Opening Dialogue

Zoe Yujnovich, set to become the new president of IOC, met with members of the steelworkers union this week in order to introduce herself.

The meeting comes amid tensions between the union and management over proposed drug testing and medical surveillance policies.

The hour-long meeting on Jan. 13 left a positive impression on George Kean, President of United Steelworkers Local 5795 who was joined by union vice-president Ron Thomas, Tony Reccord, President of United Steelworkers Local 6731, Terry Bowles former President of IOC, and others.

"First impressions are lasting and she left a positive atmosphere, at least to me personally," Kean said. "She seemed to be personal, friendly, open to dialogue."

He believes Yujnovich must be an intelligent and qualified person to have been chosen for her new position. She is the former president of Rio Tinto in Brazil with a Bachelor of Engineering and a Masters of Business Administration.

Yujnovich declined to do an interview with the Aurora.

Speaking after his meeting with Yujnovich, Kean said she wanted to have good labour relations.

Kean said she committed to sitting down again with the union after she reviews issues raised at the meeting with her management team.

"I indicated that we have concern for some of the workplace climate and attitudes that are in the workplace," Kean said. "I indicated to her that as a union we can be productive, profitable and employees for the most part happy to be going to work each day in a safe working environment."

He said that in the past couple of years IOC has broken many production records while the labour relations climate was not the best and looks forward to working with her to improve labour relations so that they will be able to collectively achieve their common goals.

As with any relationship, Kean said there are going to be disagreements, but he believes they should be dealt with in a respectful environment keeping in mind that at the end of the day, they've still all got to work together.

"I am hoping that some of the company management policies will change," he said. "Things are creating difficulty in the workplace now."

One positive step forward, he said, is that IOC got back to the union, and said they want to sit down and try to work out the medical surveillance issue.

He added that at a membership meeting everyone was pleased to hear that they were willing to meet and address their concerns.

"All of our employees are looking forward to improving labour relations," Kean said.