Each year, tens of thousands of USW members from hundreds of local unions across Canada negotiate the best possible collective agreements in their respective sectors. This has been particularly true as Canadian Steelworkers emerged from the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, standing strong to demand long-overdue improvements to their contracts and a fair share of the massive profits they generate for their employers.
Following is a sample of the collective agreements achieved by our members since the last convention:
In the wake of pandemic upheaval, Canadian Steelworkers negotiated some of their best collective agreements in a generation.
2022
Local 8922 – Quebec security guards
Some 16,000 security guards across Quebec secured total wage and premium increases ranging from 19.2 percent to 27.8 percent over five years. A number of existing and new premiums added from 50 cents to $2 per hour to wages. The agreement also included several professional development training courses.
Locals 6673 and 5890 – Evraz, Calgary and Regina
Through joint bargaining, members at Evraz PLC’s Western Canada operations succeeded in negotiating four-year contracts providing wage increases of 7.5 percent, cost-of-living adjustments amounting to $2.35 an hour, pension contribution increases of $3.25 per hour worked and benefit and language improvements.
Locals 1568, 4096 – Canadian Nuclear Laboratories,Chalk River, Ont.
The 900 members at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories secured wage hikes of 7 percent, additional increases for many positions, an improved salary grid, increased shift and on-call premiums, and improved language on issues including career progression systems and seniority provisions to ensure fairness in promotions.
Local 9599 – Micro Bird, Drummondville, Que.
The 350 Steelworkers who manufacture buses and multi-purpose vehicles reached a five-year contract with a 16 percent wage increase in the first year, 11 percent hikes over the following four years, cost-of-living adjustments, additional increases for one-third of members, improved holidays, sick days, shift premiums, contracting-out provisions and a new defined-benefit pension plan.
Local 1-207 – Tempur Sealy Canada, Edmonton
Members at Tempur Sealy’s mattress production facilities reached a four-year collective agreement providing a $450 lump-sum payment, annual wage increases in each of the contract’s last three years, annual improvements to language, pension and benefit plans, vacation entitlement, and health spending accounts.
Local 6185-12 – Labrador West Child Care
Members at child-care centres in Labrador City and Wabush, N.L., achieved their first collective agreement, with total wage increases of 10 percent over three years. The contract adds an additional holiday for employees’ birthdays and codifies conditions including a $1,450 annual vacation bonus, paid sick days and paid breaks.
2023
Local 1-405 – Kootenay Savings Credit Union, British Columbia
Members at seven credit union branches reached a three-year deal with total wage increases of 10 percent, $4,000 in bonus payouts, and increases to health-care spending accounts. They also established a new personal spending account and added the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a new statutory holiday.
Local 9503 – St. John’s Dockyard Ltd., St. John’s, N.L.
The 187 dockyard workers achieved a four-year deal with total wage increases of 14.5 percent, including 5 percent in the first year. Gains also were made on several contract provisions, including statutory holidays, bereavement leave and sick leave.
Local 206G – O-I Glass, Pointe-Saint-Charles, Que.
After enduring the employer’s attempts to erode working conditions, glass factory workers took a stand and won significant gains following a nearly eight-week strike. Their effort resulted in substantial wins including wage increases ranged from 14 percent to 20 percent over three years, as well as significant improvements to their pension and benefits plans.
Local 1-423 – Rockwool Industries, Grand Forks, B.C.
Following a nearly eight-week strike, members won a three-year contract providing total wage increases of 13 percent, including 6 percent in the first year, a $4,000 signing bonus and improvements to an employer-funded group RRSP and vacation entitlement, including seven weeks’ vacation after 25 years of service.
Local 7580-04 – MAGRIS Talc Canada, Penhorwood and Foleyet, Ont.
Members at the Northern Ontario operations of North American’s largest talc producer ratified four-year agreements providing total wage increases ranging from 16.5 percent to 20.5 percent, with first-year increases of 7 percent to 11 percent. Improvements also were made on shift premiums, statutory holidays and sick leave.
Local 7065 – Crustacées Baie-Trinité, Quebec
Members at this seafood processing plant negotiated “historic” improvements in a three-year contract, including wage increases ranging from 11.5 percent to 19.5 percent and new language ensuring full union rights for temporary foreign workers who account for more than half of the work force.
2024
Local 1976-27 – Marine Atlantic, North Sydney, N.S., Port aux Basques, N.L.
Members working for the Marine Atlantic ferry service between North Sydney, N.S., and Port aux Basques, N.L., resisted all of the employer’s concession demands and reached a three-year contract with improvements including total wage increases of 11 percent, with a 7 percent increase in the first year.
Local 7065 – Le Manoir, Baie-Comeau, Que.
Members at the hotel Le Manoir in Baie-Comeau, Que., negotiated total wage increases of 23 percent over five years as well as cost-of-living protections. The new contract improves provisions on overtime and the phased retirement program, increases job trainers’ premiums, adds a holiday and raises the employer’s pension contributions.
Local 8914 – Cameco, McArthur River and Key Lake, Sask.
Members at Cameco’s uranium mining and milling operations negotiated a three-year agreement with general wage hikes of 12 percent, additional increases in several classifications and numerous improvements to benefits, premiums and contract language, including a 100 percent wage top-up for up to 21 weeks of parental leave.
Local 2894 – Tenneco Automotive, Cambridge, Ont.
The 680 members at auto parts maker Tenneco Automotive negotiated a three-year agreement featuring total wage hikes of 10.5 percent, increased contributions to their Steelworkers Pension Plan, higher shift premiums and improved benefits and vacation entitlements.
Local 6486 – CEZinc, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que.
Following an announcement of major investments in their plant, zinc refinery workers ratified a three-year contract with total wage hikes of 18 percent, including 8 percent up front, and multiple other gains including improved pensions and benefits and an increase in overtime pay to double time, rather than time-and a-half.
Local 1-207 – Starbucks, Sherwood Park, Alta.
Members overcame significant challenges to win their first collective agreement and help pave the way for new USW members at other Starbucks locations. The three-year deal provides 10 percent wage hikes – including 5 percent on ratification, improvements in working conditions and job security, and establishes a dispute-resolution mechanism.