The small club of global nickel miners was the top newsmaker during the week ended Feb. 2, 2007, with substantial developments at all three of the world's leading producers. Xstrata Nickel and Local 598 of the Canadian Auto Workers Union reached a 3-year collective agreement at the major's Sudbury operations, acquired as part of Xstrata's hostile takeover of Falconbridge last year. Many had expected a strike, since the Local's last three bargaining rounds had all included strike action, and the CAW had strenuously opposed Xstrata's takeover, preferring an Inco-Falconbridge merger. Hemi Mitic, assistant to CAW president Buzz Hargrove, was uncharacteristically complimentary of the new bosses, noting a "major difference in management's attitude at the bargaining table in this round of contract talks."
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