The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that union leaders at Teck Resources' operations in British Columbia are guardedly optimistic about job stability after the company announced what is being billed as a "merger of equals" with Anglo American PLC. The Globe's Brent Jang writes that the United Steelworkers represents 1,500 unionized employees at Teck's Highland Valley copper mine in the southern Interior and 1,200 workers at the company's zinc and lead smelter in Trail in southeast B.C. The well-paying jobs are located in regions that are attractive for balancing work duties and recreational activities, union leaders said in interviews on Tuesday. Teck workers in B.C. with skilled trades can earn roughly $130,000 a year, plus pensions and benefits. Two months ago, Teck approved investments to extend the life of the Highland Valley mine, which also produces molybdenum, an additive used to strengthen steel. The mine's life extension from 2028 to 2046 is geared toward meeting rising global demand for copper as a critical mineral. Outside of direct employment, there also will be contractors, suppliers, grocery stores and car dealerships benefiting, given the expansion's ripple effect.