Long strike over at Vale owned nickel mine

Unionized workers at a nickel mine owned by Brazilian mining giant Vale in eastern Canada ended an 18-month strike, theused gold mining equipments sale parties said. The 130 mine workers at the Voisey's Bay facility on the Labrador coast voted 88 percent in favor of a new contract, negotiated last week with the help of a government mediator, the United Steelworkers' Union said in a statement.

"Our members are returning to work with their heads held high," said Steelworkers staff representative Boyd Bussey. "They stood up for their families and their communities and fought for what they believed in. The company wanted a three-year deal, but we were looking for stability for our members and our communities and we're happy to have a five-year agreement," Bussey said. The new contract takes effect immediately and runs until January 2016. The deal includes unspecified wage hikes, increases in pension contributions, and a cost of living allowance and bonus program, Vale said in a statement...