Teck Highland Valley Copper Strike 2026: Steelworkers Issue 72-Hour Notice at Canada’s Largest Copper Mine

Canadian mining news: Teck Resources has received a 72-hour strike notice at its Highland Valley Copper operations, and if talks fail the Highland Valley Copper Strike would begin at 8:00 a.m. PT on Saturday, October 24, shutting down labour at Canada’s largest copper mine just as copper prices and critical mineral politics dominate the national conversation.

By Maplestime News Desk | Canada | October 22, 2026

Sources: mining.com, USW, GlobeNewswire via TradingView | Last updated: October 22, 2026

Key Takeaways

• United Steelworkers Local 7619 served Teck with 72-hour strike notice on Tuesday, October 20, at 6:30 p.m. PT. The Highland Valley Copper Strike could begin as early as 8:00 a.m. PT Saturday, October 24.
• A 100 percent strike mandate vote backed the action: 944 participating members voted unanimously for strike action. The local represents about 1,200 workers.
• The collective agreement expired September 30, 2026. Key disputes: wages, pensions, staffing shortages in skilled trades, and remaining company concession demands.
• Highland Valley Copper, near Logan Lake, B.C., produced 127,100 tonnes of copper in 2025 and is slated to run through 2046 under Teck’s extension plan.

What Triggered The Highland Valley Copper Strike Notice

The notice, announced October 21, lands three weeks after the Highland Valley Copper collective agreement expired on September 30. United Steelworkers Local 7619 says the mine’s roughly 1,200 workers have had enough of what the union describes as unresolved concession demands from the company, alongside gaps in pay, pensions and staffing.

“A 100% strike vote speaks volumes about the frustration on the worksite and the determination of our members. We want a fair deal and we are prepared to do what it takes to get one,” said Kyle Wolff, USW Local 7619 president.

A unanimous strike vote does not guarantee a walkout, but it gives the bargaining team serious leverage. Teck said the mine remains in operation and that it has contingency plans in place to keep managing safety and environmental obligations at the site during any labour disruption.

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What Happens If Workers Walk Out Saturday

If the Highland Valley Copper Strike goes ahead on Saturday morning, it would idle a mine that delivered 127,100 tonnes of copper in 2025. Highland Valley sits about 50 kilometres southwest of Kamloops and is the biggest copper producer in the country, so even a short Highland Valley Copper Strike lands at a moment when copper demand from electrification and data centres is running hot.

Teck’s contingency plans focus on safety and environmental management, meaning the pit, tailings and water systems would remain monitored. But a full withdrawal of union labour would stall production work, and with the clock ticking to Saturday, the pressure is on both sides to find a deal before the weekend.

The Mine’s Future Runs Through These Talks

Beyond the immediate contract, the stakes include the mine’s long life. A Highland Valley Copper Strike that stretches beyond a few days would cut hard into production at exactly the moment Teck is pitching the mine’s long-term future. The company’s mine-life extension plan would keep Highland Valley running from 2028 to 2046, averaging about 132,000 tonnes of copper a year. That future only works if the workforce needed to run it stays put, which is exactly why staffing shortages, especially among skilled trades, sit near the top of the union’s demands.

For the roughly 1,200 workers, the next three days are the countdown. For Canada’s copper supply and for the Interior B.C. communities that depend on the mine, they matter just as much.

Maplestime will provide updates from the Highland Valley Copper strike as announcements are made.

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Do you think Teck can settle this before Saturday, or is the Highland Valley Copper Strike the only way 1,200 workers get a fair deal? Tell us in the comments. And share this with every Canadian watching the mining sector this week.