Teck Resources (TSX: TECK.B) has said its Highland Valley Copper operations in British Columbia are running at reduced capacity after members of United Steelworkers Local 7619 walked off the job on Saturday.
The company said the effect on overall production will depend on how long the labour action lasts. Contingency plans are in place at the site, with safety and environmental management named as the priority while the strike continues.
Teck stopped short of revising its production outlook, although the release flagged the dispute’s potential impact on previously issued guidance.
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The strike involves 1,277 union members at Canada’s largest open pit copper mine. The previous collective agreement expired on September 30, with negotiations having opened on June 9 and continued through the summer.
Talks broke down on October 8, when the union left the table to seek a strike mandate. Of the 944 members who cast ballots in the October 16 and 17 vote, 100% backed serving strike notice, a result the bargaining committee described as the strongest in the local’s history.
The 72 hour notice was issued on October 20 after the company tabled a monetary counteroffer and dropped one of its concession demands while keeping others in place. Two further days of bargaining on October 21 and 22 failed to produce a deal.
Beyond the company’s concession requests, the dispute centres on wages, pensions, staffing shortages and retention. The union has argued that Teck’s offer does not reflect the company’s financial performance and said the two sides remain far apart.
“It’s our time to show this company that we are worth more than what they have offered,” the bargaining committee said.
Teck, for its part, said it remains committed to reaching a collective agreement that is fair and reasonable for employees and supports the ongoing viability of the operation.
The work stoppage comes as the site moves into a new phase of its life. The Highland Valley Copper Mine Life Extension Project, approved in 2025, is expected to keep the mine running until 2046 rather than winding down in 2028, adding nearly 2 million tonnes of copper over that period.
