The mining company that hired Chinese workers to toil in a BC mine say those workers are heading home.
HD Mining says 16 workers hired for preparatory work at a mine in Tumbler Ridge are returning to China. They say they're "very concerned" about the "cost and disruption" from a legal challenge brought by two unions over the use of those workers.
Jim Sinclair, President of the bc Labour Federation, says it's good news, "And so hopefully, the company is responding to the situation and what British Columbians think, still want to develop the mine, which we've always supported, but are now going to take steps to ensure that British Columbians get the first chance at these jobs before the go to temporary foreign workers."
The unions, meanwhile, question the timing of the withdrawal. They claim HD is afraid of scrunity, seeing as a Court recently granted the unions access to Chinese workers' resumes.
HD officials add they will not bring over any more workers until they are "reliably certain" about the mine.