Katinniq, Wednesday, October 11, 2017 – Three years after getting their union certified, the Raglan mine security officers, near Katinniq in the far north of Quebec, finally have a new employment contract.
Following a rather unusual legal procedure, possible only before a first collective agreement, an arbitrator decided and enacted the terms of their new employment contract after hearing the official requests of the parties.
“I would like to acknowledge the resilience of our members who waited three years before getting this contract,” says Harold Arseneault, union representative. “They had to deal with an employer who was busy making all the legal provisions within its reach to push back the possibilities of agreement. They never gave up. “
Workers, who are members of USW Local 9449 will therefore benefit from a new three-year collective agreement as of September 1st. They are granted retroactive salary increases because of an increase in their classification in the company’s wage policy. On normative questions, this contract confirms the current situation with regard to collective insurances, overtime, vacations, bonuses, as well as prohibiting executives from performing the work that is reserved for them.
“Our arguments were heard by the arbitrator,” concludes Harold Arsenault. “On all normative questions, the employer sought to obtain setbacks in the working conditions of our members. His decision to impose the status quo on these issues and to incorporate the current conditions into the collective agreement is in itself a victory.”
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