Employees narrowly voted Sunday night to ratify a new collective agreement with the Toronto-based beer can manufacturer, after one of province’s longest pickets in recent history.
“We’re pleased that the strike’s over,” said Lawrence Hay, United Steelworkers’ lead negotiator in the dispute. “We’re not so pleased with the terms and conditions.”
Sunday’s collective agreement will result in annual wage increases of around 2 per cent for the next six years, but it will not reverse that substantial cut in workers’ salaries.
The union did manage to ensure that all workers will be able to return to their jobs if they so choose, which had been a major sticking point in negotiations. The company had tried to block 34 workers considered to be the most active union members from regaining their old positions, according to the union.
USW representative Lawrence Hay said he takes pride in his members’ fortitude, despite the final deal.
“They couldn’t destroy those folks,” he told the Star.
Tomorrow is Election Day in British Columbia and there’s too much at stake for Steelworkers to sit this one out. Across our province, working families are facing real challenges. Forestry communities are fighting to protect jobs and keep mills running. Mining workers need stronger safety protections and training. Canadian jobs are threatened by outsourcing, and […]
KAMLOOPS, B.C. – United Steelworkers union (USW) Local 7619 has issued 72-hour strike notice to Teck’s Highland Valley Copper (HVC) operation near Logan Lake, B.C., following unsuccessful negotiations to reach a fair collective agreement. The notice was served Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 6:30 p.m., with the union preparing for potential strike action if an agreement […]
The jobs of thousands of USW members have been plunged into uncertainty due to U.S. tariffs, outsourcing and offshoring. In 2025, the Steelworkers Humanity Fund (SHF) has supported initiatives that help build union-to-union solidarity, which is critical to ensuring workers have a voice. Over the years, the USW has supported the efforts of the Mexican […]