Union Calls for Retailers to Express Concerns Over Ekati Strike

The Public Service Alliance of Canada has written to more than 33 jewelry stores in Canada and the U.S. that specialize in selling trademarked Aurias diamonds from the Ekati mine. Each Ekati diamond is clearly identifiable through a laser inscription and comes with a certificate of origin.

"We want all retail jewelers who sell Ekati diamonds to know about the dispute and hear directly from the union about why we are on strike for a fair first collective agreement," said Jean-Francois Des Lauriers, executive vice president North.

"The union is not asking jewelers to take sides but we do want them to express their concerns about the potential impact of this dispute on their ability to sell Ekati diamonds and on the significant reduction in the supply of Ekati diamonds that would result from a long strike," Des Lauriers said.

Todd Parsons, president of the Union of Northern Workers component of PSAC, which represents Diamond Workers UNW Local X3050, said retail jewelers are marketing the Aurias brand diamonds as ‘conflict free’ diamonds, not produced in war-torn countries like Sierra Leone.

"The union would ordinarily support selling Ekati diamonds as 'conflict free' but right now we are in our own major labor conflict – and jewelers should be told about that conflict too," Parsons said. "I wonder if retail customers would have second thoughts about buying diamonds being produced behind a picket line by a company that won't negotiate a fair contract with its own diamond workers."

The letter to jewelers sent by PSAC National President Nycole Turmel outlines the diamond workers' situation and why they have gone on strike over the issues of wage increases, job security and vacation time.