Each year, tens of thousands of USW members across Canada negotiate strong collective agreements that protect health and safety, improve wages, benefits and working conditions and ensure more-respectful workplaces. Recent settlements include:
Local 1976 • Airline members leave all others at the gate, soar to industry-leading pay rates
A three-year collective agreement for Delta Airlines workers provides industry-leading compensation levels as well as improved benefits and pensions. The deal includes 12% wage increases over the term, a new retirement benefit valued at a further 2% of wages, and additional adjustments bringing total wage increases for many members up to 17.5%. The contract covers some 300 tickets and gate agents, baggage handlers and ramp workers at Delta operations in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal.
Local 1-207 • Home builders raise the roof – and their wages
A large majority of the 138 members at SRI Homes in Lethbridge, Alta., will earn wage increases of 10.7% over the term of a three-year contract, including 5.2% in the first year. The agreement includes an 8.5% wage hike over the term, a 2.2% adjustment for 90% of the membership, a $1,250 ratification bonus and improved benefits. Members build manufactured homes and modular homes.
Local 9996 • Iron ore miners strike mother lode of contract gains
Wage increases ranging from 26.25% to 30.6% over five years are among 60-plus contract gains won by 700 members at Minerai de fer Québec (Quebec Iron Ore) operations in Fermont. Wage increases in the first year range from 13.25% to 17.6%. The collective agreement improves provisions in dozens of areas, including bonuses, benefits, training, job postings and access to permanent positions for seasonal workers.
Local 6565-02 • Not pulp fiction: paper industry workers wrap up impressive contract
Workers at the Voith Canada manufacturing plant in Hawkesbury, Ont., ratified a three-year agreement providing total wage increases of 19% and a signing bonus. Improvements also were made on shift premiums, overtime and vacation pay, RRSP contributions, and benefits. Members refurbish rolls used for paper manufacturing and work as machinists, maintenance mechanics, shippers and receivers, and grinder, drill, covering and lathe operators.
Local 1-207 • Cool beans! Starbucks members’ first contract is grounds for celebration
Members at a Starbucks store at Beaver Brook Square in Sherwood Park, Alta., overcame big challenges to win their first collective agreement – a three-year contract that is only the third of its kind in Canada. Members achieved improvements in working conditions, job security, dispute resolution and total wage increases of 10%, including 5% on ratification. The deal helps pave the way for USW members at several other Starbucks locations who are seeking their first collective agreements.
Local 9399 • Steel wire producers strand strong, wind up good contract
Members who manufacture steel wire at the ArcelorMittal Saint-Patrick plant in Montreal achieved gains in a six-year contract. General increases of 37.5% will boost wages by $10.25 an hour over the term and many workers will receive additional adjustments ranging from $2.37 and $3.22 an hour and a revised pay grid will increase wages for new hires. Improvements also were made to premiums, vacations, pensions, benefits and health and safety provisions.
Local 6946 • Tape makers stick together, seal the deal
The 147 USW members working at tape manufacturer Mativ in Renfrew, Ont., will see wages increase by 13% over three years after ratifying a 39-month agreement. The contract also improves benefits, premiums, safety boot allowances, vacations and bereavement leave. Members manufacture adhesive products for industrial and commercial applications, including the famous Renfrew brand hockey tape.
Locals 189, 7458, 7689 • Fertilizer producers enrich collective agreement
Members working at Saskatchewan potash/fertilizer giant Nutrien reached a three-year agreement providing general wage increases of 10.5% among numerous gains. The deal includes an hourly wage adjustment of $7.48 for second-class power engineers, while the base wage rate for trades rose to $59.92 this spring. Improvements were made on pensions, premiums, benefits, boot allowances and maternity and military leaves. Members work at Nutrien’s Patience Lake, Cory and Allan operations.
Local 6486 • Zinc refinery workers show their mettle in upgrading contract
Members at the CEZinc zinc refinery in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que., negotiated a three-year contract with total wage hikes of 18%, including 8% up-front. Other gains include an increase in overtime pay to double time, rather than time-and-a-half, as well as improvements to pensions and benefits. The deal was reached shortly after resource giant Glencore assumed full ownership of the plant and announced plans for major investments.
Local 7580 • Gold miners’ ore-dacity extracts a nugget of a deal
A five-year agreement reached by 225 members at Newmont Corporation’s gold mining operations in Timmins, Ont., includes total wage hikes ranging from 20% to 26%, not including additional adjustments based on job classifications and cost-of-living provisions. The contract provided signing bonuses of $4,000 for operations workers and $1,000 for trades people, as well as improvements to premiums, pensions, disability benefits, parental and bereavement leaves and personal protective equipment.
Local 174B • A precision drill: machinists retool contract
Some 40 members of amalgamated Local 174B, working at Pritchard MetalFab Inc. in Winnipeg, reached a four-year contract providing improvements that include total wage increases of 12% and expanded paid sick leave. Members include machinists and welders who provide custom metal fabrication for mining and other industrial equipment.
Local 9291 • Hotel workers find room for improvement
Members at the Comfort Inn in Rouyn-Noranda, Que., negotiated a five-year agreement with total wage increases that will range from 20% to 32% over the term, including a range of 8% to 20% in the first year. The contract also provides a seniority premium, two additional paid floating days off, vacation improvements and a guaranteed 40-hour work week for all members.
Local 1976-27 • Ferry workers navigate concessionary currents, sail into port with good deal
The 277 members working for the Marine Atlantic ferry service between North Sydney, N.S., and Port aux Basques, N.L., resisted the employer’s concession demands and reached a three-year contract with notable improvements including total wage increases of 11%, with a 7% increase in the first year.
This article appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of USW@Work magazine.
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