Operations at Gibraltar copper mine in British Columbia halted due to workers’ strike

A workers’ strike has forced Vancouver-based Taseko Mines Limited to cease operations at its Gibraltar copper mine in central British Columbia, about 200 kilometers south of Prince George.

The company issued a press release on Saturday saying negotiations with union members on a new contract ended late Friday without an agreement.

The company said mining and milling operations had ceased before midnight, leaving only essential personnel to maintain critical operations.

Unifor said members of its Local 3018 union voted to strike today and accused Taseko of refusing to negotiate the “basic terms of a new collective agreement.”

According to a union press release, collective bargaining began in February and the workers’ last contract expired on Friday.

The press release states that Unifor Local 3018 represents approximately 550 workers at the mine, which is Canada’s second-largest open-pit copper mine and the region’s largest employer.