....have a friend at Vale INCO, he wanted to work a couple of more yrs but can retirer with the current contract. The problem is, after midnight MAY 31 the contract expires so if he stays and a new contract is accepted the next week , then he now works under this new contract. Beer talk in the local pub is suggesting major reductions in Pensions, wages , bonuses and benefits. Apparantly, hundreds of employees are taking the exits. Traps7