Local NewsHome News Local News Vale sues union over websites Vale sues union over websites
VALE INCO STRIKE
Posted By BOB VAILLANCOURT THE SUDBURY STAR
Posted 7 hours ago


Vale Inco is suing senior leaders of striking Steelworkers in Sudbury for $1 million because of the union's website and a controversial Facebook site.

The suit against the Steelworkers Local 6500, its president, John Fera, and two dozen other executives and members seeks financial damages and a court order forcing the union to stop posting on its websites "all pictures and information relating to, about or belonging to Vale Inco employees, contractors and security personnel."


Such information is endangering those individuals, the company alleges in the suit.

In addition, Vale Inco wants the court to allow it to "monitor the contents of all Facebook postings by the union and its members to ensure compliance with the order."

Vale Inco also asks the courts to order the union disclose the identity of an anonymous contributor to those sites who uses the name "John Doe."

"Doe's identity is known to the union and to the Strikeforce defendants," the claim states,

The suit contains allegations not proven in a court of law.

The union, which has just been served, has to yet file a statement of defence.

In a statement of claim filed in Sudbury court, Vale Inco alleges that starting in November, the union began "targeting Vale Inco employees who have exercised their legal right to return to work during the strike, as well as contractors and security personnel."

The lawsuit alleges the union and its members have published pictures and other personal detail about individuals on the internet and, "by doing so, they are arming their members with information, knowing and intending that it will be used to harass, intimidate, threaten and commit criminal and tortious (wrongful) acts against Vale Inco's employees, contracts and security personnel."

The statement of claim cites the union's website and the Facebook page, "Strikeforce 6500."

The individuals whose pictures and other detail have been posted, "have become targets of violence in the community: their property and homes have been vandalized; they have received anonymous phone threats at home; they have been threatened in the community and when crossing the picket lines."

The lawsuit identifies the respondents as belonging to three groups: those who administer and control the union's website and Facebook pages; those who post personal information and threats; and those who use the posted information "to commit criminal and tortious acts."

The document cites more than a dozen examples of threats being posted and identified the individuals doing the posting. It then goes on to link acts of vandalism with information posted on the websites.

As an example, the document states that almost immediately after information about one worker was posted, the tires of his vehicle were slashed, "and the word 'scab' was spray painted approximately 12 times on his car. Union strike placards were found on and around his vehicle."

The company also claims union members have used information from the websites to "organize a rally outside the Comfort Inn, the hotel where security personnel are staying."

The claim says the company "has repeatedly requested the union remove pictures and other personal information" and that the union has refused.

As a result of the information being posted, states the lawsuit, "Vale Inco has been forced to hire security personnel to monitor and protect these contractors and employees' activities and homes, including hiring helicopters to transport many of these individuals across the picket lines."

sudbury star