Steelworkers Strike at Teck Resources Highland Valley Copper Mine
United Steelworkers Local 7619 members began a strike at the Highland Valley Copper mine over wages and pensions, forcing operations to run at reduced capacity.
Approximately 1,277 members of United Steelworkers Local 7619 went on strike on October 24, 2026, at the Highland Valley Copper mine in British Columbia. The labor action followed the expiration of a collective agreement on September 30 and the failure of negotiations regarding wages, pensions, staff retention, and proposed company concessions. Union representatives stated that the company's offers did not reflect its financial success and included unacceptable concession demands.
Teck Resources Limited reported that the mine, Canada's largest open-pit copper operation, is currently operating at reduced capacity. The company has implemented contingency plans to maintain safety and environmental management, though it warned that the strike's duration could impact previously issued production guidance.
Picket lines have been established at the main gate on Highway 97C between Ashcroft and Logan Lake. While the union cites industry-wide staffing shortages as a driver for higher pay demands, both the company and the union have expressed a commitment to negotiating a final collective agreement.
