Xstrata Nickel: USW Local 2020 Members Ratify New Collective Agreement at Xstrata Nickel Sudbury Operations

Xstrata Nickel announced today that members of USW Local 2020, Unit 6855, representing office, clerical and technical workers at the company's Sudbury operations, have ratified a new three-year collective agreement. In a ratification vote, 89% voted in favour of accepting the new collective agreement.

The new agreement expires February 28, 2010, and includes the following highlights:

- A monetary offer including a wage increase of 3% in the first year, 3% in the second year and a cost of living allowance in the third year.

- A continuity allowance of C $8,000 per employee

- An agreement on shift schedules for running our Pilot Plant Campaigns at Xstrata Process Support

- A commitment to improve the effectiveness of the Joint Company/Union Contracting Out Committee, by providing the Union with monthly reports of work contracting out

- Top up of 90% of base wages for employees on maternity leave (for up to 17 weeks)

"These negotiations were conducted with constructive input from both sides of the table and I congratulate both bargaining teams for their commitment," said Mike Romaniuk, Vice-President of Xstrata Nickel's Sudbury operations. "The agreement we achieved is acceptable to both parties and allows us to now focus our combined energies on effectively operating and building our Sudbury operations."

Background

Xstrata Plc is a major global diversified mining group, listed on the London and Swiss stock exchanges. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, Xstrata maintains a meaningful position in seven major international commodity markets: copper, coking coal, thermal coal, ferrochrome, nickel, vanadium and zinc, with a smaller but profitable aluminium business, recycling facilities, additional exposures to gold, lead and silver and a suite of global technologies, many of which are industry leaders. The Group's operations and projects span 18 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Jamaica, New Caledonia, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, the USA and the UK.

Xstrata Nickel, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, is one of the one of the group's global commodity businesses, comprising five mines and processing facilities in Ontario and Quebec, Canada; a ferronickel mine and processing facility in Bonao, Dominican Republic; and a refinery in Kristiansand, Norway. Xstrata Nickel has a significant portfolio of growth projects, including Nickel Rim South in Canada, Kabanga in Tanzania, and Koniambo in New Caledonia.

Xstrata Nickel is the world's fourth largest nickel producer, with annual managed production of more than 110,000 tonnes of refined nickel.




Contacts:
Xstrata Nickel
Ian Hamilton
Director Corporate Affairs
Office: (416) 982-7161 or Mobile: (416) 902-0986
Email: ihamilton@xstratanickel.ca


Source: Xstrata Nickel