(Montreal) Some 200 workers at the Bradken foundry in Mont-Joli have just ratified an agreement in principle that grants them raises totaling 24% over five years, including 10% in the first year.
Posted at 4:11 p.m.
The tentative agreement with Bradken was reached Tuesday evening, after a little over a week of strike action at the foundry. It was ratified in a proportion of 80% by the members of the local section of the union of Steelworkers, affiliated with the FTQ.
The strike was called on March 21, immediately after the rejection of the latest offers from employers.
Salary increases are 10% the first year, 4% for the following two years, then 3% for the last two years of the employment contract.
The new agreement even includes an inflation protection clause. This means that if inflation were to be higher than the planned salary increases, the increases would be adjusted upwards.
The bonus for night work has also been increased; it will go from $1 an hour to $2 an hour. Similarly, the pension plan has been enhanced, the union said in a statement.
A few days ago, company management said it wanted to “negotiate in good faith an agreement that is fair and recognizes the contribution” of Mont-Joli employees.
The employer also wanted the agreement “to be viable for our business”.