All eyes on Hecla

Just when it was believed that the ongoing negotiations between the Hecla Mining Company and the Lucky Friday miners may finally be coming to some sort of a conclusion, the saga’s future continues to be more uncertain.

Representatives with Hecla and the United Steelworkers Union (USW) Local 5114 chapter met once again on Wednesday to discuss a new labor contract.

Hecla’s Vice President of External Affairs, Luke Russell, said that the two sides met at the Union’s request, but “the meeting did not result in change of positions.”

Russell stressed that Hecla’s latest offer, “provides competitive terms for the industry, and is in the best interests of the Lucky Friday Mine and our employees — both now and in the long term.”

Union president Phil Epler echoed Russell’s take on the meeting, saying that no new common ground was found.

“The company is holding its position,” Epler said.

This new wave of uncertainty regarding a new contract between the company and the miners stems from the union unanimously voting to reject the company’s ‘last, best, and final’ offer on Feb. 19.

The miners cited several grievances with the latest offer including the silver premium trigger, overtime, the replacement of the current bid system for jobs, medical premiums, recall rights, and vacation days among others things.

The ‘no’ vote essentially puts the ball back into Hecla’s court and does not leave them with many options.

The company must choose between returning to the negotiation table or implementing the last, best, and final.

Epler has stated that implementation would most likely lead to strike.

“I won’t do (call for) a strike vote unless they implement,” Epler said.

As for what Hecla plans to do next, the jury is still out.

“I asked them if they were going to implement and they said not now,” Epler explained after Wednesday’s meeting.

“As far as next steps,” Russell said, “while mine operations continue we will further evaluate the situation.”

As the negotiations drag on, the two sides continue to operate under the 2010 contract that expired back in May 2016.

No new meetings between the two sides have been scheduled.