Ekati striking workers reach tentative deal

The Ekati diamond mineand its unionized workers announced Friday they have reached a tentative deal on a first collective agreement to end an 11-week strike.

The 375 unionized members of the Public Service Alliance of Canadahave been off the job since April 7 at the mine, 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife.

The union's local bargaining team is recommending its members accept the contract but details won't be made public until the workers are informed, said Jean-Francois Des Lauriers, a PSAC executive vice-president.

The union will hold a ratification vote for members as soon as reasonably possible, said Todd Parsons, president of the Union of Northern Workers component of PSAC.

Ekati, which is owned by global mining giant BHP Billiton Ltd., said the tentative deal includes salary increases, additional paid personal leave days, a retention bonus, a return to work bonus and continued enhanced incentive pay.

The agreement will also give the right for current bargaining-unit employees to choose to either remain in or withdraw from the union, the company said.

The company and the union have also agreed to drop Canada Industrial Relations Board and court proceedings, and to zero tolerance of harassment of any employee who engaged in lawful strike activity.

"We believe that this is an excellent deal for all our employees both those who chose to strike and those who chose to continue to work," said Richard Morland, Ekati's vice-president of operations.

BHP shares slipped 31 cents to close at $40.51 US on the NYSE.