Xstrata Workers Reach Tentative Labour Agreement

Unionized workers at Xstrata’s metal refinery in Montreal have reached a tentative three-year labour contract agreement with the international mining group just three days before their current contract was due to expire. The refinery produces nearly one-million ounces of gold a year as well as some silver, and receives feed from Xstrata smelters in Canada, Chile and Vale’s Canadian Operations. The last round of talks, which took place in 2007, broke down and resulted in a one-month strike.