A union representing engineers at SNC-Lavalin Group said on Tuesday that its members had voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new collective agreement and end their strike.
Posted yesterday at 5:10 p.m.
The deal comes after Candu Energy, a subsidiary of SNC, ordered its workers to return to the office full-time with one working day’s notice, ending more than two years of telecommuting.
The Society of Professional Engineers and Associates union argued that this amounted to a bargaining tactic, in the context of a rotating strike being called on May 29 at the Darlington nuclear power plant in Ontario, where Candu is carrying out works.
The union claimed on Tuesday that the forced return to the office, which has since been reversed, was a “draconian move” to “wreak havoc on the lives of their employees”, affecting some 900 staff. A complaint had been filed with the Canada Industrial Relations Board, alleging bad faith negotiations, but has now been withdrawn.
Under changes in the new collective agreement, employees can continue to work remotely until October 12, when a hybrid work plan of three days a week in the office will take effect, although the employer can choose to increase this number of days, explained the union.
Other changes to the deal approved Monday include inflation protection, updated wage bonuses and a new pension plan.
SNC-Lavalin did not immediately respond to questions Tuesday.