SUDBURY, Ont. – A steelworker’s union in Sudbury, Ont. has rejected the latest offer by Vale Canada after going on strike for the first time in over 10 years.

United Steelworkers Local 6500 says its members voted 87 per cent against the Brazilian mining company’s latest proposal.

Local 6500 president Nick Larochelle says the company’s offer was similar to the proposal that ignited the strike on June 1.

The union’s bargaining committee recommended members reject the new offer after endorsing the initial tentative agreement.

The union says it’s now calling on the company to commit to “good-faith negotiations” to settle the strike by 2,500 workers.

Dino Otranto, Vale’s North Atlantic chief operating officer, says the company is “disappointed” that the new offer was turned down and that Vale and the union are clearly apart on key issues.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2021.

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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.