Federal government officials agreed to form a committee that will discuss improvements in the $111 million severance and retirement package it previously offered as part of closing down the mines. The package would have given severance pay to 650 miners and pensions to another 340. But because of the pension formula, most miners, and virtually all those under 50, would lose out on the $22,000 annual pension despite more than 20 years on the job.

Miners who are members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), along with workers who are members of the four unions involved, held a vote together at a Glace Bay hall. Others voted on the picket lines and in the depths of the Prince mine, where an occupation was occurring. Eighty-three percent voted to end the walkout.

The Prince mine is the last operating coal mine in Cape Breton. Devco closed down the Phalen mine last month. The union is demanding a program for union members to work until they qualify for pensions. "Our people would like to work until they can retire with dignity," Steve Drake, local president of the UMWA, said to reporters in Glace Bay.

A dozen or so strikers who had been occupying the Prince mine since January 9 returned to the surface and were embraced by family members and miners. "They're heroes," said Robert, a miner who would only give his first name. The miners occupied the mine to protect it from an early closure that would render the mine unworkable.

The strikers defied court injunctions to continue their strike. They blocked coal going to two Nova Scotia Power stations at Lingan and Point Aconi. The two stations generate 785 megawatts of electricity a week, about half of the province's electrical supply. Power interruptions would have occurred within two weeks.

About 50 Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrived in Sydney to join 135 officers brought there earlier in the week. They were prepared to enforce a Nova Scotia Supreme Court injunction if the strike continued.

Joe Young is a member of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 501 at St. Blaise-sur-Richelieu.  
 
 
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