The members of United Steelworkers union (USW) Local 8740 have ratified a tentative agreement reached with Gerdau – Manitoba Metallics Raw Materials in Selkirk, Man., on Aug. 24, 2021.
The union members had been working without a contract since the previous collective agreement expired on June 30, 2021.
The new five-year agreement was accepted by 77% of the members voting at a meeting on Aug. 24.
The agreement gives the membership their best increases in wages, benefits and pensions in decades.
“We managed to get a fair and balanced final offer from the employer that represented needed increases that worked for our membership,” said Andrew Hendricks, President of USW Local 8740.
The union’s bargaining committee achieved much-needed changes in preventing contracting out, maintaining shift schedules, bereavement leave, job postings, benefit increases in vision care, insurance and prescription drugs, along with adding orthodontic coverage for the first time.
Gerdau – Manitoba Metallics Raw Materials in Selkirk has consistently lowered its operating costs year over year and has continued to have positive sales and volume throughout the months leading into and during the pandemic. The union’s bargaining committee worked extremely hard to emphasize this point to management which resulted in a positive outcome for both parties.
“We are pleased with the support that the membership gave our bargaining committee and wish to express our thanks to the members,” said Hendricks.
Mike Pulak, USW Staff Representative, 204-940-3051, mpulak@usw.ca
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