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GHOSTRIDERS
Two wins for the Ghostriders - Page 21 ELK VALLEY
Lions Club property vandalised - Page 5 SPARWOOD
BC Hydro contractor James Clive, Ktunaxa Nation representatives Diana Dearden and Marion Eunson, Minister of Energy and Mines Bill Bennett, BC Hydro’s Diane Tammen and Kerrie Huolt, and RDEK Area B Director Stan Doehle in front of the Winsor Substation upgrade project. For more on this story, turn to page 3. Photo by B. Catton
Teck announces 1000 job cuts worldwide By Leah Scheitel Free Press Staff
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n Nov. 17, Teck Resources Ltd. announced the elimination of 1000 jobs worldwide, across all of Teck’s global offices and operations. The job eliminations are expected to happen through a series of layoffs and attrition. The reduction in jobs is expected to bring their labour force reductions to a total of 2000 positions over the past 18 months. Teck also announced the suspension of any further work on the Coal Mountain (CMO) Phase 2 project and from the environmental assessment process. The halt on
efforts to improve efficiency and productivity, while remaining keenly focused on safety and sustainability.” Nic Milligan, Manager of Community and Aboriginal Affairs for Teck, noted Teck’s intention to keep Coal Mountain Operations active until 2017. “It’s important to note that Coal Mountain Operations is expected to continue operating through to the end of 2017, a full two years away,” he said. “Our intention is to transition as many workers as possible from Coal Mountain to the other four mines in the Elk Valley. Depending on market conditions, Teck intends to identify
potential options to make up the approximately 2.25 million tonnes of annual coal production that were planned from the CMO Phase 2 project by optimizing production from its five other steelmaking coal mines.” The international coal company announced dividends of five cents per share, which is lower than the earlier semi-annual payment of 15 cents per share. Milligan said the company is expecting to see layoffs in the Elk Valley. “We anticipate reducing the Elk Valley workforce across all areas, including management. Continued on page 5
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the Coal Mountain project means mining could conclude at the current Coal Mountain Operation in two years. Teck said they are actively identifying opportunities that will replace the planned production from the expansion of the Coal Mountain Operation. “We are implementing these additional measures to conserve capital, lower our operating costs and maintain financial flexibility in light of very difficult market conditions,” said Don Lindsay, Teck’s President and chief executive in a press release. “These steps build on our ongoing cost reduction program and I want to thank all employees for their
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