Toronto ON – IAM members from the Canadian office, and District Lodges 78 and 140 joined community activists from the Americas to protest outside the annual shareholders meeting of Hudson Bay Minerals – Hudbay.
From Guatemala, Peru and Arizona to Manitoba, Indigenous and non-indigenous communities have mobilized to seek justice and reparations from crimes and treaty violations carried out by Hudbay and its subsidiaries. The protestors called on the Hudbay directors and shareholders to initiate a transparent and public process to provide full reparation to indigenous Mayan Qeqchi families and communities harmed directly and indirectly by Hudbay’s nickel mining attempts from 2004-2011. Hudbay has denied any involvement.
Addressing the gathering outside the shareholders meeting, IAM Canadian General Vice President Dave Ritchie said Hudson Bay Minerals has to respect Human Rights. “You need respect on the job and in your community. People shouldn’t be put in jail, people shouldn’t be murdered, just because they have a different point of view.”
“It’s all about pressure, and we have to pressure the Canadian government and other governments to have respect for human rights no matter where you live,” said Ritchie. “Our members will stay on the picket line until we get respect they deserve and we’ll stand up for you so that you get the respect you deserve.”
Members of IAM Local Lodge 1848 walked off the job at Hudbay operations in Flin Flon and Snow Lake, Manitoba on May 2nd for wage parity with mining operations in The Pas and Thompson, Manitoba. They will be joined by members of the United Steelworkers on May 28th, after they voted 91 per cent in favour of strike action against Hudbay.
Photos below: IAM flags form the backdrop for protestors outside the Hudson Bay Minerals annual shareholders meeting in downtown Toronto. Representatives of indigenous peoples from Peru, Chile, Guate- Mala, Arizona and Manitoba who have filed claims against Hudbay for crimes carried out by or for the company, were joined by members of the IAM who are currently striking the mining giant in Flin Flon and Snow Lake, Manitoba.
Photos below: IAM Canadian General Vice President Dave Ritchie told Hudbay protestors it’s all about pressure. Hudbay has pressured Indigenous peoples out of their homes and off their lands. We have to pressure governments, Canadian and foreign, to force Hudbay to respect human rights and people who share a different viewpoint.
Photo below (left to right): Angelica Choc, whose husband was shot and killed by mine security guards in El Estor Guatemala; German Chub, who was paralyzed after being shot by security guards and Rosa Elbira, representing 11 women from the village who were raped by security guards. Hudbay has denied any involvement.
