Thousands of Vale Inco workers on strike after union rejects latest contract

Thousands of union workers at Vale Inco's nickel mine operations in Ontario are on strike after 85% of union members rejected its contract offer. The United Steelworkers union said all of Vale's CN operations were shut down & its nickel inventory will quickly be depleted. At issue were proposals by Vale to exempt new employees from its benefit pension plan & reduce a bonus tied to the price of nickel. Steelworkers Ontario Dir. Wayne Fraser says 3,500 workers are now on strike. Vale Inco is the nickel mining and processing division of Brazil's Companhia Vale do Rio Doce.