In a statement by Unifor, their representative union, it was alleged that Taseko had “refused to negotiate basic terms” and “shown little interest in avoiding a disruption at the copper mine.”
The miner was subsequently forced to suspend mining and milling operations, leaving only essential staff on site to maintain critical systems.
Acquired in 1999, the Gibraltar mine is currently Taseko’s only producing asset, anchored by a large mineral reserve base that would support an average annual copper production of 130 million lb. until at least 2044.
Now in its 20th year of operation, Gibraltar represents the second-largest open-pit copper mine in Canada, owing to $800 million of spending on multiple phases of modernization and expansion.
The new collective agreement would spell the end of the two-week work stoppage at the largest employer in the Cariboo region. In 2024, the mine is expected to produce 115 million lb. of…
