7884 - NEWS RELEASE - 9346

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 25 JANUARY 2006

STEELWORKERS JOIN FORCES

AGAINST ELK VALLEY COAL CORPORATION

SPARWOOD, BC – Two locals of the United Steelworkers in the Elk Valley, Fording River Local 7884 and Elkview Local 9346, as well as the President’s for Locals 480 and 9705 in Trail – Doug Jones and Rick Georgetti - met for three days this week to discuss and coordinate common bargaining issues and strategies for upcoming negotiations with Elk Valley Coal Corporation (EVCC).

Both locals are seeking fair and just collective agreements for their members, who have helped make the EVCC the number one coal producer in North America.

Union members, who for years have settled for small increases because of depressed coal markets, expect their fair share now that coal markets are high and EVCC is making record profits. Because of the hard work and productivity of union members, shareholders have earned a 412-per-cent increase in the value of their shares.

Elkview’s Local 9346 is already in its third week of bargaining and Fording River’s Local 7884 is set to begin Bargaining on March 1, 2006.

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CONTACT: Don Takala 250.423.1024

Chris Nand 250.425.0131