say we're wasting our time out here freezing to death but this is what we got to do to get what we gotto get," said Nola King, a striking worker.

Pay day looming

Financial pressures are also bearing down on the strikers. While they're on the line, the union says theywill be getting $350 in strike pay weekly.

"Everyone's got payments, everyone's got bills but you'll make it through," said Steve Baker, adding he endureda 16-week strike once while working at WabushMines.

"Money is tightbut that's it, you'll survive."

The union hall has been turned into a makeshift headquarters for the strike. Workers who would normallybe operating heavy machinery are instead pushing paper.

"I've got 43 years with IOCand I'm still here to support the young people who need support," said Art Huxter.

Huxter ishelping get things in order for strike pay to start going out.

"We have a lot of new people we have to walk through, and we have a lot of people that have a good load [of] debt: house, car, truck [or] whatever they got,"Huxter said.

"How they make it, it's going to be hard on a lot of people."