TORONTO - Ken Neumann, National Director of the United Steelworkers is demanding that Ministers Kenney and Finley insure that Vale Inco will not be permitted to bring in temporary foreign workers during the strike in Sudbury, Port Colborne and Voisey's Bay.

In a letter dated September 2nd to Immigration Minister Jason Kenney and HRSD Minister Diane Finley, Neumann made it clear that the Steelworkers "declare unequivocally" that we oppose any application from Vale Inco to bring in temporary foreign workers."

"The federal government's guidelines specifically require they determine if the entry of the foreign worker is likely to affect the settlement of an ongoing labour dispute." said Neumann. "We are counting on this government to do their job, and insure respectful labour relations."

The Brazilian multinational Vale, that bought the former Canadian Inco, has broken with precedent by declaring that it will try to restart production without the striking workers, a decision that raises serious health and safety concerns and is certain to aggravate the labour dispute.

Mr. Neumann goes on to explain to the Ministers that under these circumstances "you will certainly understand that granting an application to allow temporary foreign workers in the Vale Inco operations would make settlement of the dispute even more difficult."

In fact, according to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, employers may not use foreign workers to circumvent a legal work stoppage or otherwise influence the outcome of a labour dispute.

"To add the variable of foreign workers to an already contentious situation would not be helpful," added Neumann.

"The Harper government must not be an accomplice in Vale's provocative behaviour," insisted Neumann.